Your skill set, James, certainly sets you apart from the majority of engineers I see and currently follow. Cold metal stitching is a dying craft sadly, as you know, but brilliant to see still being used today. The only way to repair cast iron properly amongst the methods used today.Thank you for spending the time to film this for us....love the pride you put into all your work.
I take it that all the threaded screws put in between the locking pieces are just there to fill in the crack. If so I also assume they are put in place with sealer. I have used jb weld just to fill in a crack in the side of an old tractor block where it is only an oil leak problem, not under pressure and after fifteen years it is still ok. Had to clean of course very thoroughly first. I wonder if perhaps, after putting in place the ties across the crack, it would be possible to weld, or braze the remaining crack. Pre heating first of course, and if welding using nickel based welding rods short welds at a time with slow cooling down. It is an art on its own! Very good and non risky process by stitching as you show.
Yes Geoff the screws are interlocked and the locks stop the crack pulling apart. I find stitching better and easier than welding on cracks to be honest.. yes I use ceramic to lock and seal as well.
I used to have an old boy make plugs up for some cracks ...peter the magician....i tried to learn a very small amount from watching his capers on all sorts of stuff
Ford,top job, had a Derby Bentley head stitched by a co in Sheffield many years ago but did not see the process being done so that was very interesting.
Ford Love to see the old skill sets still in use James far better than welding will not look out of place on a ford T head. Did the same repair on a fordson tractor 40 years ago and it is still in use today running a saw bench.
Thanks Dave, I enjoyed fixing it, I agree with the old skills just hope they continue, too much is just binned now a days.. good repair on the tractor I'd like to see that
james super workshop and you know how to use all the kit [I love the smell of a engineering shop ] great videos , now subscribed your the best .ps ware did you serve your time ,
Thank you.. yes the smell is nice, my wife doesn't think so though lol.. my stepdad got me into racing and I was more interested in the engine.. I then started working for a guy called Malcolm Riley his company was called midland engine services in shepshed I'm still friends with him and a guy called Paul Exon who also worked there.. I then met my now wife and moved to Newbury where I worked for oselli, then started up by myself.
Very nice repair James. Well done. I do cold welding repairs as well. Iron Tite and Iron Stitch. It is an Art to do it. Again nice work. Thanks for sharing. Take care, Ed.
Another fascinating repair. Can I ask are the screws butted or overlapped? Also, what is the white liquid you used? As an old fitter used to say when I was an apprentice 'any better and it'd be no good." Ford.
Nice work it was very interesting, James how long would it take to line bore and hone a inline 6 cly. Engine with 7 main caps please. Kit from Down Under
