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Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possible???

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:04 am
by Jerry B.
I have a cast iron 10" Victor turntable that is warped. It is not a spindle problem. Is it possible to correct a warped cast iron turntable?

Thanks, Jerry Blais

Re: Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possibl

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:09 am
by HisMastersVoice
I would imagine the process would involve heating the turntable and hammering it until it is flat. As you know, cast iron is brittle when cold, so it would likely crack with force! Time to break out the blacksmith apron and arm muscles!

Re: Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possibl

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:54 am
by estott
You can't heat cast iron and hammer it. It has two states- solid and liquid, there is no between.

Re: Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possibl

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:07 am
by HisMastersVoice
You’re right, it was wrought iron I was thinking of.

I just asked my dad who used to be a metal worker, and he said it can be straightened by clamping it to a firebrick, heating to red hot, tightening the clamps, and allowing it to cool.

Re: Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possibl

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:25 am
by EarlH
There's a guy in Hudson, Wisconsin that might be able to help you. https://www.castmetalwelding.com/ is a link to his website. He is REALLY good and specializes in restoring pre WWI Buick engines of all things. He has a couple of large ovens and might be able to help you with that thing. I've had him do some repair work on my coal stove, and a few other things and he really is good. Does a lot of manifold repair on antique cars as well. Good luck with that thing. Must be some internal tension in that thing.

Re: Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possibl

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 2:13 pm
by estott
HisMastersVoice wrote:You’re right, it was wrought iron I was thinking of.

I just asked my dad who used to be a metal worker, and he said it can be straightened by clamping it to a firebrick, heating to red hot, tightening the clamps, and allowing it to cool.
It would seem easier to have a new turntable made

Re: Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possibl

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:24 pm
by JerryVan
Just how warped is it??? Is it possible to coat the felt side, (with felt removed of course), with Bondo, or some similar product, then dress it back to create a flat surface, that is also perpendicular to the spindle? Covering the build-up with felt would hide the modification.

OR,

Place the felt side on a machine table and bore, (not drill), the spindle hole much larger, then press fit an insert in the enlarged hole and re-machine to properly fit the spindle shaft. This would create a spindle hole that is perpendicular to the felt side of the turntable, even if the turntable face itself is a bit out-of-flat.

Re: Help needed to flatten a cast Victor turntable. Possibl

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:52 pm
by Curt A
If it is not too warped, the important side is the top. Remove the felt and place it top side down on a belt sander, rotate it several directions until it gets flat... I did this on a Columbia Q motor board that was slightly distorted and had odd pitting that was visually distracting. Once I got it flat, I polished it back to an almost nickel plated look, which won't be necessary for your turntable...

Otherwise, if you know a machinist, you could place an appropriate sized bolt in the spindle hole with a nut on both sides to hold it securely, place it in a lathe and straighten it out that way (it would also work to chuck it into a drill press, if you don't have a lathe).

I would be very leery about heating it to straighten it, because of the inherent problems with cast iron. Old cast iron of that period, probably had a different formula than modern cast iron. The results may or may not be good, as it is brittle and prone to warpage. Beside that problem, finding someone who is experienced enough with antique cast iron to trust for a repair may be few and far between.