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Thread: Repairing cracked iron tailstock
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10th September 2023, 11:51 PM #1
Repairing cracked iron tailstock
I recently noticed that the tailstock on my old Jet JWL1236 lathe kept slipping a little bit. And a closer look showed the problem: a nice crack through the iron casting.
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Even with perfect material and circumstances my steel welding is pretty crap, so there's no way I would even try a cast iron repair.
Cant afford to pay someone to repair it either.
Replacing it would cost more than I paid for the whole machine second hand.
So, I'm thinking to try a bodge repair for now, and long-term start saving for a replacement lathe.
Looking at the mechanics of it the main issue would be the cracked leg splaying outwards as the cam shaft tightens it down against the bed rails. So my plan is to drill 2 aligned sets of holes on either side of the tailstock, one in front of the camshaft hole, one behind, then run a bolt through from one side to the other and tighten them up.
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Thoughts?
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10th September 2023 11:51 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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11th September 2023, 09:20 AM #2.
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I would seriously consider a JBWeld (or similar) metal filled epoxy glue repair.
This stuff is phenomenal and I use it on chainsaws and it has never failed me.
The gap would need to be scrupulously cleaned by repeated flushing will meths and then dried with a hot air gun.
You would also need a syringe to see if you can force the JBWeld into the crack.
Light clapming across the crack to hold it in place wile it dries.
You could gain extra strength by flooding inside the back of the crack with a thick layer of JBWeld.
The paint would need to be totally stripped off the section to be glued and it would need to be well cleaned..
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11th September 2023, 09:52 AM #3
Mr Heffa....I feel your pain (what else can go wrong.....) you could try asking some one on the Metalwork Forum living nearby if they could weld/braze it for you. They may have similar money concerns and may be happy to do it free (no harm in asking)
Just do it!
Kind regards Rod
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11th September 2023, 01:59 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
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I agree with Bob. JBWeld is good stuff and works well with castings, particularly in low stress applications. I used it to glue a broken foot on an big,old three phase electric motor driving a rip saw. It was meant to be a temporary fix. Still going strong 5years later.
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11th September 2023, 08:59 PM #5
Thanks muchly for the ideas guys
I'm gonna have a go with the JBWeld epoxy
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29th January 2024, 08:58 PM #6
Well, coming back to post an update on developments.
Using syringes with 16G needles to get as far into the crack as possible, I first cleaned it with Isopropyl and air, then filled with JB Weld. I clamped it from all angles and left it for 24 hrs. The result was pretty much seamless, a perfect clean repair. I re-assembled, mounted it back on the rails, and carefully but firmly tightened it down. At less than half way tight there was a tiny 'ping' and the crack re-opened, but this time deeper.
I asked a mate who is a structural eng and fabricator. His opinion: even an experienced iron welder probably couldnt patch it as the casting needs to be much thicker to weld. Thermal spray welding might have a chance, but too expensive for such a cheap part. He reckoned it's just designed cheap and to break.
His solution? For short term, drill out the ends of the cracks so it wont get longer, and reinforce with the bolts. Longer tern, either a new lathe or a home built tailstock: heavy, overbuilt from layers of welded solid 20mm plate stock
So I did the short term fix, and its holding up really well for now
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1st February 2024, 08:47 AM #7GOLD MEMBER
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A seamless joint is not good with JBWeld. The glue is forced out by the clamps if they are tight and the joint is starved of adhesive.
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1st February 2024, 09:24 AM #8GOLD MEMBER
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