The Eightfold Way

louosten

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Oct 11, 2013
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No, I don't lead a 'charmed' life...that's reserved for elementary particles.

My project of the day was to clean up my 10F lathe ways using some kind of de-rusting technique. I had applied some elbow grease and medium steel wool with oil earlier, just to get the dirt and loose rust off:

way1.jpg

The lathe wasn't disassembled, so I couldn't use Evaporust, which normally gives good results over time. I had never tried electrolysis, but I understand that it's very effective if done properly. I only had 3-4 hours to get this job done, so I decided to use phosphoric acid (naval jelly):

way2.jpg

Not knowing how many applications were necessary, I commenced to repeating the following routine:
1. Clean with soapy rag
2. Steel wool dry surface
3. Apply naval jelly
After application, I waited for about 15 minutes, or until the 'jelly' almost dried:
way3.jpg

Then I kept repeating the process until all the rust was dissolved...hence the 'Eightfold Way'. After the last application, I put a thin film of oil on the ways to protect them until I returned:
way4.jpg

It actually turned out pretty good. I didn't want to leave the jelly in contact with the metal any longer than necessary, since acid eats metal. We'll see how it holds up over time, but all the rust, and discoloration are now gone and I have a nice smooth surface!

Now I need some help. My half-nut lever is broken and needs replacing. It's peened on with a ball peen hammer:

half_nut_lever.jpg

I have a replacement lever to put on, but don't know how to get the old lever off. Can you un-peen it somehow? I could grind it off with a dremel tool, but don't I need to leave the raised metal intact so the new lever can be peened on again? Surely, the great body of Atlas users have a workable solution. Your comments are hereby solicited; thanks in advance!
Lou O.
 
Lou,

Beyond a doubt, I would convert it to the later style lever. The broken one pictured (and held on by peening) is a 9-29. It has a square hole completely through it. You must have a very early 10F as it should have (according to the only parts list that we have) a 10-29 Lever. On the 10-29, the square hole does not go through. Instead, it is a flat bottomed square socket. With the bottom of the square hole drilled through and countersunk for a #8 flat head oval head Phillips head machine screw. The end of the 10D-38 Scroll is drilled and tapped #8-32.

Incidentally, I think that the 10D-38 Scroll is the rare ocassion of Atlas modifying a part without incrementing the part number. The 10E parts list shows 9-29 Lever and 10D-38 Scroll. The 10F pars list shows 10-29 lever, countersunk screw, and still 10D-38 Scroll.

In order to change to the newer style handle, you will have to slightly modify the existing 10D-38 scroll by shortening it and drilling and tapping.

So the short answer is that I would take the broken lever off with a Dremel.
 
Simple - minded advice - if you use " Naval Jelly" cover the wet surfaces with plastic
wrap ' till dust is gone.......BLJHB.
 
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