SHORT SUBJECT #7 What Are Oilite Sintered Bearings tubalcain

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  • Опубликовано: 17 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 223

  • @mikefochtman7164
    @mikefochtman7164 2 года назад +4

    Excellent explanation. My father (an old time mechanic) first showed me how they worked by heating one up with a torch. Just like you did here. And we crushed an old one in a vice just as you. Mind you that was 50 years ago, but your explanation took me right back to that day with my dad. ;)

    • @mrpete222
      @mrpete222  2 года назад +1

      👍👍👍👍

    • @mechpatt
      @mechpatt 2 года назад

      nice story - thanks for sharing!
      my Dad did the same things with me, but I was too young and dumb to appreciate a lot of what he told me!

  • @rikityrik
    @rikityrik Месяц назад +1

    Sir, this video was so well done I have no doubt you are most definitely still in your prime.👍

  • @DavidHerscher
    @DavidHerscher 2 года назад +1

    When i was a kid, it was cereal and Saturday morning cartoons. Now, it’s coffee and Saturday morning Mr Pete videos. Life is good.

  • @scottjones7279
    @scottjones7279 2 года назад +3

    Did not know that the origin of these bearings was Chrysler Motor. So much came from the US manufacturing industry that was shared throughout the world. Make America Great Again!

  • @mechpatt
    @mechpatt 2 года назад +1

    In the 42 year of my mechanical and machinist apprenticeship, always grateful to learn more.
    Used lots of these bushings over the years and this was still a very interesting video, thanks Pete!
    Years ago working with Ice Cream wrapping machines, we have a visit by an Engineer from the Anderson Wrapping Machine Company, USA.
    The story he told was old Mr. Anderson going ballistic and wanting to fire anyone caught drilling or reaming these Oilite Bushings.
    Their approved method was to broach the bushing so as not to obscure the oil pores and lead to shaft failure.
    I don't know where you would get these small diameter broaches!

    • @mrpete222
      @mrpete222  2 года назад

      Very interesting story, thank you

  • @longcaster
    @longcaster 2 года назад +2

    In the '70's I worked for Xerox. We had a copier that used an oilite bushing/bearing. It was on a dashpot, (remember those?). The page was scanned by a light and mirror assembly that was pulled by a cable and at the end of scan a solenoid released the wind up and springs pulled the mirror assy back. At the end the assy hit the dashpot to slow it down to start again. The oilite thinger kept the shaft straight and would require cleaning from the paper dust every 5K scans.
    In the '80's it changed to stepper motors in both directions.

  • @transmitterguy478
    @transmitterguy478 2 года назад +27

    I worked in a plant that made some of these and when they come out of the sintering oven, cooling section, they would travel down a conveyor and then drop into a "V" conveyor tank with 90-weight oil in it. They were in it long enough to absorb some oil, per specifications, then come out the other side for final cooling and packaging.

    • @mrpete222
      @mrpete222  2 года назад +5

      Very interesting, that they use 90 weight

    • @ianbutler1983
      @ianbutler1983 2 года назад +1

      Oh, so no pressure or vacuum was used, just simply dunked in an oil bath?

    • @gregorywells7905
      @gregorywells7905 2 года назад +1

      @@ianbutler1983 It's likely that capillary action was sufficient to 'charge' the bearing with the oil.

    • @mohabatkhanmalak1161
      @mohabatkhanmalak1161 2 года назад

      @@gregorywells7905 Yes, capillary or wicking would pull the oil in. At the time of manufacture, the first oiling would fill the empty cavities, then this oil would ozz out with temperature rise as the rotating shaft heated it and as it cooled the oil would be wicked back into the cavities. The brass and bronze material is also perfect, steel is not, as it would absorb the carbon atoms in the oil readily into its lattice.

  • @ronringel9132
    @ronringel9132 2 года назад +5

    I really like the footage under the microscope. I will give your video an A+.

  • @warrenlee3113
    @warrenlee3113 2 года назад +9

    This is something new I don’t know about. I love the short subject series. Thank you Mr Pete.

  • @Dudleymiddleton
    @Dudleymiddleton 2 года назад +21

    They were a game changing invention, literally metal sponge. Thank you for a very informative video!

  • @CraigLYoung
    @CraigLYoung 2 года назад +3

    I use to work for a sentering company. After heat treatment the bearings are placed in a pressurized hot oil bath to force the oil into the pours.

