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vtsteam:
Mostly impatience, Josh! I thought about it and went, nah, just melt some metal. :)

If I had to do it over, though, I probably would core it.

Two ways to do it -- either greensand core or baked sand core. The first is much faster, but trickier molding for a fairly narrow slot and requires a fair amount of draft. So much so that the slots are very tapered.

With a 1" thick pattern, and a 3/4" wide slot it gets questionable whether the core will break off when pulling the pattern. Rapping works well to create clearance for the perimeter of a pattern, but if there's a narrow core inside, it tends to shear the base. You want a lot of draft and just the right ramming. It can be done -- I have in the past, but it can be frustrating and take a lot of tries. Sand has to be just right.

A baked sand core is easier molding, but requires making a core box, and baking the cores and adding core prints to the pattern. Yes I know about sodium silicate and CO2, but that doesn't save most of this effort.

re sand cores, I'm the usual hard-headed low tech reactionary -- I don't mind 20 minutes of a nce molasses odor coming from a toaster oven. My wife is constantly baking, and they can go right in with the cookies, too. Baked sand seems surer to me -- my cores work every time and crumble properly. Seen a lot of failures online of the more sophisticated stuff, and I don't need the expense, shelf life problems, and the need and space for gas cylinders in the shop, etc. I just uhh borrow a tiny amount of simple materials from the kitchen and get-her done.

Manxmodder:
Steve,I just remembered where I recently saw this interesting home built lathe.
Check it out some of his ideas,might be some use to you.....OZ.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/threads/39202-Shop-Made-Tools?p=682515#post682515

vtsteam:
Well Oz thanks. Always interesting to see another hombuilt lathe. :beer:

vtsteam:
I finally got the gib fitted today:

vtsteam:
And here's the tailstock casting in place on the lathe:

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