Pouring Babbitt Bearings for a Crescent Band Saw

[@lennartandre3831]

Thank you for a great video. I am 71 years old and I remember as a youth my dad bought an old 24" wood planer with a square head that needed new babbitt bearings. An 'old timer' came and did it for my dad. After the bearings were poured he 'ran in' the bearings with a mixture of oil. graphite, and other stuff which I can't remember. When he was done the shaft spun effortlessly with NO perceivable run-out. The stuff he used to 'run in' the bearings had to be completely cleaned out for final use. Making sure the shims between the top and bottom bearings was a time consuming process to get them "just right". You could run that planer all day and the bearings never got hot. He also said to never use detergent oil on those bearings.

[@spoonforthought3534]

Lennart Andre what a brilliant insight 👍. It’s funny how every job was a skilled job 70 years ago wether you kept a store or went door to door re pouring Babbitt bearings. Yet now everything is designed for an idiot to fit and made to last for 5 years. Today bearings are oiled with lubricants in factory that will well exceed the bearings life cycle, 100 years ago the bearing case had spouts to pour new bearings in when the old wore out. They clearly envisioned their creations lasting 100’s of years. Brilliant =)

[@davidburt9238]

Thanks for your input, As valuable as this video! Now a to re-babbit a model A engine.

[@phillhuddleston9445]

@@spoonforthought3534 Yep, it's not hard to make something last a fey years only to be thrown in a landfill.

[@cjsmith1760]

@@davidburt9238 David, being as everyone back then carried s tool bag and most men knew how to turn a wrench, if a rod started knocking a quick fix to get you back home, pop the cap and use the toughest piece of bacon rind and reinstall. Might have to peal out the babet first. Poor fix but....As a youngster out at the ranch i kept pedaling when my fork bearings went south. I'm not 70 but knocking on the door.

[@davidburt9238]

@@cjsmith1760 Thanks for your input Mr Smith, age wise I'm not far behind you. Back in 1980 for a hundred dollars I bought a Wilson cira 1927 motor driven welder . Got it home and did my darn best to start it up. Never started, backfired and all that! Twenty years later, as I was pulling targets in a pit with another shooter, I told the guy of my problem with the Mod A engine, he asked me about the battery connection and I said pos. to + and neg. to -- . He explained to me it is a positive ground circuit. I was wrong. So, I had been spinning the engine in reverse. Cruel and hard earned lessons of life. How you explained your fix was great. If it got the Tank, Jeep or whatever back home, that's all that counts in war time. I was critically behind on back taxes on a piece of land so I bid out a job to rebuild an 83' eldorado trans. Never did a transmission before . wouldn't go into 4th overdrive. Two weeks working without an auto lift , all underneath. Got it fixed. If you really set your mind to do something, anything is possible. I hope you make it to 90+

[@7richardt7]

When I started my apprenticeship at the tender age of 15 I learnt to remetal conrods and main bearings, and we always tinned the rods and caps prior to pouring, without this the bearing material can possibly come loose from the casting and rotate. Now at 83 I still have clear memories of all those great times learning. Just sayin!!!

[@MrSaemichlaus]

Keith, what you're doing here is very valuable! A video as well-made as this will serve as a trustworthy reference for decades if not centuries to come. I'm glad somebody is documenting crafts like this, you never know when you need it! Well done and I'm sure you're doing an excellent job of bringing up your apprentice.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

Pretty soon we won't have anyone with this know how. I am pushing 70 and have cancer so my days are numbered and I have no one to pass this knowledge to.

[@kentonyoderii3443]

WOW , as a old millwright I have done babbitt bearing work. Steam trubins have them to handle the rotor shaft load for one. I have scraped and "fit" many of these. Thanks for the memories. GOD BLESS YOU SIR.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

They need us more than ever right now as we are becoming a valued commodedy.

[@arkman8109]

I worked at a saw mill being built in Oregon in the late 70's. The owners dad who started the company was in his 90 's, he rebuilt an old log deck with babbitt bearings and insisted that deck be part of the new mill. I watched him like a hawk and ask lots of questions. Never miss an opportunity to learn from the old people.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

Get the knowledge as soon as you can. We are the ones with the know how and we all have numbered days.

[@BruceBoschek]

It's interesting to note that Babbit alloy is actually a metal-matrix composite material with hard crystals in a softer matrix. It may be made up of various combinations of tin, lead, copper, antimony and arsenic. Steel shell bearings as used for main bearings and rod bearings in internal combustion engines have a thin coating of Babbit metal on a bronze layer over the steel. Babbit was named after a 19th century mechanic and inventor who did a lot of "metallurgy experiments" to find useful bearing and bushing materials.

