Re: Wood threads for vises

Re: Wood threads for vises *LINK*

David W. Dougherty

>Howard Card. Shop Shot #625 has some reference info and a link to another article with contact info.

David


Bench with Howard Card Vice Screws

Re: Wood threads for vises

Greg Benulis

>Here you go.

Howard W. Card

Crystal Creek Mill Wood Products

P.O. Box 41

DeWitt, NY 13214

(315) 446-1229

Wooden screws and nuts for vices, etc.

Some News On Howard Card

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.

>Hi,

I had an email this week from some one looking for the contact information for Howard. I forwarded his number and asked for him to say hello to Howard for me.

A day later I received an email back from the same person letting me know that Howard was now not making any wood screws for personal reasons. I do not have details of his situation. I own several wood scews for vises, I enjoy them very much.

I knew this day was coming, I am sad to know it has been realized so soon.

Howard is a very kind man, easy to speak with and a very good crafstman. I wish him well and good health.

Take care,

Jim

Bench screw by hand

Warren in Lancaster, PA

>If I were in need of a single bench screw, I would be tempted to make one from scratch. For the nut I would use a wooden tap with small steel cutter as pictured in Hummel (With Hammer in Hand) and Mercer (ancient carpenters tools}. There is also a fine decription of how to make this tool by Richard Starr in a very early FW magazine circa 1977.

For the screw itself I would carve it out by hand, laying it out with an appropriate strip of paper. Having made a screwbox and carved some screws over the years, I can tell you that it is very much easier to carve a screw than to make a screwbox.

Re: Some News On Howard Card

paul womack

>A day later I received an email back from the same person letting me know that Howard was now not making any wood screws for personal reasons.

It strikes me that there is a finite but definite demand for these large wooden screws.

Perhaps Howard will pass on his tools and techniques to a successor?

Perhaps one of the boutique toolmakers that have appeared in the new golden age of handtools could add a new product line?

BugBear

Re: Some News On Howard Card

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Jim,I hope it's only a temporary thing.Someone else may come along and replace Howard's product,but it will be hard to replace his manner. I had the pleasure of talking to him,if only by phone. I suppose I'm lucky I ordered a couple extra screws when I did.---Jack

What I'd love

Wendell @ Murphy, TX

>I wish someone would get together with Mr. Card and make a video documentary of his wooden screw making process. Seems like to a dieing art and it would be a shame not to have a record of it.

Wendell

Re: Bench screw by hand

ThomD

>Coincidentally, I just had that issue open in front of me, looking for Aztec drum info!

Re: What I'd love

ThomD

>It would be great to record it, if his method was novel in any way.

Also

If there was any serious demand for these screws it would be simple enough to set up to cut them on a metal working lathe. A metal working lathe can automatically cut both the male and female parts. The only issue would be souping up or finding a lathe that would do such coarse threads. Sometime non-standard threads can be accomodated by findling with change gears, often they only describe the ratios they think you will want, while others can be configured. 4in 1" I could see, but is that the real number? On a large screw 2-3 inches would it not be coarser than that? Another option at least for the threads would be a CNC.

Re: What I'd love

David W. Dougherty

>This is exactly what Howard described to me when I spoke with him about two years ago when I was contemplating making my own bench. He said specifically that he used a metalworking lathe with custom gearing and cutters he made himself. I assume he roughed the spindle on a woodworking lathe prior to cutting the threads, but I didn't ask.

David

Other possibilities.

Paul Kierstead

>I'd be guessing that an ornamental mill such as the Legacy could make the threaded rod as well; you could probably also rig something up with some simple gearing and a router (like an ornamental mill, but dedicated) as well.

I'd expect you could also do something like the Beall does but larger if you had a tap to start; the principle is fairly straight forward.

Re: Other possibilities.

ThomD

>Thanks David, and you are right about roughing the cylinders on the wood lathe. Much faster, and the less dust around a metal lathe the better.

Paul, the only problem with routers is that they are hard to fit into a nut. If all one wanted was to turn the screws, it would be a good method. Then you have to go down the path of using the screws as a tap. The cool thing with the metal lathe is a dogleg cutter will get into the nut stock also, even quite small pieces. Of course that thing they designed for threading turned boxes with a thread shaped fly cutter would work for the nuts. So I guess you could do it with a router...

Re: Some News On Howard Card

Jeff Schmidt

>That is sad to hear about Mr. Card. As has been noted, it is not just his excellent product, but his friendly manner that made it a joy to do business with him.

I called him one afternoon several years ago to talk about his bench screws. After discussing the various options with him, we narrowed in on exactly what I needed. A week later, a box shows up with exactly what was required including a nice surprise. I had told him that I intended the screw for use in a leg vise and that I would like an additional nut to place on the opposing end bench leg for special situations. Unfortunately, I was already pushing my budget and I decided not to get the extra nut. However, he was able to find a �reject� nut that functioned perfectly well and added it at no charge.

Re: Some News On Howard Card

Warren in Lancaster, PA

>Jack, what did Howard Card charge for a bench screw?

I Remember

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.

>Hi,

I remember I bought my tail vise, leg vise and adjuster for less than $200.

Take care,

Jim

He Did Tell Me Once

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.

>Hi,

He did tell me once that one day he'd like to sell the business...not sure what has transpired in that light since then.

He used hard maple for the screws I bought and turned the ends himself.

Might be worth a call if some one was interested.

Take care,

Jim

Re: Some News On Howard Card

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Basic screw,with nut $80

Roy Underhill already did this

CJ McLaughlin

>

What is the issue number?

McKay

>

Re: What is the issue number?

Warren in Lancaster, PA

>They didn't have numbers back then, but it was #6 Spring 1977.