Large Cast Iron Plate - What for?

[DSEL74]

Hi Guys,

I have been offered one maybe two large cast iron plates from an old printing press. At a guess they would be about 1500 x 500mm. They are webbed like a surface plate but the thickness of the top and the webs is much lighter say 10-15mm. I haven't had a good look at them as they were up against a wall in a back shed behind a bunch of stuff. He said there were two but I could only see part of the front one. I can have them if I can move them and load them myself. As I don't have a vehicle to take them, I didn't bother digging them out yet.

I did think they may do as substitute surface plates for low level work or a set up bench. However they are lightly crowned in one direction, and due to size probably more than I would like to hand scrape and too large for most surface grinders. I love anything cast iron and would like to save these and repurpose them but not sure what I can do with them. Very heavy shelf or coffee table for the shed lol.


Any ideas?

[AndrewOC]

Don't be afraid Dsel !
This is the ideal excuse to get a Planer... you know you want to.

Seriously though, if memory serves correctly, there is a handy sized planer at National Steam Centre (Scoresby). Otherwise the networks will come up with someone else's.

I rant about these ideas because I have a similar plate myself... About 900mm x 750mm, weighing maybe 100kg.

enjoy,
AndrewOC

[DSEL74]

Mate I'd have a planer given the opportunity if I had the space. I am hoping to find a 7-9" shaper one day.

What did you plates come off?

Also I'd be interested in seeing photos of your spring hammers.

[nrb]

By what you have described they sound like the tops of type tables,these were used back when letterpress printing was common.
the type was set by hand or line then locked up in a "chase" put onto these tables that had wheels,then taken to the printing machine and slid in.
I have one which I have used for 30 odd years as a make up table for my woodwork projects,mine is about one metre square and being flat and true helps get all my jobs straight.
I first made a table saw out of ot with a lot of help from my friend a printing engineer,this was great as I had no money to buy anything else.

[DSEL74]

This is the small one.http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/14/bc5552876058399d145444d65ef76326.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/14/66e9de928fad2cba4da174c264bbc890.jpg

[clive hugh]

Cast iron plates make good welding tables, we had them where I did my apprenticeship and the good thng was if you got a blob of weld stuck to them you could give it a smack with a cold chisel and it would come out leaving a slight crater at worst. You can't wallop away on them like you can with a steel plate but they definately have their place.

[rob streeper]

I'd take them and come up with an idea for application later. Don't find that kind of stuff often.

[BobL]

If the cast is thick enough you could consider drilling /tapping a wide matrix of holes in them and used the holes either as dog holes or holes for attaching clamps for laying stuff out for welding or any number of other purposes.

[DSEL74]

I have the small one and would like the large one or ones. I just have to find away to move them from Emerald to Lilydale. I'd also like to have an idea what to do with them so the don't get shoved to the back of my shed taking up space and forgotten.

[SurfinNev]

I'd also like to have an idea what to do with them so the don't get shoved to the back of my shed taking up space and forgotten.

Send the biggest to me. :U I don't have a shed to hide it in.

[Ben Dono]

Man sized BBQ plate?

I would grab them!

[AndrewOC]

Sorry, no pictures yet.
The one plate I have is 720 x 920. It has a 40mm square rib around the edge, in between the webs it is half that thickness. The webs are like a Union Jack flag pattern, crosses and diagonals. In the centre is a 3" (?) dia pocket, I imagine for a hydraulic ram. The flat side is curiously rough planed, but flat.
So, it was probably some kind of flat platten press- no idea what for!

I too thought of marking out plate (not precision 'surface plate'), so this monster is on top of a set of steel file card drawers. In them are marking out tools!
However there is the unstoppable pile of junk on top.

cheers,
Andrew.

[DSEL74]

Yours sounds more like a book or paper press plate. Yours is also probably flat not slightly crowned like mine.

[DSEL74]

I had a friend who needed to collect a section of large I-beam from the same place so I offered labour loading in exchange he transported my plate back. It is crowned across the long face. Now where can I find a larger planer?? The one at the steam centre isn't going.

[DSEL74]

I had a friend who needed to collect a section of large I-beam from the same place so I offered labour loading in exchange he transported my plate back. It is crowned across the long face. Now where can I find a larger planer?? The one at the steam centre isn't going.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/27/51c3c84eaa4add40ab3e5652a2773cd0.jpg
Made use of it for now. Made a frame for it by cutting and welding my old benchpress. I'll lower it later when I have someplace to put the stuff underneath and can get the plate flattened.