Making The Pattern For The Ranalah Frame! | Reviving History (Episode #6)

[@scottl3739]

I think it's babbitt material ... They use it in casting bearings 👍🏻 ...

[@ianosprey7666]

My great grandad was an iron moulder. My grandad was an iron moulder. My dad (B 1929) was a master Joiner. He was in awe of pattern makers and tool makers. It's ridiculous how this service industry Britain demeans the engineering talent it was built on

[@weaton25]

That was very interesting my Dad was a pattern maker he died when I was about 10 years old he was only about 40 years old struck down with Cancer there was not much that they could do for you in those days. That was way back in the mid 1950s I am now 76 it was nice to see the kind of thing that he would have been making working in a big Engineering factory .

[@The_Silversurfer]

From someone who spent years making jigs and fixture these guys are such experts. Pattern makers are the master craftsman and what a workshop! Great to see the knowledge being passed on. Mike you are a star!

[@anthonymellor174]

The government should keep theses skills alive …instead off pulling down statues.. lovely to see x

[@leslieaustin151]

That metal looked to me like ‘white metal’ (Babbitt). Used to make bearings in old lathes, engines, etc. Les

[@kurbelweller1343]

I'd agree there

[@thomaspollock4274]

The talent of the craftsmen involved in this project is amazing. Their passion for their craft is evident.

[@lesjbennett61]

Watching the patternmakers brings it all back

[@bobcooke6346]

Great to see these skills being passed along, even better when it’s within the family, Mike must be very proud of his son’s.

[@peterhofmann8292]

I am glad that Wendy got her good byes in there. This is all so fascinating to me, thanks Dom I really appreciate the work you are putting into this.

[@TheGreaseySpoon]

There are many guys in sheds all over the UK keeping the old skills alive and its good to see that the skills are still being passed down the generations.

[@MikeSmith-sg9pt]

So much skill in that workshop! The power of blokes in sheds!

[@sharonclaridge]

Blown away by the skills of this workshop!

[@Don-wy6uf]

It's cast bearing metal. Called babbit.

[@DominicChineas]

Your right! Thank you

[@bgdavenport]

Metal is likely babbit, most often used for bearings, or white metal with a few variations in composition. Your best bet would be to send a sample of the material to a science lab where they can analyze its composition

[@eastcoastcastings]

We have done that’ We have a spectrometer also which can analyze the material👍🏻

[@threeriversforge1997]

I'm surprised that you didn't recognize Babbit bearing material. All the old stuff you routinely work on, and the fact that you're restoring a vintage machine.... seems kind of logical to me. Babbit material is a lead alloy and still in use today around the world because it's better than roller bearings for a lot of applications. Not the easiest thing to pour in your application, I don't think, but not impossible, that's for sure. It's really great to see you bringing back a bit of English history like you are. So much was lost over the last hundred years.

[@geek9642]

My guess on the lead is it's basically the same as solder used for electronics with a lead content..

[@paulp96275]

Craftsmanship being passed down an art that is continuing fanbloodytastic thanks Dom👍👨🏻‍🏭

[@luciascalisi7172]

Potent mix of quiet enthusiasm & exquisite experience - tremendous!

[@dalechamberlain7774]

I was also thinking babbit.

[@DominicChineas]

I think you might be correct!

[@manfromthepru]

What a most interesting visit. Your excitement is obvious.

[@paulwills9742]

When I left school in the late 70s I was lucky enough to choose 1 of 3 apprenticeships. A pattern maker ,engineering in the Royal Navy or a cabinet maker for a shop fitting company. The Pattern Maker meant I had to stay in a dormitory a long way from home for a 4 year apprenticeship. I went for the last and loved French Polishing, my boss used to polish TV cabinets for GEC.

[@bobingram6912]

That was a master class in the art of traditional workmanship, the unsung heroes working in their sheds.. Thanks Dom, learnt a lot from that👍🏻❤

[@lodgecav490]

Those Pattern Makers should be starting their own KZbin channel - they would do well.

[@davidlong3824]

It’s coming on nicely like the video.

[@davidhayward5207]

What a beautiful, heart warming film. Long may these skills continue..

