How Propellers were made...Big Ones

[logikal]

Most fascinating videos I have seen in a long time. In part they talk about machining the face, that man is using a hand router to do it!!!!

Part 1

Part 2:

and 3:

 

[kyrbz]

Great videos! Thanks for posting.

BZ

 

[Steevo]

WOW.

That was quite an operation.

Where is part 4, showing the finished propeller in operation?

 

[Tweeker]

Enginerring wonder on a massive scale.

 

[bullnerd]

I like the "portable" band saw!

Bummer! I wanted to see them stand it back up!

 

[Stuart in MN]

Neat videos. Years ago I was employed at an engineering firm that did a lot of subcontracting to NASA, and I spent a fair amount of time at Langley. I was inside a number of their wind tunnels, so it's entirely possible I actually touched this particular propeller.

 

[the gypsy]

Wow that was a great video.

 

[91bronc300]

They're a bunch of kids and yet so obviously skilled. Like the guy on the band saw in the first video. Kind of crazy to watch everybody grabbing the white lead with their bare hands in the last video too. Thanks for posting!

 

[VictorBravo]

That gave me goosebumps: Like hearing the Chicago Symphony.

Just seeing the demonstrated energy, focus, and coordinated skill makes me want to put sackcloth on my head.

 

[Notgrownup]

Pretty neat the craftsmanship of the folks...

 

[Beemer533]

Very cool.. Amazing craftsmanship! I'd love to see it in operation...

 

[KMinAF]

How did they balance it?

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I'd also be curious how they balanced it. Probably a static balance as opposed to a dynamic balance.

 

[91bronc300]

I wonder if they did bother to balance it. Those blades are big and heavy and forty-five feet long. I don't know if they could rotate at the kind of speeds that would require balancing without flying apart. Moment of inertia vs tensile stress or something like that, just thinking out loud.

 

[7echo]

Maybe the hub was balanced? Since it was so heavy that may be all they needed?

 

[Man Cave]

No CAD design here. All done with a slide rule and workers from the greatest generation. Enjoyed the films.

 

[Boyd]

They're a bunch of kids and yet so obviously skilled. Like the guy on the band saw in the first video. Kind of crazy to watch everybody grabbing the white lead with their bare hands in the last video too. Thanks for posting!

Some of them looked no older than 12-14! Awesome to see.

 

[srmofo]

Some of them looked no older than 12-14! Awesome to see.

I can believe how many of them were wearing ties while doing that sort of work

 

[56rpm]

WOW is right! And I thought the thru bolt ratchet was somewhat new. Simply amazing. Thank you.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Great stuff. Enjoyed.

 

[dutchgray]

Great video, very interesting, liked the special air planing tools its also telling how thin all the lads are bar a couple of them.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Very interesting!

Thanks for posting. It's amazing how 14 year olds could be a part of something like this back then.

We've still got good 14 year olds now, but 99.99999% of people wouldn't be trusted with this type of work.

 

[Zeke]

Yeah, the power spoke shave was cool. I'd like a smaller version. I have a power planer. the belt saw was awesome too. The lack of guards was scary especially on the worm drive saw handed off while cutting.

The Great Generation they were and also the deaf generation.