Thread something, break something…this seems to remain the pattern (even though David denies it…wink!)
On the keel bolts, tailfeather, and floor bolts, we’ve still got stuff to thread (5/8″ x 11 threads to make and 3/4″ x 10 threads as well) For this Mahdee project, the boatyard bought a die stock and round dies for these and other sizes. But, a couple days ago, while threading a 1″ keel bolt, David broke the die stock for the round dies. So, we’ve got our hex die stock (without the proper size dies) and the round dies without a proper size die stock…
None of the local stores seem to have what we need: 2″ round die stock OR the appropriate dies for a 1 13/16″ hex die stock. They can sell us hex dies but it seems that the hex dies require a smaller hex stock…which we could buy but it looks “dinky” and we’d surely break it.
So, off to order stuff online from MSC Direct: one 2″ dia die stock to replace the one we broke (only $9.45) and then, assuming that it will break again, a sliding T handle ($22.05, that we can use with our 1/2″ drive deep sockets for this project and then for other car-related projects) so we can use a socket with the hex dies that we can purchase locally. Hopefully, we won’t break the new 2″ dia die stock so the T handle won’t be needed and we’ll just use the round dies already purchased for the project by the yard.
W. L. Fullers is a real good company in RI for buying drills, dies, etc. A family owned outfit that makes things, and even does custom stuff.
http://www.wlfuller.com/
Thanks for the resource comment, Schooner Fred,
I didn’t know that Fullers does custom stuff. We do use their products–their taper point drills, stop collars, counterbores and countersinks for our #14, #16, #18 bronze screws on the planking.
Come to think of it, that’s another thing we’re really good at breaking around here: drill bits….
We hope you’re having fun with your own crocker schooner project! Brenda