Dividing head restoration

[Susquatch]

I'm guessing that you are assuming the keyway extends to the end of the shaft. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Yup, I didn't picture it like that. You are not gunna pull that out. I like @dabblers suggestion best. A die grinder with a thin blade can slice it and then you can squeeze the remaining ears together and slide it out!

 

[Canadium]

Finished!!! Well sort of. It always seems to me that my projects are never really finished. There is always something more that could be tweeked or improved. But I reach a point where I tell myself enuf already! Its good enuf and its time to move on. I often begin with a dream of making it look like new again but somewhere along the way I compromise and it becomes just get it working again. In this case the paint job was a first experiment in hammered look paints. IMO it was a disaster but better than nothing. I didn't bother with trying for a shiny like new look on many of the parts. Its an "Evaporust Grey" finish with a thin coating of oil for rust protection. Besides there are a lot of deep dents and scratches that would show more on a shiny finish.

When I first started out on this project this Walter 125 dividing head was a totally seized up boat anchor! Now it works and I'm hoping to cut some gears with it. A shout out to @trlvn and @CWret for inspiring me to get back in to my metal working projects after a long hiatus!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

[combustable herbage]

Very nice Ian your efforts and attention have manifested your vision into an incredible result.
You took something that 99% of this world would think is junk and turned it into a functional tool that now that could last another 100 years. I wouldn't be too hard on yourself for the paint job its looks very like that era.
I am so happy you have finished this project and onward and upwards to gear cutting!!

 

[Martin w]

Fantastic!

 

[Dusty]

@Canadium Hey super fantastic restore with time well spent. Enjoy it Ian!

 

[trlvn]

Awesome, looks great. We are our own worst critics when comes to nit-picky details that any other (reasonable?) person would think is trivial. You've done just fine.

BTW, I think you asked about a finish for the handle. From here, that looks like a nice old piece of blackwood or rosewood. It probably has a lot of oil soaked into it over the years. Therefore, I don't think I would try to put a top coat on it (varnish or even shellac) as the finish would probably not adhere. I think it will be fine left in it's current state.

Also, just for reference, how big is the chuck?

Craig
(And, nice work with the stealth gloat showing the newly rebuilt deck in the background of the shot. )

 

[trevj]

Awesome, looks great. We are our own worst critics when comes to nit-picky details that any other (reasonable?) person would think is trivial. You've done just fine.

BTW, I think you asked about a finish for the handle. From here, that looks like a nice old piece of blackwood or rosewood. It probably has a lot of oil soaked into it over the years. Therefore, I don't think I would try to put a top coat on it (varnish or even shellac) as the finish would probably not adhere. I think it will be fine left in it's current state.

Also, just for reference, how big is the chuck?

Craig
(And, nice work with the stealth gloat showing the newly rebuilt deck in the background of the shot. )

My personal theory, along those lines, has much to do with how much time we spend truly up-close, with the project, such that WE know all the dirty little secrets and flaws, however minor, therein, which are of no importance from the outside view!

Nice job on the clean-up and restore! It always amazes me, just how ugly Cast Iron can get to, and still be recovered to a state of, if not pretty, at least presentable!

 

[Susquatch]

Hey @Canadium. I echo the comments of others but also want to acknowledge the job you did despite your visual challenges. I think you are my new hero!

 

[Canadium]

Awesome, looks great. We are our own worst critics when comes to nit-picky details that any other (reasonable?) person would think is trivial. You've done just fine.

BTW, I think you asked about a finish for the handle. From here, that looks like a nice old piece of blackwood or rosewood. It probably has a lot of oil soaked into it over the years. Therefore, I don't think I would try to put a top coat on it (varnish or even shellac) as the finish would probably not adhere. I think it will be fine left in it's current state.

Also, just for reference, how big is the chuck?

Craig
(And, nice work with the stealth gloat showing the newly rebuilt deck in the background of the shot. )

Thank you @trlvn for the input on the handle. Thats a 6 inch chuck. The whole thing weighs 115 pounds! The chuck itself is about 15 pounds. I prefer to leave the chuck off when I'm moving it around.