[@bloodknottrevelian3396]

Watching with great interest. Dad was a non-ferrous moulder and I often used to visit the foundry which had it’s own small pattern shop.

[@DominicChineas]

Glad you’ve enjoyed it! Thank you for watching

[@paulmuff9883]

It’s Babbitt a mixture of tin lead and other small quantity of other metals the hard stuff you’ve got left is Tin because if you’ve hated it so much the lead will evaporated leaving just the tin , I have recently re Babbitt bearings on a 1934 engine

[@joeetheridge1471]

Beautiful pattern, I could watch and listen to these masters of there craft all day.

[@malcolmalexander3184]

Great to see you still hard at work Mick. Always the master craftsman which is something to be so proud of. Good to see the boys. Must catch up sometime.

[@mwicks1968]

Amazing to see these traditional skills are still alive and well - well done Dom! 👏👏👏

[@peterphilpot8942]

Keith Rucker of Vintage Machinery does a lot of casting videos and repairs to Babbit bearings where what he calls babbit material is removed before being restored. A very good source for what you may need to advance the project. Good luck.

[@The1queencollector]

I concur, his last video was showing how to redo those Babbit bearings in that vintage sugar cane crusher.

[@juz4kix]

That was my first thought. Keith has taught me a ton.

[@billhanson4921]

@@juz4kix babbit is known as white metal in the UK, its a mixture of lead and tin i think

[@WesB1972]

Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship, BRAVO to these men.

[@seekersofrhythm]

I haven't been following your KZbin channel for a while because of health issues but I have been catching up. You mentioned that you where concerned about advertising on your channel. 2 things, first it has to be something that you would genuinely be interested in. Second you have to add time for product promotion and not take time from your video. That being said I have no problem accepting that you need to make the best content you can and it has a cost attached. One of the things that impresses me most is that you never use your celebratey to get subscribers to the channel. I love the emotion you have for the projects you work on, it is inspiring. Stay safe J.

[@Mikeyt171163]

I used to work for company that made the Burnco pattern paint. I was an R&D chemist there for 35 years. So cool to see this!

[@johnlegg422]

White metal as used in bearings it would be cast in to a mould then scraped by hand to remove any high spots then the shaft fitted.

[@hoperp1951]

Awesome, when I did my Foundry Technicians course back in 1969/70, in Pattern Making part, we used both Leather and Wax Fillets on the pattern, The wax was somewhat easier in that it flowed much easier around a radius than leather, no need to do any cuts or cut-outs. We were split up into small teams to do a project, our was a barbel and weights. Bar and clamps worked fine, but our cast iron weights left an awful lot to be desired being more than 50% heavier that they were supposed to be. We'd miscalculated the size and density very badly, but all part of the learning process which included firing up a small cupola, making the patterns, moulds, casting and final machining etc. Luckily we all passed the exams at the end.

[@turgworks4138]

My uncle was a pattern maker, it's brilliant to see the process.

[@wincoop72]

Hi Dom, you was saying that the casting needs to be dead square, as an engineer I think you will need a jig to hold the shaft dead square whilst pouring the lead type material around the shaft so that it is dead square to the lower yoke.

[@DominicChineas]

Your right, that’s exactly how I’m going to do it, I’m working on plans for the jig now

[@llapmsp]

Awesome to see these old world skills surviving today. Thanks so much for sharing. Can't wait to see the casting process.

[@martinstreader3328]

Hello Dom. Really enjoying the videos. I'm a member of a model engineering club that runs a miniature railway. We started watching the Ranalah series at one of our club evenings and are now totally gripped. Your enthusiasm Really shines through. The technical detail is so well explained. We will definitely watch this all the way through. Many thanks for sharing your work.

[@russellnixon9981]

It never ceases to amaze me what great things come from the shed / small workshops at the end of the garden.

[@smartgorilla]

It's very similar to what they do in Japan in the mini workshops

[@russellnixon9981]

@@smartgorilla Thanks for your reply. I'v had the pleasure of meeting some brilliant crafts men and women working from a sheds at the bottom of the garden. Essex has some amazing people. Looking forward to the next instalment.