  • @Bobs-Wrigles5555
    @Bobs-Wrigles5555 2 года назад +3

    Knew about these, but never took the time to actually look hard at one, thanks for the opportunity👍

  • @michaelcerkez3895
    @michaelcerkez3895 2 года назад +1

    Well Mr Pete after watching you for near 10 years you have never failed to impress me. This is a new high, you can now be titled our resident metalurgest. Hats off.

  • @paulhunt598
    @paulhunt598 2 года назад +2

    Once again Mr. Pete demonstrates that he knows more about a topic where I think that I am highly informed.
    Your video image microscope is a toy that I have not previously seen. It worked well for this video.
    Good job Lyle!

  • @123232ism
    @123232ism 2 года назад +10

    Sintered bearings are normally press fit on the OD which slightly reduces the ID for application. Rather than reaming, bearings were ball sized with precision balls pressed thru the ID. This method did not tear the inner substrate and rendered a smooth and precise bearing area for shaft rotation. Great presentation sir.

  • @steves7896
    @steves7896 2 года назад +2

    "Always saving for the right moment, which never seems to come."
    Same here. Except that I justify all my saving by seeing it as an act of stewardship for folks who will come after me. Truth be known, of all the boxes of salvaged parts and thousands of fasteners I would have to guess that I probably use a very minimal percentage of all of that in my creations and repairs. I'll never use it all up. Hopefully after I leave this earth it will all get passed on to someone else who can use it. And so on and so on.
    As always, I love your content Mr Pete!

  • @waynespyker5731
    @waynespyker5731 2 года назад +2

    1960-1962 Pressed many Bunting bushings into refurbed cigar making machine castings during rebuilds. Used some Boston too. Thanks

    • @mrpete222
      @mrpete222  2 года назад

      👍👍

    • @manuelmaseda4875
      @manuelmaseda4875 2 года назад +2

      Around that same time I helped my grandfather repair and rebuild cigar machines as well. I think they were made by AMF.

    • @waynespyker5731
      @waynespyker5731 2 года назад

      @@manuelmaseda4875 Correct,. Our customers were located in Reading, Philadelphia, Florida and Puerto Rico, the cigar industry was on the downturn.

  • @dannyl2598
    @dannyl2598 2 года назад +1

    Thank you Mr Pete. We appreciate you.

  • @1pcfred
    @1pcfred 2 года назад +1

    Mr. Oilite was a brilliant man.

  • @chuckmayerchak3071
    @chuckmayerchak3071 2 года назад +6

    That was a great video. Very good explanation of the different bearings. That magnification was really interesting. I always wondered if you needed ab oil hole for those but now see its nit At all necessary. Never too old to learn!!! Thanks so much!

  • @gregorywells7905
    @gregorywells7905 2 года назад +1

    Oilite bearings were a common component of slot cars for many years, typically used with 1/8 and 3/32 inch axles.
    My research indicates that the voids in the sintered material were created by mixing plastic powder into the bronze powder to be sintered into a solid and under the heat and compression of the process, the plastic would vaporize, leaving the voids that formed the metal sponge. Based on old and failing memory, the best bearing material was created with an 18% plastic component.
    We rabid slot racers often liked to replace the low-quality factory Oilite 'fill' with higher quality oil. The usual technique was to place the bearing on the clean tip of a soldering iron until the factory oil boiled out and then to drop it into an appropriate solvent, acetone or something similar. Once cooled, reheat the bearing on the soldering iron tip again and when hot, drop it into a better oil, typically a modern synthetic like one of the Mobil 1 products, which would be sucked into the the Oilite.
    One point: Oilite bearings do tend to wear shafts running in them more than well-fitted, well-lubricated solid bearing bronze bushings. The theory is that the porous Oilite does not allow for the presence of the hydrodynamic wedge that forms within a well-lubricated solid bushing, thus preventing most metal-to-metal contact. The benefit of the Oilite is that consistent lubrication of the bushing is far less critical.

    • @mrpete222
      @mrpete222  2 года назад +1

      Very interesting comment, thank you very much. I did not know that about the plastic. One of my follow-up videos was going to be on the oil film of plain Babbitt bearings such as automobile crankshaft.

