I'm working on an old FRICK "00" sawmill. There are 4 large Babbitt bearings (3 1/2") in the gearset. Can I remelt the old Babbitt and add new Babbitt to it so I have enough? what temp should I preheat the cast iron before pouring?
Norman, depends on the speed the parts run, if there slow speed you can use the old and a lead base babbitt but if there high speeds the tin base is better, the lead base works better on heavy loads, grease type bearings.If your close to Ohio would be glad to help you out on it.
Norman the old Babbitt will work well on the head block bearings you have there, The shaft bearings will also be ok with the lead base Babbitt as usually 540 rpm is the standard speed. I always thought the frick was one of the best made mills. The head blocks on these were very accurate, course you probably knew that. KGB
At a engine/tractor show one steamer showed up and it was a Frick.I asked the owner and he said Frick was the same fellow as on the men who built America! Bud.
Yes you can reuse the old Babbitt in this case. I operated an "Enterprise" mill for 10 years and I know what you are talking about. You should preheat the iron only to drive off any moisture which would cause a steam explosion when the Babbitt is re-poured. It does not have to be "hot" but warm enough to be very uncomfortable it you tried to hold it in bare hands. The bearing may or may not be tinned to the iron. They may be held in place by mechanical means ie: holes in the castings. Good luck, remember sawmill gravy is pretty thin!
I love that Sawyer talk. I haven't had a mill for twenty years but I often wish I was young and operating one again. They were the best days of my life. Yeah, as Keith said, 540 RPM at the shaft is the normal speed. Here's to hope your blades are always hammered, your bits are always sharp and your gullets always clean.
What exactly is "HAMMERED" when talking about big circular blades. I have a 48" and 52" blades. Thanks guys for all your input. Joe I'm from south central PA
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A circular saw blade is "hammered" so that it is dish shaped when standing still. It would be much like a saucer or dinner plate. At speed centricular force will make it stand straight or be flat. Blades are hammered for a specific rotational speed. Most mills are run at a speed some where between 500 and 600 rpm of the blade. A saw blade must be hammered by someone who is experienced and knows what he is doing, else the blade can be ruined. If you think Model T part are expensive price a new circular saw blade, almost mortgage money.
I ran an Enterprise cog mill for 10 years using a 52 inch insert blade powered by 640 cu in Perkins V8 diesel. Couldn't make the diesel work hard, plenty of horses.
To do a good job of sawing it take's at least 100 hp.On the next farm there used to be a working sawmill with either a 54 or 56" and a 36" top saw!! Bud.
They can also be hammered to run as left or right hand depending on the mill set up. KGB
Do a search for the Magnolia Bearing Book. It's a free pdf file down load. It has anything you want to know about babbitt bearings.