[@joannaraphael4459]

So good to see the old skills being passed down the generations. Very rare now. Another great video

[@brucewrandol]

It is interesting 🧐 to hear you talk to the pattern makers. You know what you want plus you know the questions to ask. Then they know how to answer you in terms that you understand. Plus, I can understand what the goal is. Very interesting.

[@gavinbishop2461]

Dom, Looking at the splatter I was thinking Tin so white metal is the most logical. As mentioned here it is used in plain bearings such as on steam locomotives, railway carriages and wagons. These have bronze bearing shells with the bearing surface coated in white metal which is scraped to a good fit. It can be removed and re-applied as the bearing wears. If lubrication fails it "runs hot" so the white metal melts and pours out. The bearing then has to be remetalled and the fault rectified. Suggest you talk to one of the preserved railway workshops such as South Devon Railway Engineering.

[@debbymuir]

Genius Dom, xx

[@josephlovell6951]

Was going to tell you it's babbitt but I see someone already did it . This has really been a grate series. I can feel your excitement and passion. As a hobby machinist I to in joy bring back to life old things. Grate job.

[@samrodian919]

True craftsmen! I bet that is lead but with quite a bit of antimony in it. That will make it brittle.

[@Dug6666666]

I did my apprenticeship in Pattern making starting in 1979 and that is the first time I have seen a leather fillet applied :) though the Pattern store had plenty of old examples. Body filler took over for its versatility. We did use wax fillets however on master patterns (non production, often one use) where you had extruded wax of different sizes in a similar cross section shape to wax fillets. The same ball ended tool is used, but instead of gluing the ball is heated over a flame so that it melts the wax fillet to the timber. Not much heat is needed' it is more to stop the ball sticking to the wax. Good patterns can make a foundries job so much easier, so when a foundry recommends a Pattern maker you know you are on to a good'n. On the rare occasion I get to make a pattern these days it is with a CNC router, the important skills still apply in making a good CAD model. (draft angles, core fits)

[@chrisgunn121]

Amazing wonderful skilful People!!! Thank you Dom for being an ambassador for the ancient arts and crafts, Top Man!

[@chrismills980]

I used to work in the Tinsmiths department at Airbus Filton, I'm pretty sure they had at least one of these if not two, it's now GKN aerospace Filton Bristol (the home of Concorde)

[@charliekingpine3893]

It looks very very good to me, can't wait for the next step

[@russianbot1420]

Men in sheds, nice one.

[@paulwomack5866]

I assume the "set in lead" trick was used so that the wheels could be held in accurate *relative* position on a fixture, and (held this way) set into the frame forever. As such, babbitt would NOT be used, since babbit is a bearing material, designed for moving parts. There are many lead alloys around (metal type is another, solder). I couldn't find any old engineering references to setting in lead, so if you want to "do it right", I would get the sample analysed. It doesn't sound like an expensive thing (relatively speaking, I'd guess a couple of hundred quid). You're going to need to design and make that fixture though.

[@keithdavis4877]

Thank you for a letting us see a true genuine at work

[@violentblue123]

I love the old world craftsmanship like this, analog to the core.

[@daz41262010]

excellent video Dom good to see the pattern of the Ranalah frame it looks awesome :)

[@CYC123]

Hello Dom The pattern for your main casting is looking so good, great video looking round the pattern making shop. Concerning the silver metal you melted out of the casting, I think it may be "Babbitt" This is the material used to make white metal bearings in the old days. From the internet I found this: The original formula for Babbitt's bearing metal was 89.3% tin, 7.1% antimony and 3.6% copper and that formula is still marketed today by some manufacturers as ASTM B-23 Grade 2 Babbitt or as "Genuine Babbitt". I think Babbitt is harder than lead so would be a good choice to bed the steel parts into the cast iron frame of the Ranalah.

[@DominicChineas]

Thank you so much for this!

