Gib material

R

rzw0wr

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I have a medium sized mill.
I found that the table gib is bad.
The back of the gib does not contact the seating area because the gib was too thin when it was made.
I have heard that plastic can be used.
Any ideas on what plastic?

Thank you,
Dale
 
Unless it's a tapered gib I'd use cold rolled steel. Tapered, probably cast iron. Many plastics will abosrb oil and loose strength. True, some won't but a tapered gib is not something to be made from plastic. If it were, I think we'd find it in all our mills.
 
I think I'm the only one on this site who is curious about a plastic composite gib. All the Sherline gibs are tapered and they work really well. I am not sure what the composition is but it is tough, long-wearing and cheap. If I were going to try this, I would call Sherline to see if they would reveal the composite they use. Not sure it will work for other machines but I will definitely try it if or when I need to change gibs on my other machines.
 
T Bredehoft said:
You may have something, there, Mikey, I'm still working in the 20th century...
Click to expand...

Yeah, me, too! I'm just curious about this. If I didn't have the experience with my Sherline machines, I wouldn't think it would work, either. Thing is, I have loaded those machines waaay beyond what they were designed for and have had zero issues with play or wear in the gibs and that is what gave me a clue that there might be something to it.
 
Might try something like Nylatron, aka Nylon 6/6, which is a graphite impregnated nylon. Not soft by any stretch but has good low-friction qualities. I used it as substitute gib and wear pad material on the frame of my power hacksaw. Can be used with or without oil. Downside is it’s mostly in rod form, but depending on the size of the gib you could take it out of a piece of round.

-frank
 
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