Welding Tips and Tricks

Hello all
I have a challenge, I bought a new shaft for the lawnmower and the end that fits in a bearing was to big by .009 thousands
so i put it in the lathe and used a file to bring it down it was going slow. I left to get a coffee and my son wanted to help
he cut it with the lathe now it is .003 small. Now what to do?
My thought is to gas braze it and re cut it on the lathe. Is this a good idea?

Ravendave

you can cheat and do an old machinist trick and pein the bearing seat with a punch and press the bearing over that. .003 isnt that much to overcome.

Honestly don't think it's worth it for 3thou on an application like that - just center punch round the shaft a bunch of times where the bearing fits & Loctite it in - they do a specific product for this.

If your a perfectionist & or OCD then brazing is a valid method - but you need to take off about 1mm first with the lathe so there is sufficient depth of brass to machine to finished size without going through the build up layer - it's a common procedure especially where oil seals create wear grooves in shafts - I like it on marine parts as it leaves a surface that won't rust for oil seals to run on.

Build up and re machine is fairly common. I do not like the center punch trick. If you have a knurling tool it will do a far better job because more metal is displaced and the bearing will have more points of contact. Weld and re machine is the best option if it is a mild steel shaft.

Do you have a knurling tool?
-c-