So I cant afford a normal straight edge from the usual suspects so I decided to try and make my own. I can get a 2 1/8"x5"x24" piece of grey cast iron from Mcmaster for $160 and in was thinking of using that and a thinner piece of iron to make a "bride" over the top and weld it in place before machining and scraping it. Any idea if this would cause problems? Also, any suggestions on different ways to make a straight edge?
Surely: "Not at all!"
Need of deep section, then azures for lightening is HIGHLY proportional to o/a length.
At 24" and below? Yah do not necessarily NEED the tall, windowed "camelback" styles. Unless... the SE is going to be transported, knocked around a great deal, etc, in a highly active service.
Should be able to find a used 24" to 30" ready-made for what you cite for raw iron, or now and then a good deal LESS. Parallel-sided with azures - or even solid, and not all that thick - is OK in that short a length.
Doesn't need to be a tall camelback.
THEN yah re-scrape it.
If even it NEEDS that.
And yah know in advance it is worth the effort and will hold what you put into it for long years.
I'm pleased to own Denis Foster's lovely goods. But I'm old. Didn't have anything that nice when younger.
Start cheap. Struggle with lesser goods. Learn what matters and what yah can and cannot do with them.
Grow into a higher level of skill and understanding. But don't bust the budget, Day ONE. You need a decent surface plate, too. And more.
THEN chase "the good stuff" as opportunity for a good deal crosses your radar. PM, even, as other members finish their projects, clear out duplicates, change direction, wind-down a shop and such. Not long ago sold a 30" I had bought FROM a PM member TO
another PM member.. when my latest Denis Foster arrived..
Here's "cheap" - surely NOT "legendary" - but sumthin' yah can "bootstrap" yerself up off of for a saner start than "welding":
Precision 4-Sided Machinist Straight Edge 200mm / 7.87". 741685158135 | eBay
Longer ones in triangular and parallel are "out there". Former East Bloc, India as well as China. I have a vintage East German and a Ukrainian-made, via Moldova, that are value for money. Poles made nice goods, too. My long B&S may be older even than I am. Mighty light in weight after as many times as it has been refinished!
2CW ....and a whole dam' TRIBE of various straight edges!
Which ones see the most use?
The LIGHTEST ones, of course. A brand-new I-Gaging
ignorant steel rule!
I don't really kid myself I can split tenths. Nor have any pressing NEED to do.
Best SE in the world ain't gonna push the scraper blade for yah.
Good blade, handle, and grind, second-rate SE might git 'er done faster than a bitchin' good SE and a shit-lousy scraper, yah?
Master the scraping part first, and wuddn' yah know it? Greasy eyeball lands on that second-rate SE, "SE" becomes the grin on yer face as yah IMPROVE the truant sumbich by yer own hand!