A
Alan H.
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As part of an inspection and cleanup on my mill, I discovered the drawbar threaded end was slightly worn (operator error caused). Since they are a consumable I took measurements so I could make a spare sometime. I then tuned it up a bit so I could put it back.
The shaft part of the bar was nice and true but the large diameter/nut end is slightly canted relative to the shaft.
As a result of this canted big end, the shoulder of the bar was not perfectly true to the long shaft. So I trued it up, made space for a washer, and also trimmed and beveled the threaded end removing a bit of wear/damage. The bar's shoulder also now sits on top of a new bronze washer to prevent any wear to top of the spindle it rides.
I suspect it is likely rare to find a really straight and true drawbar. It may be totally irrelevant since they are mighty flexible and a bit of a crude device anyway. So yeap, I know this may be a bit of perfectionism showing but what the heck, that's how I roll sometimes. I even coated some of the bearing surfaces with colloidal graphite!
Threaded end trimmed, beveled and chased:
Truing the shoulder:
Bronze washer coming off the lathe:
Graphite coating being daubed on before it was reinstalled:
The new washer and shoulder trued up:
The tuned up bar (before graphiting):
The shaft part of the bar was nice and true but the large diameter/nut end is slightly canted relative to the shaft.
As a result of this canted big end, the shoulder of the bar was not perfectly true to the long shaft. So I trued it up, made space for a washer, and also trimmed and beveled the threaded end removing a bit of wear/damage. The bar's shoulder also now sits on top of a new bronze washer to prevent any wear to top of the spindle it rides.
I suspect it is likely rare to find a really straight and true drawbar. It may be totally irrelevant since they are mighty flexible and a bit of a crude device anyway. So yeap, I know this may be a bit of perfectionism showing but what the heck, that's how I roll sometimes. I even coated some of the bearing surfaces with colloidal graphite!
Threaded end trimmed, beveled and chased:
Truing the shoulder:
Bronze washer coming off the lathe:
Graphite coating being daubed on before it was reinstalled:
The new washer and shoulder trued up:
The tuned up bar (before graphiting):