  • @randyhertzberg7549
    @randyhertzberg7549 2 года назад +2

    Have to laugh ...there are others as crazy, who scrap stuff and "stock" reusable parts. Often times those bearings have seen very little use. ....still wish you were one of my shop teachers.

  • @llapmsp
    @llapmsp 2 года назад +1

    Still the best shop teacher with a great topic. Thanks for sharing.

  • @johnmolnar2957
    @johnmolnar2957 2 года назад +2

    another interesting video . many years ago I worked in an automotive electrical rebuild shop, they used to have a can of oil soaking oilite bushings for the common starters at each rebuild bench

  • @adnacraigo6590
    @adnacraigo6590 2 года назад

    Very interesting. You are a storehouse of metalurgical knowledge.

  • @justinbrewer8408
    @justinbrewer8408 2 года назад +4

    I was literally reading about these last night while rebuilding my Atlas mill that uses these type of bearings. Great info. Thank you as always!

  • @jayvoigt6006
    @jayvoigt6006 2 года назад +4

    Very nice and informative video Mr Pete! Loved the microscopy! My shop is also well stocked for every conceivable problem that never comes.

  • @oldhick9047
    @oldhick9047 2 года назад

    They are a wonder. I love oilites for all kinds of modeling projects. No fuss and in the right applications they last for ever.

  • @stevesimon1994
    @stevesimon1994 2 года назад +3

    Very interesting. You're still a great teacher!

  • @tced2858
    @tced2858 2 года назад +4

    You explained that very well...you should have been a teacher...😁 Good video Mr Pete !

  • @edtompkins865
    @edtompkins865 2 года назад

    My dad taught me about Oillite bearings. Did not know they were a Chrysler invention!

  • @mattthescrapwhisperer
    @mattthescrapwhisperer 2 года назад +2

    Great stuff MrPete! You also reminded me that I have to replace the worn out Oilite bearings in my ancient Craftsman belt drive grinder.

  • @mallyuk1
    @mallyuk1 2 года назад +2

    Hi Mrpete when i bought my lathe from my mates Grandad there was all sorts
    of metals, there was some screw top tubs and tubs they had solid bar oilite
    in oil i did make two bushing for somebody and yes its different to machine
    thanks Mrpete cheers

  • @sallybrokaw6124
    @sallybrokaw6124 2 года назад +2

    Pete, in Mansfield, Ohio not far from me is or was a bronze foundry called Bunting Bearing.When I worked for a steel supply in Mansfield we sold round forgings to Bunting I assume to make crucibles. AL B.

  • @mikesgabellone5089
    @mikesgabellone5089 Год назад

    i remember the first one i chaged as a young auto apprentice, the bodd told me to set the bushing on my thumb making kind of a seal against the skin. and filled the cavity with new oil. then my index finger closed the to p of the bushing and slight pressure, i could see the oils weeping out of seemingly nowhere. that was almost 40years ago

  • @creativerecycling
    @creativerecycling 2 года назад

    I’m retired now, but I used to keep a stash of various diameter cast bronze bar stock in the shop. Very handy, especially if you needed to make a “bastard size” bush. Also had a couple of 2” Meehanite continuous cast iron bars. People don’t realize the value of such material.

  • @jeffryblackmon4846
    @jeffryblackmon4846 2 года назад

    Thanks, Mr. Pete! You're a great teacher! I never knew the history of these bearings or how they are produced. I'm adding this video to my favorites.

  • @threegreencharms
    @threegreencharms 9 месяцев назад

    So cool Mr. Pete! I use these all the time. What an excellent invention

  • @tomkovacic2736
    @tomkovacic2736 2 года назад +1

    Love your short subject series! Looking forward to seeing you at Arn Fest 2022.

  • @richardblakely1296
    @richardblakely1296 2 года назад

    Sintered bearings are useful like ball bearings are useful. Other useful bearing types are sintered carbon-graphite bearings. The carbon-graphite is similar to the material that DC motor brushes are made out of. In a water pump, for example, the sintered graphite is lubricated by water (and graphite). Sintered metal bearings filled with graphite are also available.
    I have fixed vane-type water pumps that are internally made of sintered carbon-graphite.
    This was a great video. Your previous video on keyways was good too. But, round keys similar to square keys are useful. For example, a round-keyway for a pulley can be made using a milling cutter instead of a broach. Also, for example, a pulley and a shaft can be drilled lengthwise together to form the round keyway in the pulley and the shaft in one operation.

