New One-Piece Babbitt Bearing for a Blacksmith Blower

[@hobbiesrus]

The museum owes you a medal for all the work you do to keep it running! Nice job, and funny how you seem busier in retirement. Funny how that works. 😀

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

@hobbiesrus You do realize he would be responsible for making said medal...

[@assessor1276]

Keith: we appreciate how you leave your boo-boos in the videos. It makes you seem more like the rest of us! Class act.

[@BRadfrommalibu74]

You make a Bozo move every once in a while. Brush it off and go forward! :)

[@alexguir903]

Wow, I am reading the comments and people seem to know many ways to do it better. You are the champ Keith, you did it.

[@joelblacksmith1064]

If they agreed with how Keith chose to repair it then they couldn’t tell Keith how awesome they are.

[@Hastings38601]

"That's much better than beatin' on it". Cracked me up. Thanks for the gentle humor and subtle instructions. Always a joy to hear you.

[@geckoproductions4128]

Love to see you doing stuff Keith. Been watching for many years and always learn something. Looks like retirement is treating you well

[@jeffreyspilker2209]

I'm 63 and sit at home retired. It just amazes me how much I get to watch and learn. When I was an apprentice it would of been great to have these types of Tutorials. Love your stuff Keith

[@jameslong3351]

Yeah, I'm 70 and had to learn things the hard way, through appenticeship programs starting in high school. But damn, I'm still learning things because of people like Keith. See, old dogs can learn old things!

[@chrisdavis5718]

I am so happy I found your channel. Watching you makes me regret not having taken any shop classes in high school. It wasn't for a lack of interest, my parents did not have the funds necessary to pay for the material required for the class. That's life. Thanks for all you do. Please keep all your videos coming.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

Great post Keith. So many can learn a bunch from this. LOL on the miss. Remember it is only the pros that can fix their mistakes, LOL. Wow, That damming material sure is getting itself used a bunch this past while eh ? I use that babit file for working on my horses hooves. New Nickolson files are not worth a penny anymore. I have some of my grandfathers Bicholson Files that are still sharp or needing a quick acid bath unlike their product that has to be continuos sharpenings now.

[@alanchamberlin2384]

Lots of Monday morning quarterbacking going on. You do you Keith. Thank you for sharing.

[@amazonhippie7826]

We all have those days. I did something like that yesterday. I cut a piece of plywood without checking for square. And I had to immediately remeasure and remake it. But fortunately I was able to use the first piece for the rest of what I needed. So it wasn’t a total waste.

[@leeklemetti1887]

Thanks Keith, yes, we are THE YOUNGER GENERATION (To fix the blower.) so the new younger generation can see it run. Nice video.

[@GWBoen]

Keith, good morning from Texas, and I always enjoy your videos.

[@frankdoner8402]

Thanks Keith , another job well done. Waiting for the next 😊

[@glencrandall7051]

An interesting way to make bearings. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@richardsurber8226]

Nice work Keith.

[@workhardlivefree3818]

I just bought that exact model of blower 2 weeks ago from an estate sale. Great little blower

[@MrPossumeyes]

Thankyou, Keith.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice job Keith. You may want to consider heat treating the smaller gear and shaft, to give it more rigidity. Thanks for sharing the repair.

[@masteruniverse3506]

Cold weather's the time to crank the forge up.

[@billyjewett5006]

Lookin good, Keith! Love watching the pour vids.

[@ypop417]

Good Morning Keith!

[@amateurshooter6054]

Thanks Keith

[@afnDavid]

15:00 Keith was good at making Play-do snakes when he was little :-)

[@paulkinzer7661]

Your project queue must be as happy as all of us are that you've retired from your 'real' job! So many folks and organizations depending on your time and skills. And all of us along for the ride. Some of us think we know better than you, but most of us know this is your show, and that there are lots of was to get fine results. You get there in your way, with the tools, knowledge, experience, and desire to repair/refurbish/modify old things that stay true to the time and techniques used when these tools and machinery were new. And you show us when you make mistakes -- as we are all going to do from time to time. Frankly, it really bothers me that folks come to let you know how they would have done it better. I doubt anything they say is not already known to you, so who does it help to say them? Especially when the same criticisms are made again and again. Sheesh, people, start your own KZbin channels.

[@frankerceg4349]

Thank you Keith!

[@PaulStaples-h2f]

Great video, good to see that you keep things going, have a great day.

[@williamdavis7094]

I wish I had a shop like yours you do very good work thank you very much for sharing

[@llrustyengines]

Thank you for sharing

[@markschweter6371]

We have a 'rivet' forge with an integral blower bolted to the underside of the pan. We've had it since August 2009, and it needs new Babbitt bearing as the shaft is wobbling badly in the bearings. I haven't tried to re-cast the bearings, as both ends seem to have tapered journals (to better keep it 'centered' in the blower housing?) Can't seem to work up a suitable fixturing to center the shaft in the bearing shell for casting.

[@johnlee8231]

Many ways to get the job done. It lasted a long time in its original configuration. Hope this will last as long too.

[@richardtaylor7199]

Great job.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing, great fix.

