@rocknroller912 Firstly, you need to understand that what you mean by lathe is likely more capable than what I own, it’s one of these:

so there is no means to clamp anything into it. Thank you for all your…   Read more»

@rocknroller912 I only have tiny hobby wood lathe, no way it would have the torque needed to cut thread in steel. I’d not really considered this. So, plan B, i could use a softer metal, brass or aluminium and the…   Read more»

@rocknroller912 sounds like a good plan too, I’ve got to get some more tube anyway now as the piece I was using went astray!

I’d never contemplated butchering mine, will investigate later!!

did a bit of surgery on the bit that adjusts the height of cut

@frocesterbill What did you do for this?

@boo yeah that might help, don’t have any the right size but can turn some the right size. Other thoughts were sacrificing  the end where it’s clamped, using oil for cutting or getting thicker walled tubing.