Cracked cast iron bedplates--repairable?

[FellowCollector]

Thank you Doug! I’ll try and pull them off today I love watching your machines on YouTube by the way

Thanks for your kind comments, David. I do have a really nice Edison Home model D top works assembly that I would sell if you're interested. Please see the pictures below and if interested send me a PM. I've had these Edison Home D top works for many years thinking I'd complete it but I already have a nice complete Edison model D Home (or two!) so why not sell it. I can remove the oak frame, carriage and other parts. The motor casting is attached as well.

Doug

[AZ*]

Buying Doug's Home top works is definitely the way to go. It's gorgeous plus it appears to have a brass mandrel bearing.

[tomb]

This repair depends on how much you want to spend and how well you want it to look. The replacement with Doug's bedplate would be the costlier one but it would give the best results since it is a very nice bedplate that would go in nicely. Welding it together gets more complicated as the weld would destroy the paint surfaces by the weld, would require grinding and finishing on the weld area, and would require the plate to be completely repainted and restriped and would cost almost as much as the new bedplate. You would also have to strip all parts off of the bed plate. It may or may not show the repaired area depending on how you do the resurfacing of the welded area. You will spend a lot of time on it and cast iron takes special rods to weld it. I do not know if you have the rods. You could also braze it with the same amount of refinishing the bedplate . Gluing it would be the easiest and cheapest but the paint and stripes would have to be touched up and it probably would also show a repair area . I believe gluing would hold it together but it would have to be done properly and there is a chance of failure. It all depends on how much time, money and expertise you want to expend on this bed plate. Get a price from Doug and you could also check around on E bay to compare prices. Most of the members treat other members very well and I have been very happy with what I have brought or traded from them. Most of the bedplates on E bay need some work though. Anything can be repaired to look new but it again depends on how much time and money you want to spend. I hope this helps Tom

[JerryVan]

That's a bad break... I'd be negotiating a price with Doug.

Sometimes breaks can be repaired without welding if screws can be discreetly used. This break wouldn't allow for that however.

[fmblizz]

Doug's bedplate is a beauty.. go for it

blizz