[@billmcewan3899]

The metal you melted out is almost certainly "White Metal" (Babbitt) but if you want to be sure, there is a simple test. Take that really thin piece you recovered and hold it to your ear and then bend it. If it crackles, then it is mostly tin. That would indicate white metal. If you need guidance with casting white metal, I would look for someone who works on small boats. Prop shaft bearings are still quite commonly cast with white metal

[@markrmilan]

I'm pretty sure as others have said it's a babbit bearing which is a mix of lead and tin I believe, they were used in the days before roller bearings. Keith Rucker of vintage machinery is the man to go see about that.

[@ian_morg]

Pure craftsmanship! Brilliant that the sons are working with him to carry on the craft.

[@steveball2307]

Industry used to be full of guys like that in all sorts of crafts. During a career in the chemical industry I was privileged to come into daily contact with sheet metal workers, copper smiths, lead wipers, instrument makers, skilled welders just to name a few, back in the days when big companies did the majority of work in house and British industry was something to be proud of. I'm afraid I sound like an old fart!

[@adieaf61]

Once again a wonderful video. The journey is fascinating. Thanks Dom.

[@GARDENER42]

Absolutely fascinating to see this - truly old school pattern making & very educational.

[@scubaroo]

Thank you so much Dom for showing us yet more genuine craftsmen. It is absolutely fascinating and heartwarming watching the processes contributing to the build. As a youngster i was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time around proper old school tradesmen.... it takes me back in the blink of an eye. Keep up the good work!

[@ianlainchbury]

Who doesn't like this? Oml this project is awesome. Thanks Dom.

[@MrZOMBIE170]

my Great Granda was a patten maker and was the manager of kincaid ship engine works pattern makers workshop he wore a bowler hat back the olden days

[@tonystamp2708]

That was an amazing video. It was so nice to see traditional crafts being handed down from father to son(s). Thanks for posting this, Dom. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see the casting video now.

[@michaelmiller641]

It's like the white metal they use for casting model locomotive kits

[@Dudleymiddleton]

Great to see true craftmanship like this these days, practiced for over 50 years - incredible! Got to love that norfolk accent, too - real proper!

[@williamholmes9129]

He sound like what I do 👍

[@gleggett3817]

@@williamholmes9129 he do dun't he

[@andrewforrester4579]

Wood working at its best a thing of beauty

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Dom, Super interesting episode... When I sat my entrance exam for my apprenticeship 250 places were available, the two with the highest marks normally become pattern makers... See you next week... Take care. Paul,,

[@sethduval8644]

Dom, so good to hear a proper Norfolk accent👍👍👍👍

[@craigd6261]

The only word for that patern is Beautiful. Real craftsmanship.

[@sofa-lofa4241]

I worked for a casting company years ago, these jobs and skills are disappearing fast, So glad he taught his sons some proper old skool skills ❤️...and that they decided to do this rather than be a systems engineer for facebook, or similar, So many trades are dying out now, modern apprenticeships just don't fill the gap... It's mostly bullsh*t now... Sadly Things are taking shape though!

[@adrianlynch9435]

For modern apprenticeships they have let companies decide of what is contained within the qualification syllabuses. Some apprenticeships now don't even have qualifications associated to them.

[@sofa-lofa4241]

@@adrianlynch9435 yeah, it's similar to NVQ levels 1, 2, 3 in the UK... Not worth sh*te in the real world in most cases

[@adrianlynch9435]

@@sofa-lofa4241 modern apprenticeships or Standards as they are called don't have NVQ's in they they have what are called "competency" qualifications. Basically the same as NVQs though. Standards now though have an interview and a practical end point assessment to be completed - well engineering ones do.

[@sofa-lofa4241]

@@adrianlynch9435Is that to teach people to do a specific job for a sponsoring company or to give a well rounded education in the subject? I can see the value of training someone in a narrow niche, for the company, not the student/employee, Engineering at College/University level in the 80's at least gave you a well rounded approach, these days it seems they are not far off being sponsored by a particular company to churn out drones to do a specific job... Sad really I'm probably totally wrong, but that's what I've seen of education of late

[@ratrodminorvan]

I reckon that's Babbitt metal the old bearing material, steam railway workshops may help you out with it.

[@SuperJohnhughes]

Reminds me of a harp, a precision made harp. 🦘👍

[@garrymatthews4430]

That is some craftmanship how amasing to know this is still being done!!!

