My gap has a crack!

[fizzy]

Fortunately not all the way through.
Hope it doesn't get worse.
Before and after citric acid. Only just fitted the mop bucket. Flipping heavy!

 

[God mode restorations]

What's it like underneath

 

[God mode restorations]

You sure it's a crack and not a casting defect

 

[Screwdriver]

Doesn't look like a crack. I think that's a casting flaw. Just a seam from the mold...

 

[Screwdriver]

Haha. You beat me by a "moment".

 

[fizzy]

I suspect it is a casting mark. Would have been hidden by paint of course.

 

[brightspark]

wouldn't worry about it 2 much its not in a position to affect the machines performance if it did split it would be easy to drill through the side tap it and a couple of bolts through

 

[fizzy]

Picture of underside. Mark runs opposite way!
How do I polish the ways to get them shiny?

 

[brightspark]

I just rub mine up with scotch pad and duck oil then clean off with celly thinners then oil them . just been getting surface rust of my lathe this aftie

 

[fizzy]

At the moment it has the dull grey cast iron look and yet the ways on the main bed are lovely and shiny.

 

[God mode restorations]

I just rub mine up with scotch pad and duck oil then clean off with celly thinners then oil them . just been getting surface rust of my lathe this aftie

Thsts the method I use to.

 

[Brad93]

Start with wire wool it’s kinder.

If the rust is real bad then use the scotchbrite

 

[Screwdriver]

I wouldn't touch it off the machine. Polish it in place by all means but those things should be matched within tenths if not hundredths of a thou. If there is the slightest step at all, it will show up on the workpiece.

 

[fizzy]

Start with wire wool it’s kinder.

If the rust is real bad then use the scotchbrite

I have used wire wool. It won't polish though. Proper cast iron surface. Rub your finger on it you get a black greasy mark. Even after a hot caustic bath.

 

[Screwdriver]

Are the ways not hardened? I would be wary of doing anything to it at all separate from the main bed.

<edit> zoiks! hot caustic. Hope it hasn't twisted or distorted.

 

[fizzy]

Are the ways not hardened? I would be wary of doing anything to it at all separate from the main bed.

<edit> zoiks! hot caustic. Hope it hasn't twisted or distorted.

Hand hot!
Main ways are induction hardened but not sure about the gap

 

[indy4x]

I wouldn't touch it off the machine. Polish it in place by all means but those things should be matched within tenths if not hundredths of a thou. If there is the slightest step at all, it will show up on the workpiece.

Having removed the gap piece on my Harrison I can confirm it was an interesting exercise getting it to line up once back on the lathe

 

[God mode restorations]

You could polish that for an hour it wouldn't do **** all to its alignment.

 

[brightspark]

remember at college the technician wasn't to happy about having to remove the gap bed and put it back in

 

[God mode restorations]

I appreciate they an be bit of a pain to remove but only if ya lathe isn't level. If they are such a delicate part to mess with then manufacturers wouldn't of put em there in the first place