The Jimmy Diresta Bandsaw Restoration - Part 15: Continuing the Babbitt Bearing Pour - Top Half

The Jimmy Diresta Bandsaw Restoration - Part 15: Continuing the Babbitt Bearing Pour - Top Half
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[@critter3745]

Enjoyed the video. I got an education on Babbitt bearings.

[@ADSheehan]

I notice that the original bolts are square-head. Being a nerd about these things, I've always wondered about the history of hardware, and when we started using the nuts/bolts/wrenches that are now more or less an industry standard. If anyone has any books, websites, or videos about it, I'd be interested to check them out. Awesome work as always, Keith!

[@idbuythatfora4223]

You're a rockstar Keith!!

[@mongomay1]

Thanks Keith

[@stripersniper1531]

Interesting.I have heard about the Babbitt bearings.Know I know how it’s done and how it works …thanks for the lesson Sir !

[@allthreeofem]

I'm not a machinist but I love seeing how these old machines work, and also seeing them restored and used instead of being thrown away. (I have done some work on some old Singer sewing machines - the 401's were built to last.) I'm always happy when I see that you've posted a new video!

[@rizdalegend]

That vice is massive!

[@troyam6607]

great job Uncle Keith!

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing !

[@jfl-mw8rp]

Brings back memories when I helped my dad pour new bearings for a flat belt lathe 40 years ago! 👍

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed.👍👀

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@varmint243davev7]

Thank You !

[@markkoons7488]

Thank you, Keith. Though I drove babbitt burners in my youth and own a 36" Tannewitz babbitt bearing band saw ( jeez, they're quiet), I've never poured babbitt. Recently, I've become guardian of a set of tools for pouring and scraping babbitt. With the introduction you've provided here, maybe I'll get the chance to pour some before my final shop session.

[@bcbloc02]

Sounds like just like casting venting is key!

[@51ubetcha]

I used to us potato chip boxes or cereal boxes as gaskets when I used to work on my old cars when I had no gasket material at the time. Worked great. Had no problems.

[@MotoRestoFL]

If you don’t have a punch kit, a bolt and nut of proper size works great. Put the bolt in a vice and align the nut on your marks and feel when the bolt wants to deform the material a bit which kind of gives a feel for alignment; then wail on the nut with a hammer. Also works well with the nut underneath.

[@jeremycable51]

Love these videos I had one of those babbit scrappers and sent it off with a guy who bought my craftsman drill press he had a brother who done allot of babit work with boats so it went to a good home

[@marionette5968]

I'm glad to see you have your safety cat supervising the operation.

[@EverettsWorkshop]

Still a very cool process, haven't had a need to learn this skill yet but who knows, lol.

[@lightaces]

The rule in my shop is nothing but natural materials. We don't deal with MUCH that can burn you, but keeping away from plastic clothing which will just melt can save you from some bad injuries.

[@iangleezen5245]

I have to thank you Keith for this episode. I have a project I want to do and you have answered pretty much every question I've ever had about pouring new bearings.

[@RobertFay]

*- Thank you for the striving you do to get us 'copy' to keep us sane in the midst of isolation.*

[@anntrautwein1430]

If you need to fill a void that is down fill it with plain sand. When up lite you are doing you can use casting sand. Doesn’t burn easy to clean out.

[@nigeleaton5715]

Sand was my first thought too.

[@hanslehmann2124]

That's what I was thinking, and I've never even done this.

[@petergregory5286]

Takes me back 60yrs to my power station apprenticeship. There were a number of pumps and fans with white metal bearings. I didn’t start calling them Babbitt brgs until I worked for Aramco in Saudi some years later. As apprentices we worked up through the sizes until we were sitting in our turbines scraping their bearings under the super critical eye of our turbine Chargehand, name of Roy. Under that eye, you didn’t dare make a mistake! Nervous times. Regards.

