There are many times when I need to thread a block of wood: to make a waste block or jam chuck, to devise an adapter of some sort to drive a turning, or to make an object to hold a uniquely shaped turning while it is on the lathe.
Tapping wood is distinctly different from working with metal. Considerations are many: the species of wood and its hardness, the type of grain, the orientation of the object to be made, and the realization that there is an assortment of tap sizes. One thing is certain: Tapping endgrain does not work at all.
Getting the tap started straight without losing the first half of the threads in the hole can also be a problem, especially if you have to start the tap by hand.
I finally came up with a solution that is low cost, easy to make, and more important, works every time.
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