  • @MrAvjones
    @MrAvjones 2 года назад +1

    Reminds me of the piston Sleeve's, especially tractor motors.

  • @morelenmir
    @morelenmir 2 года назад +3

    Just fascinating! The microscope really does show their structure completely unambiguously. I thought it might be too subtle and hard to capture on screen but the surface is a genuine sponge!
    I think there is a _lot_ of potential to show machining processes and their end-results through the microscope. For instance a series of images showing the polishing down of a surface with first coarse sandpaper and then through the finer grades down to jewellers rouge would be fascinating to see up-close. The profile of threads and perhaps the matching cutting tool would be another area where an up-close view was beneficial.

    • @mrpete222
      @mrpete222  2 года назад +1

      Thank you very much for some useful suggestions. Perhaps you saw my older video where I use an optical comparator?

    • @morelenmir
      @morelenmir 2 года назад

      @@mrpete222 I haven't, but I will certainly check it out!
      While I continued to think about the topic it struck me that the tool or especially the blade sharpening process would be very interesting to see under the microscope as well. The different profiles of edge and removing the burr are quite hard to explain so it would be helpful to physically see them.

  • @tom87pate
    @tom87pate 2 года назад +1

    I had always wondered where the name Oil-lite came from. I have several old cast iron miter boxes (Goodell-Pratt, Stanley, and Millers Falls) that advertised that they had Oil-lite bearings. Very interesting.

  • @billchiasson2019
    @billchiasson2019 2 года назад +4

    That was an amazing video! Love the microscope demonstration!

  • @SeanBZA
    @SeanBZA 2 года назад +9

    Have had a few where the replacement I made was done with self lubricating engineering plastic, as the application needed lubrication, but also could not contaminate, so Vesconite was the choice to machine them out of. Even replaced the plain nylon ones with Vesconite, so they would wear less, and got a better fit on the shaft, as the originals were not exactly close tolerance. Oilite is great, but always the factory fill of oil is not enough, best to take them, place in a cup of oil, and microwave them till hot, so that you can get the full charge of oil in. Or soak overnight in a warm place, though microwave works faster. When you buy a motor with oilite always helps to add exta oil from new, the manufacturers seem to think the bush production oil is enough, and never add any extra, I always find the felts in the motor are clean and white, with a black ring where that bush got hot and glazed itself. New bush, or scrape the glaze off, and oil it works well again.

    • @mrpete222
      @mrpete222  2 года назад

      Thanks

    • @charlieromeo7663
      @charlieromeo7663 2 года назад +2

      I’ve had success in machining these for custom applications. Some oil leeches out during turning. I don’t remember where I saw it, but I’ve been able to re-infuse these by putting them in a cup of 30W non-detergent oil then placing the cup in a vacuum bell jar. Under vacuum the parts are “deaerated” and the voids are filled with oil. You can watch the air bubble out of the parts. It seems to work very well for me.

  • @RRINTHESHOP
    @RRINTHESHOP 2 года назад +1

    Nice demo. Great material and a 1000 uses.

  • @richardmorton1310
    @richardmorton1310 2 года назад +1

    Love the comment saving for the right moment... that never seems to come!

  • @robertsherman5428
    @robertsherman5428 2 года назад

    If I would have had a metal shop teacher like you I would have chose metal vs Woodwork!!! Ty mr Pete

  • @TheRecreationalMachinist
    @TheRecreationalMachinist 2 года назад

    Brilliant! Thanks for sharing 👍 🇬🇧

  • @ericcorse
    @ericcorse 2 года назад +1

    Thanks Mr Pete excellent material I need to replace the steering shafts bushing in my mower I think I'll use this type.

  • @ianpendlebury3704
    @ianpendlebury3704 2 года назад +1

    Excellent explanation. Thanks very much. Keep your videos rolling out...

  • @W4BIN
    @W4BIN 2 года назад

    I enjoyed it, I have re-lubricated many motor bearings with the idea that I was refilling the sintered bronze. Ron W4BIN

  • @erikclausen4780
    @erikclausen4780 2 года назад

    Great video Mr.Pete Thank you for showing.

  • @ozar62
    @ozar62 2 года назад +1

    I used to sell, deliver and set up gym equipment and they put those bearings in the pivot/fulcrum areas of the machine/equipment.

