Filling deep scratches in lathe ways?

But, if they are too deep, they will just hold chips, and wear down the way wipers, and slide bottom in no time. I agree with filling those.
 
I seem to recall reading the hardened SB beds don't have flaking, only the unhardened ones

-Mark
 
Looking at those pictures closely, the gouges almost look like casting defects more than scratches. Any chance this machine has had the bed reground already, and they exposed those?
 
Those are scores cause by lack of lubrication. I have seen this in many machines before, The metal fatigues and pulls out. The ways also look like they are soft. It's more common on soft ways. On soft bed South Bend lathes. The bed was planned, stoned and scraped for oil lubrication only or something we call "square cutting" it breaks up the surface so it had oil pockets in the bed ways. Then the saddle and tailstock were scraped with bluing to match fit the bed.

The following explains it to the Engineers. It's way above my pay grade...lol:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top