Myford ML7 travelling steady ‘fingers’ size

[wolrikmParticipant @wolrikm]

Is there anyone who would be kind enough to measure the sizes of the ‘fingers’ on the Myford travelling steady, please?

 

I began making one about 12 years ago and then lost the piece of manganese bronze I had bought to make the fingers. I had finished the body apart from some small details, but as I had lost the bronze, it got forgotten about. I found the bronze yesterday and so I want to finish the steady. Unfortunately, my friend, whose original I was copying, has passed away, and so I have nothing to work to.

 

If anyone can provide the sizes, please either post them here, or email to my nickname at gmail.com.

 

Thanks,

 

Martin.

 

[wolrikmParticipant @wolrikm]

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Martin

 

I went out to measure mine and then realised I had made it myself ( College Engineering casting I think) so probably no good to you. I do have a Myford original fixed steady however – do you suppose that the fingers on that are the same size? If so I could measure those for you. Alternatively give Myford a call. I’ve always found them most helpful on even the most obscure queries.

 

Regards

 

Norman

Edited By NJH on 17/05/2011 15:51:55

[wolrikmParticipant @wolrikm]

If they are 3/4″ wide, they are probably the same. I can make them any size I want I suppose, but I wanted it to have the same overall dimensions as the Myford one.

 

I carved the body out of a piece of 1″ plate I had lying around, mostly by hand. I was going to try to mill some of the plate away to lighten it, but decided I wasn’t up to that yet, so it’s still a heavy lump that definitely won’t flex.

 

Thanks for looking for me.

[Ernie NoaParticipant @ernienoa33736]

My Myford is .7499 inches x .352 x 2.183. Hope this helps.

[wolrikmParticipant @wolrikm]

Thank you! I’d cleaned up the two pieces, which were always going to be the same width as your measurement as that’s what I had made the slots in the body. They finished up .080 thicker and .190 longer than your measurements, but that won’t matter, so I’ll leave them as they are. I’ll make the tips .250 wide, though that’s another guess after looking at one on fleabay. I was worried about the angle between the fingers, but I found out on the Myford website that it is 100 degrees, and that’s what I made it, so I am a happy camper.

 

A little bit of, ahem, detailing, and it’ll be ready to use. I’ve got a can of Nissan Dark Blue spray paint, which is nearer to Myford Grey than the only other spray can I have, which is Rover Vermillion.

 

Cheers!

[Gordon AParticipant @gordona]

Greetings Martin,

 

If you would like a better colour match with a relatively tough finish, Plastikote medium grey aerosol paint available from DIY and hardware stores is even closer to Myford grey than Nissan dark blue!

 

Regards,

Gordon A

[wolrikmParticipant @wolrikm]

Thanks for tip, Gordon, though knowing me, it’ll still be bare metal and just another piece of equipment to de-rust next spring. (This garage of mine turns into a shower every year.)

 

Can I turn this thread into a request how to stop condensation in my garage?

 

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

In the matter of condensation have a look at the thread on ‘shed insulation’. There is another one on a similar topic but i cannot find it.

Regds

Dick

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Martin, two other threads with concerns about condensation were, “Workshop Heating” and “Using Butane”

 

Regards Nick.

[James BParticipant @jamesb]

Hi Martin,

 

On the subject of paint, I have used the people below for the paint on my Myford 7 rebuild – this is machinery enamel, and I have brush painted and sprayed it, and the finish is superb. Have yet to see how well it lasts, but so far so good.

 

They do a range of old machinery colours, including Myford Grey and Green

 

http://www.stationaryengineparts.com/Machinery-Colours/

 

No connection to these other than a satisfied customer..

 

 

James

 

[wolrikmParticipant @wolrikm]

Thanks Dick and Nick, I’ll take a look at those threads, and thanks James, I’ve taken a look and bookmarked the website. The headstock belt guard paint is peeling off, so I’ll need to buy paint at some point. If I ever get back to work, that is. (Cue violins)

[NJHParticipant @njh]

You can of course buy the ” correct” Myford colours from Myford !

 

Norman

[Author]

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