Oil Impregnated Bronze

admin

Customer wants a set of gate hinges made out of Oil Impregnated Bronze that he has at his house. can this be welded?  I told him that i didn't thank it could be but would ask before sending him to a machine shop to have them made. Any input would be greatly appreciated
Reply:Originally Posted by tensefanCustomer wants a set of gate hinges made out of Oil Impregnated Bronze that he has at his house. can this be welded?  I told him that i didn't thank it could be but would ask before sending him to a machine shop to have them made. Any input would be greatly appreciated
Reply:This might be tricky though I've never done it before.  The bronze is sintered and is typically made out of powdered metal.  The oil is dispersed throughout the bearing through micro pores.  I guess you can burn the oil out of the bearing and be able to weld it. If he is having it made make sure and ask him not to load it up with oil.  I just don't know how the oilite bearing will hold up to welding or brazing being that it is not solid.    They are cheap enough to test with.  I would invision that the bronze bushing would sit inside of the steel collar or pressed into a pipe so that you would not be welding directly onto it.  I wouldn't think that sintered bronze would be strong enough to handle the hanging weight of a gate.MichaelMillermatic 25115" Rockwell Drill Press10" Logan Lathe5hp - 2-stage 80 Gallon CompressorHome Made Sand / Soda Blaster
Reply:Explain to him that while it's not weldable you can make steel hinges with bronze bushings, This would be a good way to go,
Reply:You can buy weld-on hinges w/ bronze inserts. I'd think that would be the best route to take.                                 MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:IF you could get enough oil burned out of it to weld it, and that's a big IF, it would negate the idea behind using oil impregnated bronze to begin with.  I agree, if he wants to use bronze, make some inserts.
Reply:Did the customer know what he was talking about?  Were yáll on the same page.  Does he literally want the hinge made out of sintered bronze or does he want the use of sintered bronze in the hinge?  Very interesting request.
Reply:Originally Posted by 383bigblockThis might be tricky though I've never done it before.  The bronze is sintered and is typically made out of powdered metal.  The oil is dispersed throughout the bearing through micro pores.  I guess you can burn the oil out of the bearing and be able to weld it. If he is having it made make sure and ask him not to load it up with oil.  I just don't know how the oilite bearing will hold up to welding or brazing being that it is not solid.    They are cheap enough to test with.  I would invision that the bronze bushing would sit inside of the steel collar or pressed into a pipe so that you would not be welding directly onto it.  I wouldn't think that sintered bronze would be strong enough to handle the hanging weight of a gate.Michael
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderDid the customer know what he was talking about?  Were yáll on the same page.  Does he literally want the hinge made out of sintered bronze or does he want the use of sintered bronze in the hinge?  Very interesting request.
Reply:Oil impregnated bronze would be used for the bearings/bushings and the thrust washers.Make the rest of the hinge out of steel or brass or bronze or whatever.  Then fit in the oil-lite parts for smooth turning.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseOil impregnated bronze would be used for the bearings/bushings and the thrust washers.Make the rest of the hinge out of steel or brass or bronze or whatever.  Then fit in the oil-lite parts for smooth turning.
Reply:Ahh, I mean it would DEFINITELY damage your TIG torch if you tried it.
Reply:Originally Posted by tensefanHe was wanting the whole hinge made out of it. he had some flat stock and a couple differant sizes of round rod for the hinges. He said he  wanting something that looked liked brass but not quite as expensive, so he was wanting to see if he could use this.since he had some of it already.
Reply:Bronze cost more than brass last I saw.
Reply:I wonder if the material is "oil impregnated" or just "sintered bronze"?I understand (I have no experience) sintered bronze can be brazed with oxy/acet torch just like brass.  I don't think an arc welder could work any better, and I don't think either welder would work if the material is actually oil impregnated.I have done a little brazing on brass and found it far easier then welding on steel (almost like soldering.)
Reply:I think what he meant was that he wished to use sintered bronze bushings for the hinges, what is so hard about that.Get some tubing and match the inside to the outside of the bushings, and then get a rod bent up 90 from the fence post to go inside the bushing, weld the steel tubing to the gate, the bushings will not drop out the bottom because the bent rod is the keeper. Could have been worse he could have asked for babbitt.I built a power hacksaw last spring and used 1/2" sintered bronze bushings for the saw to slide on 1/2 in cold rolled steel rod. Same thing, only horizontal. Never had a chance to post yet. Using the bushing by itself cannot be done because you may close the grain and warp them.