- Joined
- Nov 16, 2012
- Messages
- 5,596
In my (not so humble) opinion, the video which shows a naked bearing being placed into a microwave oven, along with the entire premise of using such an unorthodox method to accomplish a trivial task, is nothing more than than click-bait. Yes, the technique is perfectly valid but, I have probably sweated a couple hundred bearings onto shafts and I typically use an electric heat gun on the low setting.
The most common, garden-variety bearing is made from AISI 52100 steel. Once it's hardened, you need to heat and hold it near 375F for at least an hour before it begins to temper. If someone performing such a task does not know enough to not heat the crap out of a bearing, their project is probably doomed for other reasons.
TIP: If you're sweating a bearing onto a long shaft, NEVER cool down the shaft if the bearing needs to travel a long way before getting into final position. The cold shaft will cool the bearing very quickly (possibly before it gets to the final position) and lock into place prematurely. (Ask me know I know this).
Ray
The most common, garden-variety bearing is made from AISI 52100 steel. Once it's hardened, you need to heat and hold it near 375F for at least an hour before it begins to temper. If someone performing such a task does not know enough to not heat the crap out of a bearing, their project is probably doomed for other reasons.
TIP: If you're sweating a bearing onto a long shaft, NEVER cool down the shaft if the bearing needs to travel a long way before getting into final position. The cold shaft will cool the bearing very quickly (possibly before it gets to the final position) and lock into place prematurely. (Ask me know I know this).
Ray