[@straylightc4b]

Lovely, thanks.

[@davidhudson5452]

Well done and you did it with out giggle i mean googles help

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing.👍

[@bobuncle6962]

I found this quite interesting so thanks

[@ThomasGilbert-bi4ss]

I have had one of those files for 20 years, not knowing what it was for. I use it to smooth aluminum plate edges. You can get a mirror finish

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Nice Job !!

[@deemstyle]

I’m always game for gear cutting videos, but it seems a bit more obvious to cut the shaft part off of that old pinion gear, drill it, and press the gear part onto a new shaft.

[@argee55]

At 25:48 I was distracted by an ornamental black metal butterfly in the upper right just behind the Dewalt drill. It took me a bit to realized it was actually the fan blade. Guess that’s what I get for watching on a small screen. Needless to say, I had to “rewind” to see what actually going on.

[@bw6378]

Seems like there should be thrust washers on the input shaft. Thanks for the video.

[@thefirstcalled]

Metal moving metal... never gets old...lol.

[@BRUCELEE-o9v]

Nice one Keith

[@stevespra1]

Thanks, Keith. What's the reason we quit using acetylene carbon as a mold release on the mandrel?

[@billdoodson4232]

Yes, a number of people have been asking that from when Keith poured the bearings for the big cane mill.

[@peter2uat]

​@@billdoodson4232 he did cover the mandrels for these jobs in soot, at least fot the first 4 castings

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

We? Turds in your pockets again?

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

As always, well done and nicely presented. The babbit bearing work looks like a fosfor brons bearing could work. That would be easier to turn and then press fit.

[@CothranMike]

And as good an idea as that is, Keith likes to keep period pieces authentic so that is the reason for the reconstruction of the babbet.

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

@@CothranMike I know Keith likes to preserv things like they were made from the beginning. Nothing wrong in that. Keith is qualified to be named Keith Babbit Rucker by now... Joking with heart.

[@BigRalphSmith]

This appears to me to be a case where there were problems that were evident but ignored.

[@josaonline09]

Loving the content

[@markhardman6413]

Smoke from your acetylene lance is a good release agent

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

Good thing you are here. He's never poured a babbitt bearing in his life.

[@timf6916]

Good job

[@Ervan-l9v]

I was taught to smoke the shaft to provide a release. This is the second time you did not use this method and I was curious why you don't do that.

[@youtube_learner]

Keith, I’ve seen you before use an acetylene torch to put a layer of soot on the shaft you’re pouring around. My understanding was this aided the release, and created a tiny amount of space for lubrication. However, you haven’t been using a soot layer in recent pours. Why is that?

[@ccrider5398]

Nice engineering to add that set screw. The original makers may have thought people would just buy a new blower not realizing electric blowers would be a thing.

[@ddblairco]

thank you

[@RussWabuda]

i watched you video with the greatest of interest. tell me could smoking the form have made it easier to remove?

[@radoslawjocz2976]

Very nice blacksmith blower. Please send me it to England. Regards.

[@butter262]

Good morning

[@alangknowles]

Lasted 9 years. Not too bad!

[@mikepayne8756]

Questions? In previous pours you sooted the mandrel, sometimes you don't, Why? In this case would a sleeve bearing work? What is the advantage to use use babbit ?

[@randolphfriend8260]

💙 Sometimes folk don't know their own strength, especially if they get frustrated. 😢 Sometimes folk who assume that they "know" how to use equipment . . . don't. 😢

[@BedsitBob]

In the words of Albert Einstein, "the man who never made a mistake, never made anything."

[@tomjewett5839]

I'm halfway through the video and I can see you might have needed to put the gears back in to make sure everything was in line before you poured the Babbitt.

[@helgew9008]

Would it work to make the pouring mandrel from aluminum? Aluminum has a high thermal expansion coefficient, so it would shrink more than the cast iron and babbitt, making it easier to remove after it has cooled down.

[@reinholdhummler2459]

gut gemacht

[@randallcarpenter5313]

Keith, we remember everything.

[@frisbyfreak420]

I personally feel that "file" is more of a rasp considering how aggressive it is

[@Sizukun1]

I'm curious if an oil-lite bronze bushing could have worked. I know Keith likes to keep vintage machinery as original as possible, but for others doing repairs could it be done?

[@samuraidriver4x4]

Boring out the rough cast hole takes alot of time and also expensive material for a bushing compared to recycling babbit. Add the fact this is an old museum piece. Yes it can be done but sometimes shouldn't be done.

[@Sizukun1]

@@samuraidriver4x4 Thanks for the explanation!

[@ellieprice363]

The shaft may be worn to a non standard diameter which would require extra time to refit.

[@sd4594]

Smoking the pouring mandrel may have let it release easier. Just a thought.

[@donkinzer5718]

Would the pouring mandrel have been easier to remove if it had been "sooted up" first with acetylene smoke?

[@markschweter6371]

I was wondering how one decides to soot or not to soot.

[@ellieprice363]

To soot or not to soot. That is the question!

[@markschweter6371]

​@@ellieprice363soot... Or, no soot... Whatever suits!