[@blownmagnet]

fascinating stuff

[@michaelhunt2369]

fantastic video Dom, keep them coming

[@oldtomsphotos]

I am always in awe of pure professionalism. I was fascinated in 1963 I started in a laboratory near Barnsley that made cast rolls for steel industry and had to take samples etc into the pattern shop. I was 16 so would not question why they made wooden patterns and not just make the casting from another roll. Dom explained this a few videos back.

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi Dom, Fantastic, could feel the excitement, yes can't wait for the cast, ( not many old trades Left,) All the Best Brian 🤗😎

[@patrickflanagan8008]

Outstanding.

[@rickdavila8783]

Just started watching your channel and I love your level of excitement and the fact that you want to learn everything!

[@rx1laser]

Babbit material.... Great! Job Thanks! for sharing....Fantastic!

[@tonyburndred2432]

I think the metal is Babbitt ally less and tin used for bearings you buy it by the bar and molten cast it.

[@SobieRobie]

A very ambitious project, I can't wait for the next episodes!

[@besenzon1]

Wow !!! You found the right place there. I bet you didn't want to leave. What an amazing family. The Ranalah is going to look amazing 😍

[@dermotkelly6946]

That looks a nice area Mike lives in 👍

[@TheFoxUK]

Dom, there is a lead substitute used in Metal forming industry used to cast soft tooling called ‘kirksite’ or Zamak 2. It only becomes known as Kirksite when it’s gravity cast for use as a die. It was originally designed for low volume sheet metal dies. It is a Zinc, aluminium, alloy (mainly Zinc) with a bit of copper thrown in to strengthen it up. Hope this helps.

[@1974UTuber]

I had the same thought. Looks very much like a Zinc & Aluminium amalgam

[@pheadrus7621]

Costume jewelry casting used to use a similar alloy of zinc and lead.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Is that the same as one called Mazak?

[@TheFoxUK]

@@johnjephcote7636 I never heard that name as a metal but i’m not an expert. That name though is well known within the metal industry as a Machine toolmaker. They make precision CNC machines that are very popular.

[@edfingleton9889]

Oh no! I’ve recently been recommended your channel and now I’ve accidentally got up to date with your projects. Now I have the inexorable wait for more of your content! Really love watching your videos, such interesting stuff you get to do.

[@DominicChineas]

Thanks so much! Glad you are enjoying the channel, luckily enough there is a new video today at 3pm! Hope you enjoy it!

[@maartenpauleurelings3643]

Hi Dom, I love your idea of reviving the classic English wheel. Can you give a ballpark figure of what it would cost if I would like to buy one? Thank you! Warm regards, Maarten

[@deandowney9316]

Another step forward. :-)

[@jimjones7909]

I agree with 'course you can' - given the age of the wheeling machine, - white metal or Babbitt metal - there used to be ingots of 'Wheel brand' metal in our workshop when I did my apprenticeship - a hundred years ago!

[@ronaldkent1971]

Fantastic job by the boys

[@oscartango64]

Getting so close. I'm very excited for you. The craftsmanship is impeccable. Can't wait for the finished product. Thanks for sharing. Otto

[@DominicChineas]

Very close now!! Few weeks away!

[@KendalSmithy]

Thanks, Dom, for another brilliant video. I'm wondering if your alloy was once printing type metal. That was an alloy containing lead, tin and antimony. It stayed bright and was harder than pure lead, plus it had a lower eutectic temperature and was used to produce every newspaper in the world until lithography eventually took over.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Linotype. It was very hard.

[@KendalSmithy]

@@johnjephcote7636 Yes, plus Monotype and Intertype; they were all much of a muchness, as they say. The machines that still exist are now museum pieces!

[@davegillman6296]

I would go with white metal too

[@DominicChineas]

Babbitt is the strong contender at the moment!

[@billmumbo2697]

Dad was from Norfolk it was good to hear the accent again now goin Dom👍

[@nicolaliddle9622]

Wow pattern making is quite the perceptual challenge, certainly a very unique skill. Great to see. It’s all moving in the right direction! And hi to Wendy!