Refurbish cross-slide...seized metal

[LittleWatchShop]

This cross-slide was part of my inheritance.  Seems to work fine, but I decided to clean it up today.

All went well except for this handle and brass knob.  The handle is seized to the SS rod.  Right now, I am soaking it in WD40.

I am being very careful not to damage anything.

The rod, as I said, is likely stainless steel.  The handle appears to be a non-magnetic cast metal.  Since It is not magnetic, aluminum would be my guess, but it is pretty hard (seems to hard for aluminum).

Any thoughts?  I know some of you guys tear down and clean this kind of stuff.

Edited March 1, 2021 by LittleWatchShop

[rodabod]

On a cross slide, I’d expect that thread to be carbon steel. Not that it makes a huge amount of difference. 
 

I’d use shock (tap with a light hammer) or heat (but only just too hot to touch so as not to adjust temper) to help loosen jammed parts. 

[LittleWatchShop]

8 minutes ago, rodabod said:

or heat

I have a hot-air station used for electronic rework...controlled temperature...I was thinking about using that--thanks for confirming the idea.

[LittleWatchShop]

OK, what I did was soak it in WD40 for 24 hours.  Then, with a tap tap on each side of the handle with a leather mallet, tugging with my hands and a little very careful prying it came of.  Then the removal of the brass know was a little of the same process without the prying. 

Soaked the brass in lemon juice.  The brass know is two pieces.  I had to drill a hole in a block of wood that was bigger than the insert but smaller than the knob.  Then with a wooden dowel, I knocked out the center piece.

The center piece should have a spring that keeps pressure on the outer knob.  It appears to be complete eaten away.  Wow.

I will post pictures later

[LittleWatchShop]

I got ahead of myself and did not take pictures of the assembly.  Sorry.