I found a solution for end caps on the wood vise handle. Not really wood working but it did seem to work. It's kinda like metal/wood/plastic working.
The sprinkler system in my yard has a lot of PVC fittings and the threaded ones often get buggered up. For decades I dug a big hole, cut the damaged fitting out and glued a new one in. Wandering through Harbor Freight a few years ago I found a cheap set of NPT taps and dies, including the 1/2" size that most frequently gets buggered. At $14 it was too good to pass up. I can usually fix a fitting by removing the sprinkler head, tapping the fitting and installing a new ****** between the fitting and sprinkler head.
The dowel I used for the vise handle is 7/8-inch OD but I remembered that NPT fittings are based on 1/2-inch ID so maybe the die will work. Gave it a try and sure enough it started cutting threads.
OK, I wouldn't call the result of the first pass to be threads. More like it shaved down the dowel to a tapered 3/4-inch OD, much closer to the NPT thread size.
Because NPT threads are tapered, I thought (hoped) I could cut a decent set of threads by reversing the die. It isn't like a sharp cut set of threads cut in black pipe but it isn't bad and it cut the shoulder of the reduced dowel much better.
I took a couple of photos of the finished thread but they are all out of focus. You'll have to trust me -- the threads came out pretty decent.
The whole process led to the handle having simple threaded PVC caps on both ends. I had to use a strap wrench and channel-loc pliers to tighten them down. If they ever start to loosen, I'll probably drill a hole and install a fluted dowel.
