F&W Steel Star

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Kenneth i don't remember on my brother's steel star how long is the key way on the hub ?

[Kenneth]

Dan, the key slot in the hub is short like the key itself. Only the key slot in the shaft is the length of the hub.

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

The only thing I can figure than is the reason for the long keyway on the shaft makes it easier to drive the key into the hub through the access hole in the hub? Maybe !!

[mtblah]

I'll agree with that . keey is the length of what it is holding in place

[Kenneth]

After I thought about it, that makes sense. If the slot in the shaft was short, you couldn't drive the key out.

[windybob]

My gues would be that it was the best conclusion to hold the hub on, and be able to be removed if needed. Just a thought. Of course a longer key would be better if the keyway went all the way through the hub.

[Kenneth]

I know it's been a while but I worked my mill today. Poured some babbit. This was my first time to pour babbit. But I must confess, the first pour I melted back out. So this was my second attempt. And I will add, I used brown paper sack instead of a release agent. I put double sticky tape on the mandrel where the seam of the paper would come together. And I marked the mandrel to be the top at that seam. And a little babbit rite and I was ready to pour. I didn't get a pic during the pour but here are a couple.

20250413_155143.jpg

20250413_155120.jpg

[windybob]

Kenneth, I've been pouring babbitt for many years. I often do remelt and go for another try. Don't lose any sleep over it. Looks great.

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Good for another 100 years.I find a lot of times pouring babbit is trial and error. Glad to see you're back at it. !!

[CTXmiller]

Looks great