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alternatives to brass plates

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alternatives to brass plates

Home › Forums › Clocks and Scientific Instruments › alternatives to brass plates

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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  • 2 August 2017 at 15:34 #309997
    Colin Whittaker
    Participant
      @colinwhittaker20544

      If I was to build a clock using ball bearings instead of the usual burnished steel arbor in broached brass hole technology then would I still use brass plates for the frame?

      Would steel or aluminium work just as well? Would it all come down to what looks pretty?

      (This is not a question about the material to use for clock wheels.)

      Thanks, Colin

      2 August 2017 at 15:34 #3766
      Colin Whittaker
      Participant
        @colinwhittaker20544
        2 August 2017 at 20:51 #310058
        Russell Eberhardt
        Participant
          @russelleberhardt48058

          There's no problem using steel or aluminium other than cosmetics. Steel will need some rust proofing unless it's stainless. Aluminium needs to be a hard alloy so as not to distort and could be finished with graining like this:

          grained_aluminium.jpeg

          If using ball bearings make sure you use stainless steel bearings and wash out all the grease with white spirit before use.

          Russell;

          2 August 2017 at 21:24 #310066
          roy entwistle
          Participant
            @royentwistle24699

            I have seen stainless with brass inserts for the holes, as a skeleton clock it looked ok

            Roy

            2 August 2017 at 21:27 #310068
            Bob Stevenson
            Participant
              @bobstevenson13909

              Interesting,…why s/s bearings?

              3 August 2017 at 03:35 #310090
              Ian S C
              Participant
                @iansc

                NO oil, think rust, this is also a good idea for low friction bearings for Stirling, and other low powered motors.

                Ian S C

                3 August 2017 at 07:32 #310099
                Russell Eberhardt
                Participant
                  @russelleberhardt48058

                  That's right Ian. They need to be run dry to avoid drag from any oil.

                  Russell

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