[@ljackson8220]

Nice work. Does putting smoke on the mandrel made it come apart better after the pour?

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

Correct.

[@vogs72]

I'm hoping others on here will let you know what you said the pitch was before you have to.

[@fengelman]

if the gear is OK< why not drill out the shaft and just replace it?

[@belatoth3763]

That blower looks like one what punished some children. They kill all mechanical calculators too 😂

[@garywalters4286]

Why not re-shaft the small gear . pin it to the shaft or add a key ?

[@gregorymacneil2836]

What is the difference between a Babbitt file and an auto-body file? Great Video!

[@mrdewity5113]

Also called a coach builders file. Used for shaping lead filler used on older cars years ago.

[@gregorymacneil2836]

@@mrdewity5113 Yes, but I have always known them as flexible body files that are used with a holder. Never seen them as a flat file with a tang. Regardless - Keith is a pleasure to watch and learn from!

[@kunstmol]

Why did you not soot the shaft?

[@darkhorsegarage9623]

While we are in the way back machine. What ever happened to the plainer matcher?

[@drewuth1015]

Honest question- why not just mount the blower up on the mill, bore the hole and machine a brass bushing for it?

[@formerfarmer1718]

You have a box of random springs, right? Just find a spring to hold the pouring mandrel tight between the two housings and there’s your babit dam.

[@MatthewTinker-au-pont-blanc]

I'm surprised you don't use the old timers trick and "smoke" you pouring mandrel using you AO torch with a heavy carburiseing flamme to help break the babit free? Why not straighten the shaft or drill out the gear and make a new shaft?

[@WreckDiver99]

Usually he does, for some reason he didn't smoke the last of the big cane mill, and this either. In the past he has always smoked the shafts before pouring.

[@MatthewTinker-au-pont-blanc]

@WreckDiver99 I know I've been follow ing Keith from the beginning!

[@mikeskupniewitz8057]

vixen file, still available... aviation use

[@garybeasley4885]

Looks like it would be quicker to braze a bead on the end of that bent shaft then turn it true.

[@markmccoy1512]

Who is the person that kept using it after the shaft began to come out?

[@jimmutchler2900]

😊😊 2:22 2:22 2:22 😊

[@mikefox5510]

I’d say drop a spring in there to make up the slack and not have to worry about the critical dimension

[@kaydog2008]

Keith it would be much easier for smaller babbit bearings to just pour it full and drill it to size.🤔🤔👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@daveanderson2316]

No it wouldn't. It needs to be perfectly in line with the support bearing. I get what you are saying, but in this case, the best route was taken.

[@donsmith3167]

How come you haven't been sooting your mandrels before you pour the babbitt Latley"""

[@melshea2519]

Happy Monday Keith! 😊

[@eastcoastwatch672]

By all considerations, it looks like some tried to power that instead of hand cranking it !

[@Tammy-un3ql]

👍👍👌👌

[@premierd8988]

but ..the hole was not drilled square Keith...🙂

[@monsterg4603]

how we all try to get away with trying to not use a centre/spotting drill, lol just dont do it while the cameras rolling. Keith remember your retired you have time bro

[@joebradley4778]

Did you think about using a snap ring instead of a set screw?

[@davidhofman4341]

Every aircraft mechanic that works on small planes uses a file like that to dress small nicks out of props.

[@jlplumley2]

If you sooted it would come out easier.

[@skooterfd]

[@tonyrmathis]

Is there a reason not to go with a bronze bushing or is it only to keep it original?

[@kevingreen8649]

I too was wondering about that.

[@clivejameson9033]

Blimey...is that rust all over your chuck???

[@rftghost]

Hmm, sorry for the ignorance, but for something like that handle, which will always rotate unevenly, wouldn't be more appropriate to use some bronze bushing? Or even a needle bearing, at least on the exterior? It is slow speed and lateral load that will deform the babbit a lot...

[@theessexhunter1305]

A piece of pp2 bronze or plain brass would have been a better job and far quicker, no making x2 pouring mandrels , but it makes good tv.

[@generessler6282]

He generally tries to stick to the original design when he can. They're museum pieces after all. Yeah oilite bronze would be great here.

[@theessexhunter1305]

@@generessler6282 With Keith asking for donations then a shorter shop time would work out cheaper. Put 2 of those blowers side by side with a babbit/bronze bush and you would never know. just one would last longer. It is a shame Keith never replies himself as some of his practices like wearing gloves when using a lathe/mill are just wrong.

[@a.bakker64]

Using a springloaded centre like this is absolutely no guarantee for a straight tapped hole. If you use the springloaded centre directely in the back of the tap, then it will be atraight.

[@bobtorrence3461]

Joe Pie did a great video on this but the reality is that the runout of a ‘bad’ tap handle will only create a VERY small misalignment angle of the tap and is inconsequential to thread quality especially on this type application.

[@a.bakker64]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@bobtorrence3461its not just the misalignment, it’s the awareness. If you know, then you can make a choise😊

[@garybrenner6236]

There is no guarantee on anything this guy dose!