welding workholding solution

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Old Buick 350 manifold came in for resurfacing. This is first one like this I have done since opening 11 years ago. Being I might never do another like it I used some scrap stuff (angle and 3/4 solid) and welded together to mount in mill for resurfacing. Things that are done in large numbers may get a dedicated jig built that does not require welding but this certainly did not qualify. Previous shop I worked in had a belt surfacer for this, it was quick but produced a marginal finish. This mill produces a better than factory finish but part must be secure or it will shake loose and the result is broken machine and manifold. Workholding for a run of 1 is a pain but this is the fastest sturdiest way to get it done that I have found, if you have a better solution please chime in. I tacked iron to steel with 55nife dc, steel to steel with 6010. Used plasma to cut welds then dressed with grinder.Ground angle and 3/4 stock to use again later. Floor to floor 35 mins, including vacuuming mill after use. Yes I finally bought a plasma cutter.Peter Attached ImagesEquipment:2  old paws2  eyes (that don't look so good)1  bad back
Reply:Last pics. Attached ImagesEquipment:2  old paws2  eyes (that don't look so good)1  bad back
Reply:That's a tough one. I can't think of anything quicker than what you did. I probably would of taken longer to do it. I do most of those side ways or even at a angle. My Abene mill allows me to rotate the head for horizontal vertical or anywhere in between. I don't do enough manifolds to make jigs for them. Most of the time they're some odd ball 4 or 6 cylinder tractor manifold.  I did have a local scrap and trader kind of guy try to sell me a machine that might of been pretty good for jobs like these. But I've not got room and I didn't have the money at the time. He called it a surface grinder but it didn't fall into that category to me. It was a big heavy table (about 2' x 3' to 4' or so) and cabinet with a flat grinding wheel in the center of the table. You could adjust the height of the grinding wheel with a control wheel that stuck out the bottom of the cabinet. The only use I could think of ever using for was manifolds. I would never try to do a head on something like that. I don't do enough of either to justify the room or expense.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Not bad!I've surfaced a few on belt sanders... good enough for the stuff I've done, but if I had a mill that would always be preferred.I couldn't think of any better way to fixture it.