Steel On Cast Lathe Ways

4gsr said:
Wreck,

You trying to intimidate us with showing us a "Omnirest" steady rest????
Click to expand...

No, just pointing out that if a component does not often move about on the ways under power a steel base will not damage them.
 
If you're really concerned about the wear, you might consider milling out some channels for moglice (a bed-way epoxy compound) at the interface to the ways, and doing an in-place casting against the ways on the machine by injecting the moglice between the milled-out follower channels and the ways. Have a look at this video - he goes through the process of doing this (on the cross slide, compound as well as the apron-to-bedways):
 
If you want steel maybe think about a chunk of 12L14. It’s very soft and ductile. I make rivets out of it all the time. It forms well with a hammer and holds its shape. It’s got some lead in it. I can’t see it wearing cast iron anymore than cast iron itself. I think it would be compatible with your cast iron ways. It could start to rust faster than other steels though…Dave.
 
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