Thread: Broke my lathe

While pressing in the bushing, (trying to replace the two bushings that the head uses by way of bearings) the cast iron mount cracked. Do any of you metal masters know if cast iron can be welded like steel? its a tiny, ancient thing, that really was little more than a spinning device for my adventures in slow speed grinding. Even if it can be welded, is it worth the cost?

It can be with nickle rod. You best have a friend though; a good welder gets better money than I ever did.
HF does a good job for cheap wood lathes.
~Richard

cast can be brazed,can you post a pic,a brazed joint is not a strong joint Tho.

Get someone who knows how to use the nickle rod and knows how to deal with cast, not every welder can.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

cast can be brazed,can you post a pic,a brazed joint is not a strong joint Tho.

+1.

I'd be rather hesitant to work a lathe that has been repaired like that.
Because it is not as strong as it originally was (it's not a weld) and I'd rather not have it coming apart when it is spinnign and I'm in front of it.

you could always try the bay for a new head. I have a spare for my 1950's craftsman I got off the ebay

Cast can be welded, but it's going to be pricey if done correctly. I've never done it, but the way I was told it is done is the part is prepped, heated in an oven, welded, then put back into the oven or in sand to slowly cool. If it is cooled too quickly the weld may separate.

I used something similar to this with good results; Cast Iron Repair, How To Repair Castiron, Cast Iron Radiators, Castiron Repair
Can't find the rods I used, got both for Al fix and cast iron.

At this point,nobody really knows what is cracked,I suspect the bearing race is in which case the headstock is most likley toast.
If an american wood lathe one can find another headstock no prob.
If a metal lathe getting a headstock is at best iffy as the headstock is usually hand fitted to the ways matching the tailstock,a lost art.

It sounds as if you described it as a tiny lathe. Not used for cutting much, but sanding and grinding. It might be fine as-brazed with bronze. I have seen the stuff hold up to some extreme punishment. I also have a friend which can weld cast, esp old, good cast. Post a picture of the machine and broken part. Maybe I can help.