Thread: Hafco AL50GA

As far as I know the gibs are just mild stock. I lost one on an AL-50 I had a number of years ago so made a replacement using mild stock. I simply filed using a very fine file checking with a micrometer as I went - finishing with fine emery, and again, a micrometer. Some lathes and mills have V shaped gibs making sizing critical; however, I don't believe that is the case with straight gibs. No doubt this method will meet with much derission - but it worked for me.

Ok, thanks for that, I will see is I can find some stock around that size and try it , cheers.

If you don't mind me asking but, how would you lose a Gib bar ?

Originally Posted by Holmatas

Hi all, I have a Hafco Metalmaster Al50GA lathe, and have always had a tight spot in the cross silde. After inspection again I have a slight bend in the Gib Bar that I think is causing the problem. Can anyone tell me are these bars hardened, can they be straightened ?

Gib bars can be steel or cast iron. I've seen both used.

If the bar is bowed then it's highly likely it's steel and can be straightened fairly easily (cold).

The cross slide gib on my Schaublin was like this and easily rectified - although you will need to grind it on an oilstone for correct fit afterwards.

However, the gibs on my Chinese lathe are cast and can break/chip.

Try filing the end of the gib to see what it's made of.

Rob

I had the lathe in pieces to make it lighter when moving. I had oiled everything and wrapped all in newspaper. From memory I think there were two gibs, associated screws and a few other bits and pieces all in the same bundle. That bundle disappeared, probably into the bin as it would have just looked like the other bundles of old, oily newspaper. Lost lots of stuff in the same manner over the years - annoying and expensive.

Originally Posted by nearnexus

Gib bars can be steel or cast iron. I've seen both used.

If the bar is bowed then it's highly likely it's steel and can be straightened fairly easily (cold).

The cross slide gib on my Schaublin was like this and easily rectified - although you will need to grind it on an oilstone for correct fit afterwards.

However, the gibs on my Chinese lathe are cast and can break/chip.

Try filing the end of the gib to see what it's made of.

Rob

Yeah files easy , no harder than mild steel , but has been ground on both edges !

The gib strip on that lathe is normally plain soft steel. Check the gib strip for both a bend and for twist. The latter often gets forgotten to check and fix. Both defects will cause localized binding of the slide. Final Flattening on an oilstone will get rid of small bulges. The surface towards the saddle dovetail should be polished, to reduce future wear on the soft cast iron dovetail.