Thread: Dovetail straight edge & scraping dovetails

OK first of all can I get suggestions as to a source for dovetail straight edges - finished or raw stock? Look for old cast iron equipment and go at it with an angle grinder perhaps?

Second I guess I am a bit nervous about scraping dovetails. I have my technique down a bit more for getting things flat and that wasn't particularly easy. How hard is it to get your dovetails scraped so they're bang on?
Do you need one of those kingway style measuring tools, or any other unusual equipment?
Do you need a large granite square for properly doing a mill?

Edit - would a steel straight edge work? cast iron can be hard to come by. A large piece of mild steel sure would be easy to obtain... Railroads have good dimensions.
Edit again - wow - https://www.instagram.com/p/BggpXJDB...=robinrenzetti

PDW did have some straight edge castings for sale, not sure if he is still on the forum.
Richard king in the USA has straight edge castings on Ebay but they are costly.
You could fabricate one like robin renzetti, for a one off job you wouldn't have to harden it.
How long does your straight edge need to be?
I have patterns for 1M I beam and camelback straight edges, maybe i should fix them up and find a foundry to cast them......

G'day,
If you look up Keith on youtube he has a good video on scraping his saddle/cross slide. You don't need a kingway, some correctly sized dowell pins for the dovetail and a mic will work.
If you send PDW a message he may still have some straight edges available as he has had some cast.
Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org

Originally Posted by snapatap

PDW did have some straight edge castings for sale, not sure if he is still on the forum.

Generally not, I haven't been well and have some big demands on my time. However I've recently finally finished my sailboat at last.

As it happens I got a new batch of castings from the foundry just before Easter. I have some spares in the 650mm dovetail, 375mm dovetail and both sizes of right angle squares. I've done most of the machining on the dovetail straight edges, should get them finished in another week or so.

This is most likely the last time I'll get any cast due to other commitments and the foundry being quite backlogged with work. I ordered this lot last October.

So if anyone wants one send me a PM as I'm not here very much.

PDW

Whilst you can scrape steel, you do not really want to. It comes off in super sharp needles that will treat you like a pin cushion at every opportunity.