Babbitting Expert Says His Services Still In Demand

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #4, Page #39

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Rod Gaffrey keeps busy doing every kind of Babbitt replacement, from tiny bearings for rods weighing a few ounces to rods that are 3 ft. long and weigh 75 lbs. He has done work on rare one-of-a-kind antique car engines, airplane engines and old V-8’s.
  “I have to be ultra careful with lots of the work I get,” says Gaffrey. “You can’t just go to a hardware or auto store for a replacement. They’re all pretty challenging.”
  Gaffrey started out in an automotive and diesel machine shop in 1970 and taught himself Babbitting as a sideline niche. He describes it as “learning by trial and error.” He does rebabbitting of insert bearings, connecting rods, blocks and cylinder sleeving as well as antique engine repair.
  “There are absolutely no shortcuts. If you try to rush it, you’ll have to do it over,” he says. “If you want to get rich, find another occupation. If you want to get tested, then Babbitting may be your thing.”
  Babbitt metal is a matrix of hard and soft materials. Used in bearings, as the shaft turns, the friction melts the soft material (usually tin, but can include lead), lubricating the shaft as it’s supported on the still-hard materials. Gaffrey notes that Babbitt metal is still used commercially in large generators at hydroelectric dams and other heavy equipment.
  He uses several grades of the alloy of tin, copper, antimony and trace elements, but never uses lead. He buys and melts Babbitt for each job, heating it to 750° to 1,000°F depending on the alloy. Before doing it, he cleans and dries the parts to be filled. That includes heating any tool that will be used in the hot Babbitt.
  "If you don't heat a ladle before putting it into molten Babbitt, the moisture in the pores will make the Babbitt come out of the pot like lava from Mt. Vesuvius," says Gaffrey. "It can blow the Babbitt right out of the pot. You have to get the ladle hot first to bake out any moisture."
  That is one reason Gaffrey urges anyone who tries working with Babbitt to wear protective clothing and face shields. "When I see people on YouTube with no face shield or gloves, I wonder how stupid can they be."
  Gaffrey says he has done work for people in 45 states, a number of Canadian provinces and a number of countries overseas. Because each job is unique, he says it’s hard to give prices for what he does.
  "If you need Babbitt work done, give me a call with all the measurements and whatever information you have on the part," says Gaffrey. "I have engine bearing books going back to 1913, so between us, we can sort through what is needed. "
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gaffrey Babbitting, 12023 Bearingsmith St., Deadwood, S. Dak. 57732 (ph 605 578-1057; bearingsmith@yahoo.com; www.gaffreybabbitting.com).

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Babbitting Expert Says His Services Still In Demand FARM SHOP Miscellaneous Rod Gaffrey keeps busy doing every kind of Babbitt replacement from tiny bearings for rods weighing a few ounces to rods that are 3 ft long and weigh 75 lbs He has done work on rare one-of-a-kind antique car engines airplane engines and old V-8’s “I have to be ultra careful with lots of the work I get ” says Gaffrey “You can’t just go to a hardware or auto store for a replacement They’re all pretty challenging ” Gaffrey started out in an automotive and diesel machine shop in 1970 and taught himself Babbitting as a sideline niche He describes it as “learning by trial and error ” He does rebabbitting of insert bearings connecting rods blocks and cylinder sleeving as well as antique engine repair “There are absolutely no shortcuts If you try to rush it you’ll have to do it over ” he says “If you want to get rich find another occupation If you want to get tested then Babbitting may be your thing ” Babbitt metal is a matrix of hard and soft materials Used in bearings as the shaft turns the friction melts the soft material usually tin but can include lead lubricating the shaft as it’s supported on the still-hard materials Gaffrey notes that Babbitt metal is still used commercially in large generators at hydroelectric dams and other heavy equipment He uses several grades of the alloy of tin copper antimony and trace elements but never uses lead He buys and melts Babbitt for each job heating it to 750° to 1 000°F depending on the alloy Before doing it he cleans and dries the parts to be filled That includes heating any tool that will be used in the hot Babbitt If you don t heat a ladle before putting it into molten Babbitt the moisture in the pores will make the Babbitt come out of the pot like lava from Mt Vesuvius says Gaffrey It can blow the Babbitt right out of the pot You have to get the ladle hot first to bake out any moisture That is one reason Gaffrey urges anyone who tries working with Babbitt to wear protective clothing and face shields When I see people on YouTube with no face shield or gloves I wonder how stupid can they be Gaffrey says he has done work for people in 45 states a number of Canadian provinces and a number of countries overseas Because each job is unique he says it’s hard to give prices for what he does If you need Babbitt work done give me a call with all the measurements and whatever information you have on the part says Gaffrey I have engine bearing books going back to 1913 so between us we can sort through what is needed Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gaffrey Babbitting 12023 Bearingsmith St Deadwood S Dak 57732 ph 605 578-1057; bearingsmith@yahoo com; www gaffreybabbitting com

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