[@ferrumignis]

Most modern shell bearings use aluminium/tin these days.

[@jamesross2474]

I loved this video. I work on elevators, and sometimes have to repair babbitt bearings, and haven't found anything on KZbin showing the process, so ty. One trick for that first top pour, use your babbitrite to make a funnel for pouring, if you have any left. Again, great video!!

[@larryrivers2194]

Your knowledge of the old ways is so impressive.

[@kenbeiser4443]

I have a 36” Crescent that was under a tree for 6 years and I have had it over 20 years. I got it going and it works fine but it needs new Babbitt. I have found the bandsaw is more forgiving than my jointer since I can adjust out some of the worn Babbitt by the tilt of the upper wheel. I don’t put many hours on it and I have so many projects ahead of a bandsaw rebuild. The 12 inch jointer is more sensitive to worn Babbitt because of cutterhead flutter. It still has some shims so I can adjust it better when I start using it more, too. This was such a good presentation and he gave us some great tips. I will subscribe.

[@mikeleemaggatyahoo]

I have been mesmerized by a lot of your content for awhile now, personally restoring a 1940’s Darra James 12” Table saw and not knowing enough about it then finding your channel and being inspired again. I should be finished with my restoration in about three weeks or so and am tickled pink to get to use a piece of history. My Grandfather introduced me at a young age into woodworking and I have loved it ever since. Thanks for the content although I don’t think I will ever have to pour Babbit Bearings but then again you never know. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@mgrantom]

I grew up in my grandfather's machine shop during the late '50s and early '60s. You are doing a great service in memorializing your vast wealth of knowledge and skill. Thanks for sharing.

[@HanstheTraffer]

Excellent video. I love the basic common sense of the "old ways" They worked and worked well for a long time.

[@googleuser859]

The new ways give us the opportunity to film and watch this stuff though 😉

[@dannyl2598]

Thank you for keeping a Lost art alive.

[@thomaseisen304]

Those are the guys who put real tlc into old machines ...I love that ! Nicely done Keith !!!!

[@larryfisher7056]

We had a couple of tractor implements when I was much younger (1950s) that required babbitt bearings. Though when I think of babbitt now I am reminded of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath and pouring babbitt bearings on the roadside to get to California.

[@davedaley9093]

Tom didn't actually pour babbit by the roadside although he feared that he might have to. He was able to get a used rod and piston at a junkyard with good enough babbit that it could actually take some shims. When my high school students would read this none of them had the faintest idea what was being done. When I read this (a really long time ago) I knew what was going on since I had seen my grandfather do the same thing on an old Model A engine he had to power a saw.

[@larryfisher7056]

@@davedaley9093 thanks for the correction....it's been probably 40 years since I read the book. Have to pick it up again.

[@elcheapo5302]

Babbitt pouring vids are always my favorite. Well done, sir.

[@jeremyramsey5697]

I was a machinist for years and always appreciated the old way of doing things because my grandfather was a class a tool and die maker at adjustagraph maltigraph back in the fifties. Ive poured babbit bearings before and glad to c it still being done keep up the great work!!!

[@The_Bregars]

I've got a band saw about that size sitting at my Dad's house (he was an old-school Tool & Die Maker, and passed in 2014 at age 96) that I'd like to restore. I was cleaning out his home shop (Bridgeport mill and big Clausing lathe) and found a case of Babbitt ingots. I remember him pouring Babbitt when I was a kid, but of course didn't pay close attention. Thanks for the lesson, Keith! Great video!

[@MrPatdeeee]

VERY interesting. Born in 1932 when it was pretty much ALL babbitt bearings. But I never saw it done. Thank you Keith for teaching us things like this. May Jesus bless you for sharing it with us.

[@pnwRC.]

FANTASTIC video! I never get tired of watching you restore these glorious antique machines.

[@johnkrim8377]

I know my father told me he used to do it to an old truck his father had( around 1930) , and if I'm not mistaken him and his brother redone the bearings in one of his first cars in the garage of our house when I was very small, I'm 75 now.

[@jdmccorful]

I have never seen this done before and always wonder how it was accomplished.Thanks for the opportunity to observe.

[@woodbark1008]

Watching do that took me right back to the early 60's I had the opportunity to do a brief apprenticeship in a Marine engine rebuilding shop and the Babbitt bearing section is where I learnt all about meticulously scraping Crank and Camshaft bearings. Thank you Keith for that nostalgic journey.