  • @johncloar1692
    @johncloar1692 2 года назад

    Thanks I did not know that Chrysler Motors developed them. Thanks Mr. Pete.

  • @MakeItWithCalvin
    @MakeItWithCalvin 2 года назад

    What makes them super cool to me is how "simple" the concept is, but how effective they are too. My Ultimaker 2 3D printer used them as part of the X/Y gantry assembly. My original Thingomatic 3D printer used them on all the axis, but I opted to change them to Igus polymer bearings.

  • @buckstarchaser2376
    @buckstarchaser2376 2 года назад +6

    Thanks, Mr Pete. This answers a lot of old questions I've had about these, except for why some items have a warning that goes something like "Contains permanently oiled bearings. Do not oil."
    It also explains why my dieing window air conditioner would squeak after turning on, but then get quiet after it "warmed up". That blower shaft is now frozen though, so I'm curious what type of oil would best revive it, with a minimum of tear-down. I'm thinking either mineral oil or lathe oil that's been diluted with acetone may seep in from the outside and possibly leave the oil behind while cleaning off some of the "it's stuck" residue.

    • @alantrimble2881
      @alantrimble2881 2 года назад +3

      I usually pull the motor apart & clean the shaft with some scotchbrite or steel wool to remove the residue, then out a few drops of 5W20 synthetic oil in the bearings. They work like new again for a few years.

    • @arnoldgrubbs2005
      @arnoldgrubbs2005 2 года назад +1

      On a lot of small motors, in addition to the oilite bearing, there is an area around the bearing packed with some kind of wicking material (sometime it looks sometimes like wood saw dust others a wool wick) that is saturated with oil. If you go to the trouble to take the motor out of the AC unit, it would be good to remove the cover off the packing (its press fit) and saturate that with oil. It will make the motor go a lot longer before it needs attention again.

  • @ga5743
    @ga5743 2 года назад +2

    Totally enjoyed learning about this product Mr Pete and loved the microscope viewing also. I’ve seen a couple of these with the lip and wondered what they were for. Thanks for the lesson.

  • @campbellmorrison8540
    @campbellmorrison8540 2 года назад

    Saving for the right moment that never seems to come, love it6, you and me both. Some ( my wife) might say hoarder but we know the value of this stuff :)

  • @johnmccrane1660
    @johnmccrane1660 2 года назад

    Great subject and history on it, and the micro shots were very good, and useful. I remember these from the small machines I serviced back in the 70s, and still have a few hanging around.

  • @CSWeldFab
    @CSWeldFab 2 года назад +2

    Thank you very much, Sir. Another quality video.

  • @stevebosun7410
    @stevebosun7410 2 года назад

    Hi Mr Pete, fascinating. More like that please.

  • @izzynutz2000
    @izzynutz2000 2 года назад

    In the bowling business both the Brunswick and the AMF machines use these all over I pressed in so many bronze bearings and burnished them in I could do it in my sleep

  • @roygrand6574
    @roygrand6574 2 года назад +1

    I used to be a diemaker at a factory that made products like this but most the bearings we made where much smaller like you mite see used in small fan motors.

  • @yomama5785
    @yomama5785 2 года назад +1

    These are used exclusively in my very accurate Myford S7 lathe - there are over a dozen of them in there I think. Ive always wondered how critical it is to oil them via the oil cups.. Looks like its not that critical, and how neat is it that heat from friction auto-lubricates the shaft? Thanks for the cool vid, and props for the blowtorch idea.

  • @5stereosteve
    @5stereosteve 2 года назад

    Very informative and thorough. Microscope pictures really made the whole idea come together. Thanks.

  • @railfan439
    @railfan439 2 года назад

    Thanks, Lyle. I never knew that about sintered bearings. Jon

  • @duron700r
    @duron700r 2 года назад

    Gosh yeah! Neat video!
    I didn't realize they would soak oil back up again.
    Love that microscope. Neat!

  • @stime6472
    @stime6472 2 года назад

    Very Cool and interesting! Thanks Mr. Pete.

  • @RightOnJonCrane
    @RightOnJonCrane 2 года назад

    Great video Mr. Pete! Thanks 🙌✨

  • @MrPossumeyes
    @MrPossumeyes 2 года назад

    I wondered about them, Mr Pete. Thankyou!