[@danhei]

Keith I REALLY appreciate how you think OUT LOUD to not let your audience wonder where you are going with a particular step.

[@alanl.simmons9726]

The suspense is agngonizing . Waiting for the reveal.

[@altonriggs2352]

Imagine the shop able to pour these castings.

[@Jesus-gh8gm]

Excellent video Keith! Thanks for your hard work preserving machine history.

[@forresta65]

I need to do some obscure task in the machine shop....Keith in a thoughtful voice ,"Hold on I think I got a tool for that. I do , that's my game plan!" Thanks Keith for the videos.

[@johnquinn3899]

Thank you Keith. Making progress.

[@MegaBCAD]

I have used cereal box cardboard as shims and gaskets from lawnmowers to air compressors chain saws and hydraulics all ways worked well with out a problem

[@nobuckle40]

I may have said it already, but I find this babbitt pouring process to be fascinating. I've come across this type of bearing in the past and always wondered how it was created. Thanks again for posting these videos.

[@Hoaxer51]

Thanks for the video Keith, it’s always fun watching the work done on your videos.

[@halnywiatr]

The melting point of Babbitt is essentially the same as the melting point of Lead. Oakum is used for packing and damming by plumbers when lead is poured into cast iron joints.

[@Crewsy]

I think the big difference between plumbing pours and Babbitt pours is that you don’t want your plumbing to move afterwards and the oakum is packed in and left in place.

[@Tammy-un3ql]

Love these videos

[@kerrygleeson4409]

Great work Keith thanks for sharing 👍

[@thisolesignguy2733]

A little tip for that gasket material, I make gaskets alot for polycarbonate spacers and panels in signs. You can set that gasket on there where it goes and just use a ball-peen to tap out the holes right on the casting. Sometimes the blank just pop down in the hole, I just drill a tiny hole down the middle and use a dental tool to pop it out. super easy when you're in a hurry.

[@brandenpatterson2776]

Another great video!

[@geckoproductions4128]

Tin Babbitt good for casting bullets too. Usually mixed in with some scrounged wheel weights and/or plumbers lead. If you're REALLY lucky, you put some linotype metal in the recipe too.

[@Scatterpattern]

Anyone else hearing like a buzz or beep when Keith breathes in?

[@blipys]

he's a robot. officially been confirmed

[@robjchristopher]

Sounds like a background noise that is filtered out when Keith talks...

[@katelights]

new mic not working too well.

[@Hoaxer51]

@@katelights, almost working too well! It sounds like it’s picking up to much background noise.

[@hershelshochter4703]

@@Hoaxer51 it's radio interference that gets automatically amplified by the recorder's pre-amps, it ducks down when keith speaks but stays in the background.

[@chemicalvamp]

Got it, Long sleeves if I ever pour a babbit :D

[@rexmyers991]

Thank you another lesson, Uncle akeith

[@devemch7851]

Nice! I love to see your videos on restoring these old machines. Looking forward to seeing this machine run again.

[@phillipyannone3195]

I am always looking for good information regarding Babbit pouring. I have attempted pouring new bearings on my Crescent band saw and have never been completely satisfied with the results. I think the preheat is critical. I think Dave Richard’s from ‘ old steam powered machine shop’ gets very good results, and Also Auz Pete gets excellent results.

[@floridaflywheelersantiquee7578]

Like video thanks for sharing

[@nathanandress]

For your MSC punch, and others just like it, the metal slug is designed to go through the punch only one way. You have to push it through from the polycarbonate guide side through the metal plate. until it goes all the way through; caution because the slug can fall out and onto the floor. Like a keyway broach. There is an accessory you can buy for them that is a little stand that spaces it just enough above your table, but it's not really necessary. I've found that the best way to use them is to hammer the slug like you did here until it goes all the way through the material you are punching and then flip it over and push against the slug on the table until it pops loose.

[@robertbamford8266]

It will be interesting to see what appears when the casting is opened up. Two separate halves of the bearing at each end? Thanks for the interesting education in pouring Babbitt bearings.

