??? about headstock castings Aluminum or pot metal?

[nuhobby]

This forum in 2008 had some interactions about the Speed Changer containing a Zamak type of metal. Search on the terms "Zamak" or "lubricity" and you'll probably find more discussion on metals and pot metals in general.


Chris

[godavid2]

Well, Tom, it looks as if you know the definition of "pot metal" now. Thanks for looking up the definition. It sounds as if a lot of people are confused as to the kind of metal SS uses in the headstock and other parts of the Mark V. I forget where I came up the term "pot metal" I'm thinking about the speed control pork chop and the softness of the teeth and how easily they mash. I just have a hard time seeing SS using aluminum in the machines. Call what you like alloy or pot metal. The alloy is a mixture of different metals probably to save weight. I'm going to take a headstock casting to a automotive heads shop and have them tell me one way of the other. Because most automotive heads are aluminum today.

roy

[tomsalwasser]

Well, Tom, it looks as if you know the definition of "pot metal" now.......Call what you like alloy or pot metal. The alloy is a mixture of different metals probably to save weight. roy

More likely to save cost. Wouldn't a pot metal free SS be awesome? And expensive.

[JPG]

Never heard of pot metal before. I wonder when SS started using it? From wikipedia:

Pot metal—also known as monkey metal, white metal, or die-cast zinc—is a colloquial term that refers to alloys of low-melting point metals that manufacturers use to make fast, inexpensive castings. The term "pot metal" came about due to the practice at automobile factories in the early 20th century of gathering up non-ferrous metal scraps from the manufacturing processes and melting them in one pot to form into cast products. A small amount of iron usually made it into the castings, but too much iron raised the melting point, so it was minimized.

There is no metallurgical standard for pot metal. Common metals in pot metal include zinc, lead, copper, tin, magnesium, aluminium, iron, and cadmium. The primary advantage of pot metal is that it is quick and easy to cast. Because of its low melting temperature, it requires no sophisticated foundry equipment or specialized molds. Manufacturers sometimes use it to experiment with molds and ideas (e.g., prototypes) before casting final products in a higher quality alloy. Items created from pot metal include toys, furniture fittings, tool parts, electronics components, and automotive parts.

Depending on the exact metals "thrown into the pot," pot metal can become unstable over time, as it has a tendency to bend, distort, crack, shatter, and pit with age. The low boiling point of zinc and fast cooling of newly cast parts often trap air bubbles within the cast part, weakening it. Many components common in pot metal are susceptible to corrosion from airborne acids and other contaminants, and internal corrosion of the metal often causes decorative plating to flake off. Pot metal is not easily glued, soldered, or welded.

Alloy. Simply a combination of different metals. Your drill bits are an alloy.

Alloy is NOT an indication of inferiority any more than 'cast' is.

An example of when marketing folks get carried away with terminology.

[tomsalwasser]

An example of when marketing folks get carried away with terminology.

Who are the marketing folks you refer to JP?

[moiramph]

The headstock, headrest, base and base arm among other parts are cast with aluminum.

[JPG]

An example of when marketing folks get carried away with terminology.

Who are the marketing folks you refer to JP?

Those who use terminology incorrectly to describe their wares. A not very lonesome group.

Being an old fuddy duddy I can recall when the misleading was not so blatant.

Unfortunately it is counter-productive to entice the more jaded of the older generation(s).

Listened to a prescription advertisement lately? IMHO they should not exist! "Ask your doctor" Really!!!! "you might die"


Ever hear of "Carter's little liver pills"? Yeah it is not ALL recent!

[godavid2]

It looks as though the discussion on aluminum or pot metal in the headstock castings and other parts has been clear. Thanks for the feed back.

roy

[shackman66]

I realize this is old and the source not necessarily gospel but clipped a snippet of a write up on Tool-Hunter.com about clones of the MK5 that were in production for a while. Also the ambiguity regarding "modern" MKV leaves the question open as to what the others are made from.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Most of the cast metal parts on the clones are made from sand-cast iron, not precision die cast aluminum like the modern Shopsmith Mark V. This means everything from the headstock to the tables are HEAVY! Again, on the surface, this sounds like an improvement, but actually, it's not. Every part is prone to rust and the extra weight just gets in the way when you try to manipulate the tool from one function to another."

http://www.tool-hunter.com/shopsmith-po ... -supershop