I started with 50mm x 6mm hot rolled mild steel strip. Using my belt sander I sanded one side to remove all scale and get to a shiney steel finish. I then drilled and countersunk two holes at each end. Using G96 gun blue fluid I blued (actually comes out blackish finish) one side of the steel strip. The edges and back were spray painted red after appropriate etch primer.
Here is the rail mounted on the front of the lathe.
As the front of the lathe casting is slightly tapered in the vertical I machined bronze spacers of slightly different thickness so the face of the rail is reasonably perpedicular.
Here's a magnetic base attached to the rail, works good and I can put the base either side of the front apron as necessary.
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