Gib Strip Material

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

Any view / thoughts on the ‘best’ material for new gib strips ? Can see pro’s and cons for brass, mild steel or even something a bit tougher but all the commercial tools I’ve come across are steel of an unknown grade – do they know something or is it a cost thing ??

 

The slideway they’ll be up against is cast iron.

 

 

thanks !

 

W.

 

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

[PatParticipant @pat]

With the other side being cast iron on cast iron and with the tail part of the dovetail being the minor contributor to the friction – friction I suggest is not the selection factor. IMHO brass is not that suitable as it bends very easily and the function of the gibb is to spread the pressure uniformly from the adjusting screws to the tail. For this reason I try and use well finished steel. The gibbs I have removed on big machines appear to also be hardened as they do not scratch easily.

 

Regards – Pat

[adyParticipant @ady]

Posh machines use hardened gibs.

[mgjParticipant @mgj]

Soft material will surely load with abrasive dust and become a lap?

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Flat Ground Stock is hard enough untreated, but you can easily harden it if you wish.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Flat Ground Stock untreated is a good suggestion but if you harden it you may get flatness problems.

Tony

[PatParticipant @pat]

If you use gauge plate this will not distort when heat treated for all intents and purposes. After all this is why gauge plate is used for making dies and gauges which require further heat treatment but where further machining (grinding) costs which would negate the premium demanded by gauge plate manufacturer/supplier. The packet / label in which gauge plate is supplied gives the instructions for various hardnesses. Since gauge plate is harder than the cast iron further heat treatment should not be necessary but polishing might be good if you can do so without destroying the flatness.

 

Regards – Pat

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

Thanks everyone – it all makes sense and sounds good – gauge plate it is !

Wallace.

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