[@aserta]

This one took me back to some of your first episodes, pouring Babbitt back in the day. Like... what 8~9 years ago, for the Vance.

[@fogshotfogshot4891]

Hi Keith, veeery interesting and highly inspiring of saving ols machinery. You did pay attention to align the shaft parallel to the machined surfaces of the frame. When pouring the babbit bearing you apparently just eyeballed the shaft to be in line with the void. Shouldn't the shaft end up being perpendicular to the other two dimensions too to avoid quick wearing of of the bearing ...?

[@markpalmer5311]

Always learn something on these videos, thanks Keith!

[@WilliamTMusil]

Hiya Keith

[@caseyrevoir]

00:07:55 You can use the edge of the surface to cut the gasket, just repeatedly tap the concave area with a light hammer at a 45° angle.

[@dankunkler620]

Those punch sets are relief ground just above the thickness of the die. Set your punch set over a hole in a piece of wood and drive completely through in one quick strike. Cleaner cut and punch will virtually fall rest of the way out of the die in direction of travel as cut.

[@The_HillPeople]

Thought you had a bug problem till I realized I was seeing little sootlings floating about.

[@elricm13]

Great video!!

[@armandhammer9617]

3:56 I don't know jack about babbits but as a carpenter that was instantly my plan if I was doing this job lol

[@kentuckytrapper780]

Great video Keith, keep'um coming.

[@jacquespoirier9071]

very interesting video, for sure, when you cast babbit in an enclosed area, you should take in account that anything not pure metal will generate gases and will expulse the metal you pour, the entrapped air, the burning carbon on the shaft, the burning gasket material etc...all contrubuting to spattering

[@Farm_fab]

Keith, I think the words you were looking for for the shim stock are maybe card stock, or carton board? What comes to mind is the type of material used for the box that a table game comes in, or maybe the box that brake pads come in. gasket material is a good choice. I used to have the biggest roll of gasket material I ever saw. It was 4' tall and about 6" across and I had the choice to have several rolls. All of this for a couple dollars. I had so much that I cut 3' pieces and gave them to friends that might find it useful.

[@patrickcolahan7499]

Love watching this. How do you keep the babbitt pour for the upper bearings sticking to the babbitt from the lower bearing. Wouldn't you use the carbon there as well? Thanks very much for sharing your talents. You are an amazing craftsmen.

[@newton366]

KITTY AT 0:00 !!

[@localhawk1]

first shot is so cool, keith, the giant bandsaw and the cat :)

[@MosquitoMade]

That Lie-Nielsen 164 in the toolbox makes me uneasy lol

[@chrisarmstrong8198]

Maybe it would have been easier to machine some suitable centering collars to support the shaft so that you could pour the top bearing with the top bearing shell sitting by itself upside down in your bench vise. The clearance holes (for bolting the bearing halves together) and shims could correct for any slight misalignment that may occur.

[@Crewsy]

When he files down the upper Babbitt halves you’ll see why they’re always poured this way. Alignment is a big part of it but the shims set the gap and therefore set the actual size needed for correct thickness. If it was practical to do it as you said it would have been done that way long ago.

[@stephenreeves9025]

use a propane space heater to preheat

[@Ambidexter143]

Babbitt has been state of the art since the 1830s and is still used today

[@JJ-jv1gu]

At one time, hardwood was used as bearing material

[@williamdodd8660]

Particularly a hardwood called lignum vitae, which has natural oils in it, and is so dense it sinks in water.

[@larrymills8527]

@@williamdodd8660 the old wringer washers used wood bearings on each end of the wringer rollers

[@kenankalamujic6677]

Best part is the main cat inspector of work

[@thomaslavery7760]

Nice cat narrative (purring)

[@patrickdolan9848]

A solid structural member is stronger/stiffer than a hollow tube, but it has a lower strength/stiffness-to-weight ratio

[@ianbutler1983]

Yes. I hear that a hollow tube is stiffer than a bar the same size a lot. You never strengthen a member by removing material. I think people get confused because a tube is stronger than a bar, if the same amount of material is used.

