On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:06:40 +0100, Dave Fawthrop
wrote:

Any one with a small lathe should be able to cut any small thread

If it's an imperial lathe.

Screwcutting lathes are either imperial or metric, and most by now will
be metric (made or converted). Cutting the "wrong sort" of thread
requires a 127 tooth changewheel. Small lathes don't have the banjo
space for such a big wheel and even on large lathes they're quite a rare
accessory (and keenly fought over when they show up).