Recommend me a cast iron casting repairer?

[johnpsanderson]

Apologies in advance to the mods, this is likely in the wrong place - but I didn't know where best to put it!

Recently I joined my local model engineering club, to up my metal working skills. (There is a motoring link, partly this is to support my long drawn out building of a Caterham style kitcar). Anyway...

Due to my own ineptitude, I am now looking to find somewhere to get a cast iron casting repaired. It is the bracket for the leadscrew/handwheel which hangs down from the side of the table of the milling machine in my club workshop – which is now in two pieces rather than one...

I’ve already found Slinden Services (https://www.castironweldingrepairs.co.uk/) via some initial Googling, but am in Colchester, Essex – so anywhere more local would be a benefit. A couple of photos showing the extent of the problem…

[GAjon]

I think you may find it difficult, and cost prohibitive, to find somewhere that can carry out an effective repair on that.
I would say even if you do get it welded, reinforcing plates, drilled and tapped in, will be required for it to be strong enough to work.

[Krikkit]

Cheapest fix would be to get one made from billet - cast iron is a nightmare to weld, and that shape isn't going to be particularly hard to replicate in CAD and machine.

[johnpsanderson]

GAjon said:

cost prohibitive

Indeed, i've got one estimate so far: upwards of £1k...

[EmilA]

Would any of the belzona items work here?

[RustyNissanPrairie]

Id clamp it back into position then grind/carbide burr a vee in as much of the crack as possible. TIG some Sif bronze into the vee, then drill and tap the sides and bolt some 10mm plates to reinforce the bronze.

Edited to add - id probably get my local tin bashers to roll the 10mm so it runs round the outside perimeter of the casting for additional bracing. Id possibly TIG braze the mild steel to the cast as well.

Tig braze is a good skill to learn and possibly good as a project for your club?

No affiliation - first link i found.
https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/plain-sili...

Edited by RustyNissanPrairie on Monday 22 December 13:20