great thread=---- thanks for the pics & the details-- I really appreciate others sharing their ideas & giving some real world input. ----
Lawrence

I have to say that I never compared just side polishing vs. the kind of work I pictured before. I just compared stock out of the box casting vs. fully polished casting. I paid special attention to a thick ridge con rod like Doc talks about vs a rod worked past the point of that on my pictures (even mirror polished with flap emery wheels) and the ridges didn't make up for any additional stress resistence, quite the contrary. If you have a smooth surface your rod has little or no surface stress. Cracking occurs from the outside in, and the cracks starts to develope in the small surface uneveness. My final work would include removing the extra casting material on the top and on the bottom and balance to .001 gram

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Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.