[@cdrive5757]

Hey Keith, I had to pause the video at 23 min cause I ain't gett'n nuth'n dun down here and I suspect this video has has a bit more to go before we're treated to a live test run. Before I get these old bones mov'n I gotta tell ya .... If you lived within daily driving distance of me I would be stick'n so close to you you'd swear you had flees!! You are beyond a shadow of a doubt the "Keeper Of The Flame" , Master of the arts, (tried & true) practices of generations of skilled craftsmen. 178,000 subscribers says more than I ever could. Bravo!!!! Chris Strazzeri S. Florida

[@scottvolage1752]

Hello Keith. You make a small bowl around the small pour hole with furnace cement to help it pour into the small hole with no cup as long as your not in a rush to give it time to dry then just knock it off once done. Love the videos. Keep up the good work. =)

[@DirectCurrent4u]

Very nice craftsmanship and machine work. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidjames1007]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing. I love old machines and the fact that one repairs them and not just fit new parts. The old guys were mechanics today they are just fitters.

[@MikeB0001]

Flash back to when I poured 6" shafts into big bearing blocks..we'd pour both halfs at the same time..and made a big babbitrite funnel around the pour hole. Didnt know babbitrite wasnt available any more...thanks for the flash back!..(hated melting the old babbit out!)👍🏻👍🏻 if I find and boxes at wirk..I'll send you some..still have pallets of babbit there that isnt used.

[@tomharrell1954]

Hi Mike Benjamin I would be interested in purchasing the Babbitt if they want to scrap it

[@vettepicking]

Smart making a funnel.

[@MattOGormanSmith]

I'm guessing it's made from asbestos and oil. Safe to use but not to make.

[@tonywatson987]

Have you seen the price of Babbitt metal? A pallet load would be worth a pretty good sum!

[@davidquirk8097]

@@tonywatson987 that'll be the tin. Isn't going to get any cheaper now that lead isn't supposed to be used on Electronics solder either. Such a waste, high tin content solder is pretty naff stuff.

[@idsy2713]

I would like to say that I just absolutely love this channel. I find your videos stimulating enough to want to just sit there and relax by watching multiple videos. The variety is magnificent. Although the channels genre is very static the variety comes from the massive collection of different Machines, Tools, Mechanisms and Equipment that is both worked on and repaired. I just love it. Its a Mechanical Fitters dream channel.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Hello Keith....l have done some of this kind of thing back in the...1950's and 1960's going thru High School in my dads machine shop......You did a excellent job by the way...Thanks so very much my friend....!

[@garthbutton699]

I usually read the comments and today was no exception, and I believe all was said one way or another,but I love it when a plan comes together as it did today,thanks for the good content.

[@vigisbigtm]

Learnt about babbit bearings in theory when I did my engineering around 10 years ago. Never saw them though. Great work!

[@cptrikester2671]

Don't think I will ever need to pour any babbitt bearings, but learning how it's done was well worth the time. Increased knowledge is always a good thing.

[@jmtx.]

Thanks for sharing the details of the replacement. I really enjoying learning about the process.

[@johnmacmillan627]

Very interesting. Always wondered how this was done. Thank you for the excellent presentation

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

Thanks for the video. A good, useful result is a success. Whatching babbitcing bearings for the axles of steam locomotives I see some differences. Making the bearing a little bit oversize, boaring the ruff surface, blueing the axle and scraping the bearing has been normal. Also a new bearing should only make contact on a rather small part of the circumference, wore in and being adjusted during the first runnings etc.

[@travelinman70]

you are one incredible machinist and wonderfully kind. thank you for sharing yourself with us!

[@rpatrick2]

Kieth Fenner's Babbit video from 2012(about) got me looking up steam engines, and now I work on them.

[@imchris5000]

I love how you show the world babbits are really not that challenging to recast. its such a smart and simple system. I have seen so many youtubers who restore stuff and they will redo everything yet wont touch the babbits like they are black magic. hell you get most of your melt metal back when you melt the old bearing out

[@billarroo1]

I had a friend that worked in a babbit shop, he would come home from work, BLACK with soot and smoke, every day !!!, he applied for a job with AAA insurance company, he became an adjuster, and loves his new job 😆😆😆 Great Video thanks William Orange county, ca.

[@fbomb11967]

I was able to do this when I was in MILLWRIGHT Apprentice school 30 some years ago. I worked 4 years in an oil refinery mostly on small steam turbines ,we would just through out the old bearings and replaced them. The time it would take to pour new bearings wouldn't be cost effective at all, they were made to be throw aways.

