Lathe Cross Slide Problem

[stevec]

Ed, just how much material (if any) would be left beyond the thread depth if you removed enough material from the rounded end of the nut? I would think you would not need much and the less material the easier for the setscrew(?) to distort the nut in order to take up for thread wear?
I'm remembering you changed the leadscrew Dia. from .5" to .625" as per Ken's 5/8" acme tap so that ate some material right?
Lastly what would be the problem with Ken just making a solid nut? It would seem to me that the new materials would be superior to the orig. and we're not talking about a 2 or three shift operation of the lathe. I'd bet a solid nut and maybe a back up spare would last longer than you.
Just my take.