Pillow or bearing blocks

**Ray153** · 5th June 2008, 08:55 PM

I am in the process of making a thckness sander and have bought a pair of pillow or bearing blocks. They obviously require a degree of assembly which I have worked out how to do. This is more an alignment/orientation question.

On the outside of the bearing, there is a small steel stud and equidistant holes in the face of the outer ring. These holes are offset to match up with the flange cut into the inner surface of the block housing.

My question is this. Ensuring that the small holes are within the space left by the groove in the housing, does it make any difference where the holes are situated. If the housing is a clock dial, do the holes need to be at 5 and 7 o'clock positions to act as siphons for whatever grease accumulates within the flange or does it make absolutely no difference whatsoever?

Never having used pillow/bearing blocks before, I am slightly bemused and Google has not been my friend in this matter. I hope a more engineering minded forumite can find it within themselves to stop laughing at the sheer ignorant stupidity I suspect I have just put out there for all and sundry to see, long enough to provide me with some expert advice...........

**Claw Hama** · 5th June 2008, 09:32 PM

Hi Ray, I think you are talking about the small threaded hole that goes into the track on the inside of the housing. If it is, these are where you put your grease nipples if you have greasable brearings. If you have sealed bearings you can just leave them empty. You usually point them in a direction so you can get a grease gun on them once your project is built and it doesn't mater if they point up or down.

**Ray153** · 6th June 2008, 01:55 PM

Claw, I meant to attach this pic first time round. I think we are talking at cross purposes here.

On the left side of the bearing, there is a visible hole. On the same side but not visible as it is hidden by the curve under, there is a similar hole. It is the orientation of these two holes I am unsure of.

The dark spot on the bearing on the right side of the bearing is the metal pin or stud I mentioned. The set screws visible I know how to align them as well as the grease nipple on the green housing.

**Tankstand** · 6th June 2008, 05:06 PM

Ray, please correct me if I haven't followed you but here goes.

The small holes in the outer shell of the bearing are there to allow the ingress of grease. The cast bearing housing should have a groove machined or cast into it that is in line with the grease nipple. Most times the bearing only has the small holes offset to one side, in the picture it appears to have them on both sides. The bearing needs to be installed into the housing so that the small holes are basically inline with the grease nipple. Radial alignment is not needed as the grease flows around the groove. I have often found failed bearings that were installed ars3 about and were never greased. I hope this makes sense and answers your question.

**Ray153** · 7th June 2008, 07:24 AM

Tankstand,
Thanks for your reply, it answers my query about positioning of the two small holes perfectly.
Don't spose you can advise me on the best type of grease for these bearings? They will be used on a thickness sander that will run off my table saw motor. Actual speeds of the bearings I have no idea but I would envisage that they will run for no more than 5 minutes at a stretch ......

**Tankstand** · 7th June 2008, 11:24 AM

Any of the lighter weight ones will do, avoid anything too thick and sticky. From memory, at work we use a castrol LM.

**Claw Hama** · 7th June 2008, 11:30 AM

Tankstand has you covered, I thought you were talking about the hole in the block not the hole in the bearing but yes as Tank says they must line up with the groove.
Have fun!

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