Well, thought I would post an update, I managed to get it threaded and I appreciate all the help from everyone here. I thought I could look in and watch my threading tool and stop when required but it was a real pain to do that. So instead I could hear the tool cutting and once you couldnt hear it cut I disengaged the half nuts. It worked like a charm this time, but in the future will rig up a dial indicator to do it properly! Also found a piece of HSS that was in my junk drawer that someone had ground already to make the relief cut to finish the threads into.