Saving Scrap Metal

I save all the channel, angle iron and solid shafting for my own scrap pile, otherwise known as my project pile.

The center shaft on the ball winder is threaded where the top cone screws onto the top of the shaft, I've always had a problem getting the threads aligned properly using a hand held Die holder.

Since the top cone has to be concentric on all sides to center, a cockeyed thread would not do, so I made up this die holder that fits my small lathe. Using the chuck and tail stock I get perfectly aligned threads every time.

The Die holder was machined from some solid round stock from my scrap heap.The finished holder was finished with gun bluing.