alternatives to brass plates

[Colin WhittakerParticipant @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

[Colin WhittakerParticipant @colinwhittaker20544]

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @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:

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

Russell;

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

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

Roy

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

Interesting,…why s/s bearings?

[Ian S CParticipant @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

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

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

Russell

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