n2zon
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2014
- Location
- Dutchess County NY
On my lathe, the compound ranges from loose at one end of its travel to tight at the other. It appears as though there is a straight female dovetail, and a tapered male dovetail that matches the tapered gib, or did once.
The female dovetail is about .002" narrower at one end than the other, measured over dowel pins with a tenths-reading micrometer.
I have a few questions.
1. Am I right that one dovetail is supposed to be straight? This would seem to make sense but I want to verify my assumption.
2. How should I measure worn dovetails? Over ball bearings? Over short dowel pin sections? Some other way?
3. What should be done as a first step? My first thought was to find someone to grind the worn dovetail straight or get a surface grinder and do it myself. (It would probably not be my very first surface grinding project.)
4. I haven't accurately measured the male dovetail/gib combination yet, but my dial indicator shows it's a lot closer to the same dimension end to end than the female dovetail. Should I get that taper reground and get or make a new gib before trying to scrape or if things seem "a lot better," can I live with it as-is and try to get things to fit reasonably well?
This machine is in a home shop, not in production use. I'm not after perfection, just good usability.
Last, but not least, am I even thinking about this the right way, or am I way off-base?
The female dovetail is about .002" narrower at one end than the other, measured over dowel pins with a tenths-reading micrometer.
I have a few questions.
1. Am I right that one dovetail is supposed to be straight? This would seem to make sense but I want to verify my assumption.
2. How should I measure worn dovetails? Over ball bearings? Over short dowel pin sections? Some other way?
3. What should be done as a first step? My first thought was to find someone to grind the worn dovetail straight or get a surface grinder and do it myself. (It would probably not be my very first surface grinding project.)
4. I haven't accurately measured the male dovetail/gib combination yet, but my dial indicator shows it's a lot closer to the same dimension end to end than the female dovetail. Should I get that taper reground and get or make a new gib before trying to scrape or if things seem "a lot better," can I live with it as-is and try to get things to fit reasonably well?
This machine is in a home shop, not in production use. I'm not after perfection, just good usability.
Last, but not least, am I even thinking about this the right way, or am I way off-base?