Bouquet for Carbatec

[Bushmiller]

Rcently I bought a timber thread cutter from Carbatec similar to the one below. Initially I purchased the 3/4", but on realising that I had made a mistake returned it unused for the 1" model. No problem.

It was at least a couple of weeks before I got to use it but when I did, I had difficulty cutting threads. I was replacing a handle on a wooden mallet. The head I drilled and started to tap and although I succeeded I bent the T-bar handle with my hands and in the end used a very small pair of stillsons. A bit rough, I know. Next time I'll use a large pair of stillsons .

The real problem was when I came to put the thread on the handle. All I did was round off the timber stock to about 2mm less than the original diameter. I had a couple of goes with different pieces of timber without success.

So I phoned Caratec to get advice. I had a long chat with the guy to see if I was doing something wrong. Eventually it became apparent that there should be a cutter in the device. The "die" is not like the metal counterpart and there is a completely separate cutter.

I explained that it had taken a while getting to this point because there were no instructions in the kit and a small domed nut was also missing. The nut holds the blade in place. Clearly the box had been plundered for parts.

Without hesitation he said "I'll send you another kit" . To my mind this is how service should be. It endears me to the company and I consider it my duty to pass on my experience to others.

Thanks Carbatec.

Regards
Paul

[malb]

Good on them for coming good for you.
Any chance that you inserted handle into the metal side of the die block. My understanding is that it goes in on the blade side, and the formed thread runs through the the metal part which controls pitch etc.

[Bushmiller]

Good on them for coming good for you.
Any chance that you inserted handle into the metal side of the die block. My understanding is that it goes in on the blade side, and the formed thread runs through the the metal part which controls pitch etc.

. It would have been nice if it were that simple. You can't see it in the pic but there is a block of wood similar in thickness to the cutter block behind the cutter block. It has a hole of the required diameter and acts as a guide for the timber spindle. It is held in place by two tiny threaded bolts. When that guide block is removed a slot is revealed in the main cutter block which holds the cutter blade. Except I didn't know that was it's purpose. Both the cutter blade, the domed bolt which holds the cutter blade in place and the instructions (which any red blooded male would discard as superflouous anyway ) were missing.

The threaded aluminium section you can see in the picture is really like a follower to keep the thread at the required spacing. The only resemblance to a metal cutting die is the fact that it is round and that was why I didn't twig to the missing parts.

At least that's my story .

Regards
Paul

[jimbur]

Nice to hear of good service after all the flak they copped in a recent post. Might just be me but I also get the impression that the prices of some items have eased.