I recently finished reconditioning of a very old (100+) Steptoe horizontal mill that had been retrofitted with a Tree vertical head (fairly common in the 70's from what I've read). The Tree head is in perfect shape, has apparently had very light use; I know it had been literally sitting for the last 20+ years but the owner kept it lubed and in a conditioned space.
The Steptoe mill was in surprisingly good shape for it's age. All screws, etc have only 10-15 thou backlash and look to be original. Some chip gouging on the main table bearing surfaces, but not that bad and lots of good surface after stoning everything down.
Biggest issue is the table. In it's former life as a horizontal mill, had a couple of bad table crashes.
A few light ones on the top of the table- but a couple of bad ones right at the T-slots, in a couple of areas.
Small table (9" x 30"), and enough good slot to get the 6" Kurt bolted down in the center and towards each end, but off of center the T-slots have been all but destroyed and can't hold T-nuts.
I'm pretty much resigned to being somewhat limited to vise-held work with this, but I was wondering about whether T-slots can be repaired via some method. Is it possible to get material welded or brazed in, and have T-slots be re-cut?
I know I'm going to be told I'm nutz, but I've got this sickness with old American iron having restored a SB and Sheldon now living in my small shop and making me some coin on the side as well. I know I could send it off and have it planed or ground, but I've never seen a discussion here about repairing trashed T-slots.
Are there machine rebuilders that do this, and if so, what procedure is used?
The Steptoe mill was in surprisingly good shape for it's age. All screws, etc have only 10-15 thou backlash and look to be original. Some chip gouging on the main table bearing surfaces, but not that bad and lots of good surface after stoning everything down.
Biggest issue is the table. In it's former life as a horizontal mill, had a couple of bad table crashes.
A few light ones on the top of the table- but a couple of bad ones right at the T-slots, in a couple of areas.
Small table (9" x 30"), and enough good slot to get the 6" Kurt bolted down in the center and towards each end, but off of center the T-slots have been all but destroyed and can't hold T-nuts.
I'm pretty much resigned to being somewhat limited to vise-held work with this, but I was wondering about whether T-slots can be repaired via some method. Is it possible to get material welded or brazed in, and have T-slots be re-cut?
I know I'm going to be told I'm nutz, but I've got this sickness with old American iron having restored a SB and Sheldon now living in my small shop and making me some coin on the side as well. I know I could send it off and have it planed or ground, but I've never seen a discussion here about repairing trashed T-slots.
Are there machine rebuilders that do this, and if so, what procedure is used?