"Routing" cast iron.

[jasonB]

What I <really> need is an old boy in a brown dust coat with a flat belt drive milling machine in his garden shed that has been there since just before the last war..... But sadly, there aren't many of 'em left

Well I've not got the brown coat, am not an old boy and it may not be driven by overhead line shafting but I do have a Milling machine in my shed, only problem is you are in the wrong end of the country :wink:

Jason

 

[beech1948]

Hi,
I live miles from you but have had to face up this sort of problem a couple of times.

I tried local engineering shops but they were either far too expensive or just plain disinterested.

My local blacksmith was likewise a waste of time.

But one day in the summer I was driving down a lane close to my house and spotted an open garage door, a metal working lathe, a mill and number of large metalworking tools all in a suitably grimy garage.

I stopped, I chatted and found a nice old guy who later did the work relieving a CI table from my bandsaw to fit an after market fence from the USofA. It cost me a couple of hours of chat, two pints and I now have somewhere to go to hide from my wife where she won't find me.

Maybe you should look at your local metal workers, model makers, or similar associations local or not as they may give you the name of someone to go and chat to.

regards

alan

 

[dickm]

But one day in the summer I was driving down a lane close to my house and spotted an open garage door, a metal working lathe, a mill and number of large metalworking tools all in a suitably grimy garage.

I stopped, I chatted and found a nice old guy who later did the work relieving a CI table from my bandsaw to fit an after market fence from the USofA. It cost me a couple of hours of chat, two pints and I now have somewhere to go to hide from my wife where she won't find me.

Maybe you should look at your local metal workers, model makers, or similar associations local or not as they may give you the name of someone to go and chat to.

<That> sounds like the guy I want. But did he have a brown dust-coat?

I'm following up your suggestion of local model engineers - I notice the Aberdeen ME club literature admits "new members needed- we are a dwindling band"

 

[dickm]

Just to update, I tried the local model engineering folk, but noone had a mill big enough for the job. Asked around the professionals, and most of them quoted around £50, which is probably reasonable, but then found a company down a side road about 2 miles from home who said £30. He's done a superb job, and there's absolutely no sign of distortion.

Mind you, the kit he has is scary - the first machine inside the door has a 3 foot diameter chuck! But oil industry jobs need things that size
If anyone in North East Scotland wants his contact details, let me know.

 

[wizer]

Those back street workshops are what keeps the country running. I recently needed a trolley made up for my Triton Workcentre. Looked on Yell for metal fabricators, got quotes ranging from £200-£800 Then found a welder's workshop on an industrial estate. The place was scarey. Almost pitch black whilst they were working. He charged me £90 and did a fantastic job!