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  1. #1
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    Aug 2015
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    Default Great bar of cast iron - can anyone help cut it (and keep some)?

    Hi all,

    I have been keeping my eye out for cast iron at the local scrap yard that would be suitable for making some straight edges and dovetail templates as I gear up for some resto work on the lathe and mill. You don't see too much cast iron about that isn't shaped like a pump, or something.

    I saw this and grabbed it for a song. It is a 110cmx20cmx8cm. The 'ears' at each end extend on that given length. It must weight in at a 120kg or so. It is an elevator weight.

    IMAG0511[1].jpg


    If anybody out there is after some cast, and they have the means to help me cut a length or two off this they are welcome to share it with me.

    If nobody, then all hints as to how (or where - even professionally) I may get it cut are welcome!

    Many thanks.

    Greg.

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Default

    Usually helps to put a location so people know where you are. Just putting "Australia" is not very helpful.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  3. #3
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    Apologies, my oversight. Elwood, Melbourne.

  4. #4
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    Believe it or not, but I've cut long stuff like that in my 6X4 bandsaw, set up a roller stand each end of the saw and push as you go, used a 12 tooth bi-metal blade.
    I take it you want to cut through the 80 mm side, so they end up 1100 X 80 X ??
    Hope this is of some help.
    Kryn

  5. #5
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    On a 6x4! Holy cr*p!! I have one but never imaged it could be used. ain't got no rollers though but sure is an interesting idea. wow.

  6. #6
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    Hi Greg,

    I reckon that might be suitable for scraping class blocks, if Phil is about he'd be the one who could assess it's suitablility for scraping,

    If it's too hard, then it might need to have the skin skimmed and heat treated to get it stable and suitable for use.

    Ray

  7. #7
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    May 2011
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    Quote Originally Posted by StrayAlien View Post
    On a 6x4! Holy cr*p!! I have one but never imaged it could be used. ain't got no rollers though but sure is an interesting idea. wow.
    Doesn't need to be rollers, just something to support it, parts of a pallet, pipe rollers, anything to help support it, unless you're Superman.
    Just a matter of thinking outside the square. I've cut 400 X 300 X 50 with it to make several pieces 50 X 50 X 400, for a T&C grinder, under construction.
    Kryn

  8. #8
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    Kryn, thanks, that certainly is inspiring. Though cast can get a darn hard skin on it as I have found. I have a few small cast rounds (weights from sash windows) that the 6x4 simply will *not* cut - after 15mins (with me adding some pressure occasionally it managed about 1mm. I just put a new blade on it but not a 'bimetal' one (B200 | Band Saw Blade | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au). Bimetal is better suited to cast?

    Ray, I have been keeping an eye out for CI for a scraping class as well. It was one of the things about it that made me want to grab this one. According to Phil, the last block he bought cost a bucketload and added something like $70 to the cost for each student. I could be wrong though.

    Thinking that some extra for a scraping class (or two) might be good I went back to the scrapyard the day after to see if I could snaffle another bar - but they had sold them all on.

    However, I reckon if I can 'shave' a (say) 1100x80x40 slice off one side that would still leave a 1100x80x160 block ... which should likely be enough material for a class - if the material were suitable. Speaking of suitability ... I guess I should ask whether this material might be suitable for straight edges? I have no idea ... I just grabbed it because it was cast.

  9. #9
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    [QUOTE=StrayAlien;1898302]Kryn, thanks, that certainly is inspiring. Though cast can get a darn hard skin on it as I have found. I have a few small cast rounds (weights from sash windows) that the 6x4 simply will *not* cut - after 15mins (with me adding some pressure occasionally it managed about 1mm. I just put a new blade on it but not a 'bimetal' one (B200 | Band Saw Blade | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au). Bimetal is better suited to cast?

    Bi-metal blades are better all round, full stop, they last at least 3 times longer if not more. That's all I've ever used in 30 + years. If you still have trouble cutting the weights, I believe, (I could be wrong) that throwing them in a fire, heating them red hot? and letting them cool slowly, will make them easier to cut and work.
    Kryn

  10. #10
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    I've been cutting bigger stuff than that on my 6x4 saw. If you take the fixed vice jaw off, you can fit 8" width in and by cutting from both sides, you can cut a bit more than 8" high. I use large clamps then to clamp the work directly to the table.
    The BIG trick with the 6x4 saws and large sections is to get a bimetal 4, 4.5 or 5 teeth per inch blade! I got one welded up to suit my very old Rung Fu and it makes it a great saw for big stuff!
    NEVER cut anything less than 3 or 4 teeth in contact though. The blade will jump off, the motor will stall or you break something. So I keep the blade hanging up just for big stuff. My other saw blades are bimetal variable tooth count of 10-14 and 14-18 teeth per inch.
    Cast iron is pretty easy on the old 6x4. I've cut some 6" hydraulic ram cylinder tube with mine - and it struggle a bit. But cut it alright with coaxing....
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  11. #11
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    melbourne
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    I've got a power hacksaw that'd do the job

    I'm in Hampton

  12. #12
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    Hi John,
    That must be a big saw, if it can cut a piece 1100 wide, any chance of a photo please.
    Kryn

  13. #13
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    Aug 2015
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    Thanks John, Kryn kind of beat me to it! Can it be fed in lengthwise? Vertical I am guessing?

    jhovel. Thanks for the info. My 6x4 is also an old Rung Fu. Regardless of how this works out, sounds like I should be getting a coarse bimetal blade.

  14. #14
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    oooooh, lengthwise

    missed that bit

    sounds like a job for the vertical bandsaw, not sure I'd have the patience to feed it through by hand though

    starting to sound like a job for a horizontal mill

  15. #15
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    OOps, I too missed the bit about cutting it LENGTHWISE.... that's a wole different problem. Even a milling machine will have trouble cutting 80 deep.... Sounds like you might have to find a firm with a VERY large bandsaw. Biggest I know of locally cuts 610...
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

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