Vintage Cast iron surface plate, is it worth the effort?

[Janderso]

Hey all,
This 15” x 18” cast iron surface plate came to me free of charge!
The question is, should I try to scrape it in to a useable condition? It’s high in the center.
I have a 24” x 18” x 3”granite surface plate for a reference.


It would make a good winter project and it would shake the rust off my limited scraping skills.
I took Mr. Kings week long class back in 2019.

My concern is I would never use it.

Edit, this is my first print. The blue is too thick for one, the effort to get this off the granite just about wore me out.
This will not be easy!!

 

[DavidR8]

Scrape it in and sell it?
On the other hand, it's small and would be easy to store.

 

[tim81]

Keep it

 

[tim81]

Hard to come by now with this prices around

 

[MrWhoopee]

Probably flat enough to make a nice welding table.

Oh, wait, I see you already have one.

 

[benmychree]

Keep it; I might be convinced to loan you my power scraper if that makes a difference.
John

 

[matthewsx]

They say that weightlifting is important to keep our health as we age. Scrape it flat if for no other reason....

John

 

[tim81]

They say that weightlifting is important to keep our health as we age. Scrape it flat if for no other reason....

John

It will flatten the belly too.

 

[Nutfarmer]

I like the power. Scraper idea.

 

[projectnut]

If you think there’s any chance you’ll use in the future you can either scrape it or just set it off to the side until the time comes. I doubt you’ll ever break even if you scrape it and try to sell it.

Anyone willing to pay enough for a precision plate is also going to want it certified. Back a few years ago it was going to cost me far more to have a 24” x 36” Challenge cast iron plate certified than I paid for it.