  • @PuchMaxi
    @PuchMaxi 2 года назад

    Thanks Mr. Pete, that was great! I think you can insert a MicroSD card in your microscope for recording.

  • @welcometothemachineshop466
    @welcometothemachineshop466 2 года назад +1

    Well done Mr. Pete! Very informative, especially like the microscope.

  • @leeroyholloway4277
    @leeroyholloway4277 2 года назад +1

    Saving hardware for "the right moment" is both a blessing and a curse. But we do it anyway.

  • @Bargle5
    @Bargle5 2 года назад

    Another thumbs up for the microscope pictures. Please use them where needed in the future. 👍

  • @johnfriend240
    @johnfriend240 2 года назад +1

    I was taught that these had to be single point tool machined rather than a reamer (sharp or otherwise). They can be reoiled easily by heating the oil in a pan and submerging the bushing.

  • @modtwentyeight
    @modtwentyeight 2 года назад +2

    Thank you for the explanation. FWIW, I know where you got the sponge. I won't tell her.😉

  • @blipco5
    @blipco5 2 года назад

    Highly interesting. Thanks for posting. 👍

  • @johnmortland1558
    @johnmortland1558 2 года назад

    These were used on the pilot truck of my steam engine. Enjoyed the video

  • @StevePrior
    @StevePrior 2 года назад

    Very informative. Not knowing any better I thought these kinds of bearings had been manufactured with metal that had little pockets of oil embedded in it which got exposed during wear, not a sponge structure where the oil was introduced afterwards.

  • @windyhillfoundry5940
    @windyhillfoundry5940 2 года назад

    Very good video, I have often seen these type bearings bur until now, had no O'Dea of their importance

  • @gordbaker896
    @gordbaker896 2 года назад

    Lots of those in use in Snowblowers. I had also heard that some were impregnated with Graphite.

  • @MyLilMule
    @MyLilMule 2 года назад

    I am now a little smarter. Thanks, Lyle!

  • @BedsitBob
    @BedsitBob 2 года назад +1

    Adam machined a bushing out of a length of solid, oil impregnated bronze.

  • @CajunGreenMan
    @CajunGreenMan 2 года назад

    Love this educational video, especially the microscope Footage!

  • @garthbutton699
    @garthbutton699 2 года назад

    Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us🤗😎🤗😎

  • @tonyn3123
    @tonyn3123 2 года назад

    Excellent video! I knew about them, but not those details of how and why. Thanks

  • @phillipjones3342
    @phillipjones3342 2 года назад

    Saturday morning class informative

  • @danbreyfogle8486
    @danbreyfogle8486 2 года назад

    Good information, thank you Mr. Pete.

  • @ianmills669
    @ianmills669 2 года назад

    That was so impressive Mr. Pete!

  • @elsdp-4560
    @elsdp-4560 2 года назад

    Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed.👍👀

  • @MrUbiquitousTech
    @MrUbiquitousTech Год назад

    Excellent explanation and demonstration, thank you!

  • @geckoproductions4128
    @geckoproductions4128 2 года назад

    FASCINATING! And up to your usual amazing standards. Thanks for the video.

  • @fastmail2329
    @fastmail2329 2 года назад +1

    That was a good lesson for me, I am new to this, thanks a lot.

  • @porkerthepig
    @porkerthepig 2 года назад

    You can also buy oilite bar stock but that’s pretty expensive , swarf is a slimy powder lol

  • @-Viceroy-
    @-Viceroy- 2 года назад

    Easiest way to re-oil those is to squeeze between fingers or bigger ones in between palms. (fill with oil and squeeze until you see oil seeping through)

  • @jonsweeney7684
    @jonsweeney7684 2 года назад

    Great video. The magnified shots were as good or better than my "materials and processes" book in college.

  • @thedolt9215
    @thedolt9215 2 года назад

    Great video Mr. Pete, love the microscope pictures!

  • @lilo2469
    @lilo2469 2 года назад

    Good ole Mr Pete !

  • @tomherd4179
    @tomherd4179 2 года назад

    Liked the whole video and the magnifier was super. However, you have generated a new question in my mind. The Oilite bearing seems far superior to a regular brass bearing, so why use brass? Is it for strength, shock, or along those lines?
    I especially like the description of how it gets made, the history adds a lot !