Description
Product Overview
The Myford ML7 Cross Slide is a genuine OEM casting and machined assembly sourced directly from one of the most iconic British toolroom lathes ever produced. Whether you’re rebuilding a worn ML7, restoring a cherished machine to working order, or sourcing a spare to keep a second lathe on the bench, this cross slide is a direct-fit replacement that retains the correct geometry, leadscrew mounting, and T-slot profile of the original Myford design. Genuine ML7 cross slides are increasingly difficult to source as parts supplies dry up — if you’re running an ML7 and need a replacement casting, finding an original is half the battle.
- Correct ML7 geometry and dovetail profile — the cross slide dovetail is ground to Myford’s original specification, meaning it mates correctly with the saddle without the need for re-machining. Getting this geometry wrong on a substitute part means re-scraping or shimming to get the slide running true, so a genuine casting saves significant setup time.
- Integrated T-slot for tooling and vice mounting — the milled T-slot running across the top face allows direct clamping of milling slides, small vices, toolposts, and other accessories — the same fitment that made the ML7 a versatile bench lathe for toolroom and hobby work alike. The T-slot profile matches standard Myford ML7 accessories.
- Cast iron construction — the slide body is cast iron, which provides inherent vibration damping and wear characteristics suited to a scraping and fitting rebuild. Cast iron beds in better over time with proper lubrication, making a used casting a perfectly viable base for a full reconditioning job.
- Gib screw bosses present — the casting retains its original gib screw locations, meaning the adjustment hardware is in place. A replacement gib strip will be required (see condition notes), but the boss geometry is correct and threads are present.
- Ideal for — full ML7 lathe rebuilds, cross slide replacement after wear or crash damage, restoration projects where the original slide is beyond scraping, and sourcing a spare cross slide assembly for a second ML7 kept in a hobby or small production shop.
Condition
Used (Fair Condition / Serviceable for Rebuild or Reconditioning)
The cross slide surfaces show wear and handling marks consistent with a lathe that has seen genuine workshop use — this is a used casting, not a lightly run example. The top face and dovetail flanks carry the expected patina and tool marks of a working ML7 slide. Gib screws are present, which is a practical positive — these small fasteners are period-correct and often missing from stripped machines. However, the gib strip itself is not included, which is an important disclosure: without a gib, the slide cannot be properly adjusted for backlash and dovetail preload. A replacement ML7 gib strip will need to be sourced separately before the slide can be returned to service. The leadscrew nut location and T-slot appear intact from visual inspection, but buyers should verify dovetail condition and surface flatness against their saddle prior to final fitting. If you are undertaking a full scrape-and-fit rebuild, this slide is a sound starting casting. If you need a drop-in, zero-work replacement, budget for surface conditioning and a new gib strip. Verification against your existing saddle dovetail with a dial indicator and straight edge is recommended before committing to a fit.
Included:
- 1 x Myford ML7 Cross Slide (cast iron, used)
- Gib screws (fitted)
Not included:
- Gib strip (must be sourced separately)
- Leadscrew and nut assembly
- Handwheel and dial
- Toolpost or any top-slide components
Brand Information
Myford Engineering, based in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England, produced the ML7 from 1952 through to the early 2000s and the lathe became the definitive British toolroom and apprentice training lathe — the bench machine against which most small centre lathes in the Commonwealth were compared. Myford parts, particularly genuine castings, are regarded as the correct-fit solution for ML7 restoration and sit well above generic Far East pattern parts in terms of dimensional accuracy and material quality. The ML7 remains actively supported by a dedicated community of machinists and restorers across the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, and genuine OEM parts command a premium precisely because the machine is still in regular workshop use decades after production ceased.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Myford |
| Model Compatibility | Myford ML7 |
| Component Type | Cross Slide (OEM casting) |
| Material / Construction | Cast iron body, machined dovetail and top face |
| Top Face Feature | T-slot for accessory and toolpost mounting |
| Gib Screws | Included (fitted to casting) |
| Gib Strip | Not included — must be sourced separately |
| Leadscrew / Handwheel | Not included |
| Country of Origin | England (Myford Engineering, Beeston, Nottinghamshire) |
| Condition | Used — Fair / Serviceable for rebuild or reconditioning |
| Included Items | Cross slide body, gib screws |
| Not Included | Gib strip, leadscrew, nut, handwheel, dial, top slide components |
Keywords
Myford ML7 cross slide, Myford ML7 parts, ML7 lathe cross slide, Myford lathe restoration, ML7 cross slide casting, Myford ML7 rebuild, British centre lathe parts, Myford gib slide, toolroom lathe parts Australia, ML7 spare parts, Myford Engineering cross slide, lathe cross slide replacement
