Now that you have read the "good" points about [Babbitt bearings] , there are some down sides. First, Babbitt does require the operator to perform routine maintenance - primarily keeping the bearings well oiled so that they do not run dry. With having to use oil, sometimes Babbitt bearings can be a bit more messy and oil can sometimes get onto the project you are working on. Second, if a bearing is worn beyond acceptable tolerances, the precision that the bearings can give you will be lost and instead replaced with a sloppy finishes on your work.

The pouring of babbitt bearings  is a subject on which there has been much interest in our Smoke Rings column. In response to this interest, two subscribers have sent these articles-one a written description, the other a set of photographs outlining the procedure. The article on this page was written by Donald V. Goldsby, RR #2, RD 150 South, Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933. The photos on the opposite page were supplied by Ken Law, Prescott, Arizona 86301. Ken took the pictures at his neighbor Richard Allen Eckert's workshop, as Eckert poured the bearings for a Waterloo Boy.

One of the most important components of any Babbitt bearing configuration is lubrication. Without lubrication, the soft skf bearing material can be damaged, warped or worn away. When this happens, the shaft or journal supported by the journal bearing can lose accuracy. In extreme cases, the bearing can fail completely. This could potentially damage the machine and cost thousands of dollars to repair.

Heat your Babbitt using an electrical heater or other controlled heat source. Overheating Babbitt can be very dangerous. If the Babbitt being used contains lead iko bearings , the lead can vaporize and poison anyone in the vicinity.

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