Broken Part

[Ancora]

I have an Atlas/Craftsman 6" lathe with a broken compound rest tool post slide. Clausing wants $187.96 for the part. Sounds steep to me. Have not seen it on Ebay yet. Any ideas?

 

[Whyemier]

You could attempt to braze it, if that option is available to you. Or. you could try machining a new one on the mill. The ball oiler can be had cheaper than a new piece from Clausing. If no mill or brazing option. Could be $187.96 is worth the cost.

You from Oceanside? I was born there but left when my father returned from Korea. Never been back.

 

[ch2co]

Before going into debt to buy a new one, I would attempt to braze it. I'm not a welder by any definition but I have brazed cast parts much like this on several occasions, and they all came out looking and working great.
A decent brazing job should be stronger than the cast part. Lots of flux and get the whole part hot before applying any rod.

CHuck the grumpy old guy

 

[hermetic]

Make a new one in steel, that one has broken for a reason, looks like it is a bit weak in that area!
Phil

 

[Mondo]

"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it."

Braze or weld, little will be lost in trying!

Spiral_Chips

 

[David VanNorman]

Id'e go with the Brazeing groove it good support it make sure it is clean get it hot and brazeit.

 

[Billh50]

Braze it and if you are uneasy about it keep looking for one on ebay while you are using the brazed part. At least you will have a working lathe while looking for another slide.

 

[pineyfolks]

If you can't repair it, you could adapt another small lathe compound to it.

 

[westsailpat]

Welding will be tricky, not impossible IMO , because you will be joining the dove tail back together . I see compound parts all the time on the bay, rarely are they a bargain . Just keep looking one will come along .

 

[Firebrick43]

If you braze it mill a piece of heavy steel to clamp it to. Mill a shallow groove across the piece to keep from brazing to it. Make sure the piece is F L A T to keep alignment. A side milled would be good to to push the dovetail edge up to. Place two small pieces of ground rod in the dove tail with a gap where braze joint would be and of sufficient diameter keep the edge away from the block. Two new drill bit shanks of the same size would work well with a function after the job. Clamp very securely the flux and braze.

Also just another note about price. 187 dollar is dirt cheap in the machinery world. Last monarch I worked on needed a 2.5 inch uhmw Geneva escapement wheel for the gear change mechanism. Pretty mundane part for the 995 dollars they charged.