[@stancloyd]

Hollow castings, where used, prevent hot tearing of the casting while it is cooling. Ask Windy Hill.

[@devemch7851]

It’s not about strength. The wise engineer first looks at the loads first. Then you apply the material…. Enough to insure the stress in the material is appropriate. Think Young’s modulus here. Cast iron has a unique Young’s modulus in that you don’t have plastic deformation. It just snaps. The area of concern are the flange areas and bearing housings. The bigger problem is cooling. To get minimal shrinkage, no hot tears and no shrinkage voids you need constant cooling. A casting with thin webs and a massive solid core is a disaster. Even if you get it yo cool without defects it will be warped and the flanges may be hard as in white iron. The best approach is to keep your sectional thickness the same throughout. So this is a complex part but relatively constant in sectional thickness by using the core. Brilliant !!!!! The more patterns I make for old machines the more respect I have for the. Guys who designed these old machines.

[@devemch7851]

@@stancloyd hot tears are most often seen from excessive localized stress concentrations caused by cooling. Areas to be weary about would be bosses for example. Fillets around the base of the boss not only simply the pulling of the pattern from the sand but minimize the likelihood of a hot tear in a sharp corner. Sharp localized transitions are to be avoided. The shrink rule for cast iron is often 1/8. That means that a casting could see 1/8 in per foot shrinkage. But the use of risers and complex geometry affects this. The amount of shrinkage can vary. In a slow cooling casting with risers feeding the part, you may see no shrinkage as the iron freezes around the sand but the riser feeds the cooling core.

[@Rorschach1024]

Instead of paper, if you find yourself in this position again, I'd consider using dry play sand to fill the cavity.

[@cemx86]

At 8:26 - Talking about punching holes in the gasket material. Have you ever used a "Whitney Punch"? There are two common sizes - the Junior that goes up to 9/32" and the XX which goes up to 17/32" (no idea why 32nds). Handy for working with sheet metal up to 16ga mild steel.

[@Rorschach1024]

A suggestion for the future, possibly using a bit of acid flux on the surfaces you want the babbitt to stick to. And also putting a bit of borax on the surface of the molten babbitt to prevent the metals from oxidizing while molten forming excess dross. Skimming immediately prior to pouring.

[@dalmatiangirl61]

@ 16:15 I think you sealed a fly up there, rip little fly.......

[@buidelrat132]

I imagine you keep your "Damming Material" in a hollowed out copy of the Necronomicon.

[@talltimberswoodshop7552]

The cardboard you talk about using as a shim is chipboard.

[@MaineHomeShop]

Just a thought for future, how about using some sort of firestop expanding foam to fill large voids?

[@steveparker8723]

Lead, antimony and tin.

[@jamesdavis8021]

I wonder if it would be beneficial to drill a vent hole in the opposite end from the pouring spout to vent the gasses.

[@Whisperblade]

To do that he would have had to drill into the side of piece (remember the cavity he was originally going to fill with paper, that is at the location he would need to put a vent). I and others thought the same, but I stopped and examined the pieces and realised it just isn't practical to do on this machine, I have seen other bearings he's poured that had vents built into the original bearing casting, and they went great without any splatter. Unfortunately he seems to be limited by the machines design + manufacture in this case, looking at the two halves of it there also was no-where for him to drill in a vent hole either due to it being two bearings either side of the cavity.

[@Farm_fab]

Inspector Marion is cat scanning your work today, Keith. That's rather common at my house. Anything that comes through the door gets scanned, including friends.