[@elsdp-4560]

THANK YOU...for sharing. This is something that I wanted to see done. Enjoyed it very much.

[@rjmiller8330]

Makes you appreciate the old time guys that made it work with what they had.

[@patrickroeill8746]

Good video Keith,not many people know about pouring bearing,good to see it being done

[@gregfeneis609]

You got that kid to help you with the bandsaw and now you're Miles ahead.

[@noelcastle3986]

Another great video thanks Keith your quiet skilled work is a pleasure to watch.

[@robdavis1176]

That was awesome to watch and thanks for the video, and thank god for new barrings.

[@artmckay6704]

Thanks for sharing this! I love old school stuff! Even today some old school methods can't be beat. :)

[@timmer9lives]

Really great condensed instructional Babbitt video. I’ve watched your other one made a while back. But that was a multi part video I think. As usual ... just great and complete instructions. Thanks for posting.

[@jerrycoleman2610]

Keith, Awesome video & content enjoyed watching and anxious to see more videos on your band saw, thanks for sharing your video.!.!.!.

[@theantipope4354]

Fascinating stuff! The closest I've come to this has been using white metal (in my case 60/40 lead/tin solder) & a beefy soldering iron to build up worn bronze bearings.Thanks for the great video, Keith!

[@stevestrohacker8436]

Very nice Keith. Not familiar enough with Babbitt. Nice to be able to learn thru someone who is doing it. Thank you sir.

[@MikeMike-er7kn]

I remember pouring bearings for a ball mill in the 80's. Journals were about 4 or 5 feet diameter....lol. It took some time blueing and scraping the half-shells for each end.

[@outoftheirskulls5676]

Nice Job ! I watched Fenner do this years ago. Its nice to watch a different type of pour.

[@carloscordero4204]

Nice good job Keith love watching you go thru and show the work ! you make it look easy thanks !!!

[@moh5463]

I always forget time when I watch this channel, that of Abom and the other . Thank you for sharing.

[@jasonsytsma9367]

Great video. Iv got to do this for the crank on my steam engine, and this is very helpful to see. Thank you.

[@sixtyfiveford]

Very neat watching you do this. I've heard of Babbitt bearings for years.

[@kevinlloyd2707]

i have a Hendy lathe with babitt half nuts. you solved my dilemma! Thanks great job!

[@canberradogfarts]

The babbit gods are sending me a message about the headstock on my Atlas lathe. :)

[@ferrumignis]

I had a strong feeling of deja vu when watching this, and had to go search YT. Turns out it's because I watched your video on pouring babbitt bearings for a J. A. Vance Planer which was 6 years ago! Amusingly you mentioned your damming material was getting a bit old and needed replacing in that video! :D

[@ThAtGuY-u9d]

I thinks it’s great having a younger guy getting into machinery. Whether or not it’s something he loves doing like we do , the fact that he seems to be doing his best and wants to get better is something that is really hard to find. I’ve been trying and failing to find employees with the same mindset.

[@davejonesfurniture]

Fascinating process & thanks for the video.

[@okcantbelieveit294]

During the depression up to the Second World War my father-in-law drove trucks. Each truck was equipped with a kit for making big end and main bearings for the engines. The kit contained bearing moulds, bearing material, a reamer and sizing shaft , melting ladle blowtorch etc. . There were next to no spare parts available in NZ in those days as trucks and the like we’re imported and parts were made locally. Drivers were expected to make bearings in their down time. Times have certainly changed

[@D3Sshooter]

Great job Keith, I really like the way you tackle issues...

[@boots7859]

Wow, for a piece of equipment that saw looks fantastic. Great tutorial on babbitt bearings.

[@mmanut]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL BANDSAW‼️👍👍 PLEASE SHOW MORE VIDEOS ABOUT THAT MACHINE, THANK YOU,. Vinny 🇺🇸

[@ronzimmer6763]

Would it make any sense when pouring babbitt into a very small hole as with the saw bearing, to dam a small reservoir around the hole area to give you a pool to compensate for shrinkage and air bubbles as in general casting?

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Thanks for sharing the work with us Yours Frank

[@matthewhelton1725]

Wonderful Video! Showing people how to do it is probably for the best... Miles included.

[@bgdavenport]

Thank you for a simple, concise tutorial!

[@lampjeslichtontwerp]

Hello from Holland... You are so inspiring to watch....

[@bobrandle9772]

Hi Keith, greetings from the UK - What a brilliant video - you certainly made it look easy when we all know that it's anything but!

