Machining pan brake fingers? How hard are they?

The old pan brake at work has seen better days. All the fingers are mushed up and not flat any more.

What machine would you need to fix them up again? I have no idea how hard the fingers are but they are probably not mild steel.

Could you re machine them on a knee type mill using a face mill? Obviously they can be fixed some how.

Has anyone ever fixed these before? Also I don't think there is any adjustment in them. Once you cut off 1/8" or so, the tip of the finger is no longer where it was. So the bends won't be like they should be. Would you re weld some metal back on to them? if so what grade filler? 400, 700 etc?

Peter

Weld 1/8" spacer to top edge and take 1/8" off the bottom.
regardless of how hard, a carbide cutter should do it easily.
Hit original edge with a file and you will soon see how hard.
You might need to flame harden the edge again.

Before going to the effort of welding on spacers or building up the end with weld have a good look at the design of the finger carrier of the brake. I had a small pan brake with an eccentric pin at the pivot point so the entire carrier could be adjusted back and forth.

Also: Do your due diligence and check how much replacements would cost, just to make sure that you're not working on repairing it for the equivalent of $2 an hour.