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| Cast Iron Fixed Steady |
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| fluxcored:
A month ago I saved a cast iron fixed steady in perfect condition from the scrappy. Unfortunately it's still slightly too large for my lathe and the base also does'nt fit onto my v ways. My plan is to cut off the base and a little bit off the length off the steady - I'm still repairing/modifying my height gauge and as soon as I receive some parts will continue with the marking and the cutting of the steady. What I'm unclear about is how to fit the shortened steady to a new base? Should I weld it, should I braze it or should I make the base L shape and bolt the steady to that (which to me is the ugliest repair possible) ? I plan to make the base out of a piece of mild steel. The webs of the steady is about 5mm thick and my inclination is to braze it to the mild steel base. Otherwise I can get some cast iron rods - which is hyper expensive around here - and weld it. It is a great steady and I do'nt want to ruin it. |
| PekkaNF:
I would use bolt joint if possible. I'm from the farm and tried to weld a lot of cast iron. Some welded, many didn't. Many parts cracked eventually in use. If I remember right importat thing was to clean parts well, make good v:s and preheat the parts evenly, after the welding we covered the part and let them cool slowly. Never tried to weld any other metal to cast iron, it was usually a broken lug or a crack. We used stick welder of least 300A rating. I have no idea about brazing or soft soldering of cast iron. My first impression would be trying to swap this steady to something and build steady out of scartch, well I would use arms/shoes. Pekka |
| John Hill:
Cast iron can be brazed but for what you are doing I too suggest bolts. |
| Davo J:
I am another vote for bolting it together. Some cast iron can be a pain to weld even for the experts. Dave |
| mike os:
pin, bolt & glue ... weld/braze is a pita and not really nessary fot this application |
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