[@jcorona0791]

Nice work, it's been a while since I've seen this type of work I'm an old school machinist who graduated to full cnc and it is sad to see our trade die. Keep up the good work.

[@assessor1276]

Miles is a very fortunate young man.

[@timothyperrigoue3997]

Very informative! I always wondered what the steps were to pouring bearings. By the way... that bandsaw: Many years ago up in Seattle I had the privilege of constructing a thick plank work bench for a historic schooner which the back of the workbench needed to fit the curves of the inside hull. Just down the dock was the floating workshop of Mr. Frank Prothero, a great builder of schooners. Even in his 90's {at the time} he could still freehand rough out a massive plank to compound curvatures on his SHIPWRIGHT'S Bandsaw. I think that is the type saw you may have there.

[@2tana22]

That’s was great. Always learning from your vids. Looking forward to more of the bandsaw

[@UncleKennysPlace]

I have done this, adding to the reclaimed babbitt a pound of 60/40 solder (back when it was both available and cheap). It took several tries to get everything right, but it was awesome when finished (old lathe).

[@karatehit]

this is so fascinating, seeing someone who knows soo much.

[@argee55]

Great video. Looking forward to seeing the old bandsaw running.

[@cmleoj]

Very informative video. I think I saw the video when you brought this saw home. You painted it a nice grey made from a quart of black paint snd half a pint of white. I got a 24” Crescent bandsaw this year and used the same paint mixture on mine. Now yours looks black-I can’t keep up with you! Thanks for all your videos-good information.

[@giancarlopavanello3315]

how much skill, how much knowledge. let's keep them for future generations

[@tylerkrug7719]

That is a very interesting process! Thanks, cool video!

[@subramaniamchandrasekar1397]

Nice video. All large engine main shaft bearings are like this. Serviced every 20,000 running hours, there is a special engine mechanic who does the scrapping and verify clearances with lead wire. A tedious job with many half bearings.

[@mikecabe6127]

Very cool Keith.....Good pour!!!

[@Pgsa79]

Nice work! ive had a tool for about 20 years, now i know what it is.. its a babbit scraper! thank you!

[@kurtdietrich5421]

Me too!! LOL

[@OCT566]

Man isn’t that great when finally you know what the tool you have is used for and never dare’d get rid of, now has a purpose

[@incubatork]

Just a small peek at the bandsaw but from that peek it looks like a rotating bandsaw used for making taylor made curved ribs(both directions at the same time, sort of a compound curve) in wood shipbuilding. cannot wait to see.

[@merlinvestibule]

Check out Sampson Boat building Co. on KZbin. Episode 46 features a whole bunch of shots of the shipwrights bandsaw they use. Amazing tool. Gotta give a lot of credit to the folks that designed and built it

[@300elljay]

babbitt = (high speed ) copper + tin + antimony (pewter) low speed includes lead We always use mortite caulking for the dams the shafts are blacked with a acetylene torch and wrapped with string for oil tracks and of course spacers made from Beer wrappers

[@vinylexperience77]

every time he says "Babbitt" have a shot. LOL cool video.

[@matovugodfrey4344]

Wonderful work

[@TomokosEnterprize]

For that first pour for the top, use some clay to form a funnel of sorts to retain the babbit. Works great ! Oh my that saw is a real beauty !

[@gordbaker896]

Or drill a chamfered hole in the casting.....

[@TomokosEnterprize]

@@gordbaker896 Anything to enlarge the sprue hole is good eh.

[@airgliderz]

Never scene how a Babbitt is made, thank you.

[@craigcorrell3424]

Keith - Try using TIMESAVER yellow lapping compound on your next babbitt bearing project. Used it on my Model T engine & my Buda engine. Works great - little or no scrapping. Lap the bearing in and wash the compound out. It leaves a nearly perfect precision full contact surface. The oiled shaft will spin effortlessly.

[@arnemalmkvist8553]

You do a great work,you are one some can do it Ather say no parts buy new machine Be proud👍

[@SunnnyDay]

Really nice segment, great work !!

[@adrianrevill7686]

Thanks for this, it is a very useful video. I always wanted to know how to cast bearings.

[@joelwatts9042]

I kind of knew how babbeting was done, but I never seen the whole process. Thank you.

[@phillipjones3342]

Fantastic love the babbitt stuff

[@sergebourbon829]

Great skill sir...I fully enjoy video! I was one of this ancien workers 👍😉

[@terrystover7365]

I've never seen a band saw like that and have never heard of the Crescent Machine Company. It's an interesting looking machine. I certainly do enjoy your videos.