[@BedsitBob]

Then the dog will come in, and do a lab test. 😁

[@Alaskavenom61]

Babbit bearings are like SAG MILL or ball mill. Joey, Andy, Willard, Floyd, Patsy , Pongi, my classmates

[@richardeppel2896]

Keith have you ever tried stuffing it with paper and damming with water glass sand.

[@JaapGrootveld]

If the mold metal is less than 6o degree celcius( 140 Fahrenheit) you wil see splatter and its dangerus. Its becourse of condensation.Always go in hot, if you want to get her done. That goes for the job to.

[@johnbirkett-smith7658]

Nice video. However, why didn’t you cast the Babbitt in the top bearing in exactly the same way as in the bottom bearing, with the piece upside down in the vice (vise), using the same centre (center) gauges and dams as previously?

[@willybeeish]

I was interested in the previous new mike video. Now this video, which has the Rode mike live, I can hear an intermittent whirring noise. Do you think the new mike is picking up your breathing? Never noticed it before with the Sennheiser. It might even be picking up the cat purring!

[@alexanderross2786]

I love the tool restorations & using babbit to keep it original! :) Would you ever consider changing over a tool restoration to Modern Ball Bearing?

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

Hi Keith, your mic is either picking up your cat purring or something else but it sounds very funny because it seems to come at the end of your speaking

[@donrougeux2122]

I think I would have drilled a small vent through that casting

[@clayz1]

We have to wait a week to open it up? To see diresta the pour? I will be in suspense the whole time.

[@richardreis6248]

Thanks for the interesting video's, in most casting molds on the cope side of the mold they have a vent for the gas to escape. Would it be possible to incorporate a vent into the area that you blocked off?

[@Whisperblade]

I was thinking the same but stopped the video and looked closely at the parts and realised nope... not without drilling a vent hole into the cast iron, then you run the risk of someone else down the line using for something else, or having to fill it in after the Babbitt pour is done.

[@dkrenshaw]

He should have used his damming putty to make a funnel at the end of the bearings, and poured into the end of the shaft. Then the oil hole can be used as a riser to let the gases escape. I'm betting those bearings didn't turn out very good. Lots of gas trapped in the pour. You need a riser to let the gas out, and it keeps some pressure on the molten metal as it cools and shrinks.

[@dudleycornman1624]

Had a little moisture in there somewhere?

[@martineastburn3679]

Thought that was a Rifer a wood working rough out tool.

[@bobweiram6321]

Pour John Babbitt has bearings back.

[@kaunomedis7926]

Is it your plastic material producing gases in contact with hot babit?

[@wdhewson]

Is that splatter indicative of water present?

[@donrougeux2122]

You were lucky on the first pour in that the pour hole remained unplugged until the end of the pour and probably is ok even though I suspect it has some pretty large voids next to the inside top of the casting. But that did not happen on the second one and the trapped air at the far end of the pour blew out the pour hole and closed it off before the pour was complete. I am willing to bet some $$ that a major 'short' is the result and you will have to repour that second one. A means of venting is paramount to permit the displaced heated air to escape.

[@Farm_fab]

Keith, I saw a man pour copper ingots, and he had a good bit of splatter as the molten metal went into his pans.

[@BedsitBob]

Why as he pouring copper ingots in the kitchen?

[@GameBacardi]

15:45 I tough there is bug running on my monitor...

[@catfishgray3696]

PET THE CATS AND DOGS, GREAT VIDEO, SEE YOU ALL NEXT TIME...

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

Previous episode 44 babbits, this one 36 babbits, I count them just for fun😄.

[@Hoaxer51]

How big is a babbit? Asking for a friend!

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

@@Hoaxer51 Bout the size of a wabbit.

[@mikewoods4177]

@@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj I thought it was smaller being a baby wabbit

[@Hoaxer51]

@@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj thanks, I was hoping for a chuckle this morning!

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

@@mikewoods4177 If so, it'll be a big wabbit by xmas time, says Elmer J Fudd.

[@robertbamford8266]

What would TS Eliot have done with the Babbitt cat?