[TheForge] Drying Borax (was: Welding flux?)

[Jerry Frost]

Let me see if I have this straight. the rollers are now too long for the 
space between the mounting plates? That's not a comment about what's 
changed, just about relative size. I can think of two basic solutions, 
spread the plates OR shorten the rolls.

Okay, are the ends of the old rolls galled? A yes would indicate 
friction and the plates had moved in. That's my bet anyway, steel's not 
known for growing much unless hot. to be sure, mic the space as is now 
and check against specs or failing specs the original rolls or mic the 
space where it's welded to the column. Spreading the plates is a 
different thing, even hydraulics will have some spring making fine 
adjustments harder. I'd think a pair of long hefty bolts with between 
the plates would make a decent screw jack you can keep spread 
consistent. I'd crank it out a bit at a time and when the right distance 
use a torch to heat the inside of the plate so it wouldn't want to 
rebound as much. Just opening it to the right distance isn't going to do 
it, it will rebound no matter what below bringing it to way too high a 
heat but measuring it after this move will tell how much rebound is 
happening so the next stretch will be much closer.

Jer


On 7/23/2013 1:01 AM, Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer wrote:
> well:
> Let me pick your brain a bit then.
> I've ordered the rollers for the press and they should arrive this week.
> However, when i extracted the shaft, then tried to remove the rollers , they were jammed in there
> solidly enough that i had to use angled prybars to work them free and that took about 10 minutes.
> That's too tight for free turning rollers,
>   so i think that the side plates moved in at some point in their abuse history.
> Guessing i'll need to spread the plates a few thousandths or grind more clearance in that awkward location,
> and i'd rather not take the whole silly thing apart for this.
> The squat, 3 ton portapower cylinder is about 3/16 too tall to fit in there,
> and the little dinky one isn't powerful enough.
> Wondering about trying to drive in opposing sets of wedges
> But that's marginal for several reasons.
> Reluctant to get abrasive grains in the works and not enough room to swing big files.
> Any ideas?
>
> On Jul 22, 2013, at 11:47 PM, Jerry Frost wrote:
>
> On 7/22/2013 9:44 PM, Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer wrote:
>