In a pinch bearing heater...

[Pudge87]

Coming home from work today and an idea came to mind. What if you took a turkey fryer stand and added a 1/4 plate to the top. Put the bearing on, light it up and wait until she gets to temp. It might keep some of you out of the dog house if the wife noticed a bearing in the oven

 

[Shadowdog500]

What about a toaster oven or a small electric hot plate? I've heard of people using both. May be less hassle than a turkey fryer.

Chris

 

[ndoran]

I use a waffle iron I found in a thrift store for $3

 

[Davefr]

Or just set a bearing on top of a light bulb. (learned that here)

 

[Pudge87]

Lots of in a pinch options popping up. Wife just cooked on a electric skillet, maybe that would work too.

 

[Pudge87]

At work we use a purpose built bearing heater with a built in thermostat control limit. Its pretty nice and doesn't take long for a 12"+ bearing to heat up.

 

[DpSyChO]

Or just set a bearing on top of a light bulb. (learned that here)

X2 on the light bulb.

 

[John Timmins]

Buy a toaster oven at Goodwill for $10. I have placed bearings on boilers and diesels too...still in the box

 

[Thumper68]

I use a the convection oven that I have in the shop for cooking frozen pizzas, works great for heating bearings.

 

[MattPersman]

Old coffee maker from goodwill or garage sale works ok too

 

[just a noob]

I've heard of a deep fryer being used with hydraulic oil instead of vegetable oil

 

[Harrison2]

just set a hot air gun down and bearing infront of it.

 

[Denwad]

question from somebody who doesn't know

why heat a bearing?

obviously there is a need, and i need to know what it is ! lol

 

[theoldwizard1]

question from somebody who doesn't know

why heat a bearing?

It will expand and easily fit on to the shaft without beating.

Some applications require that the shaft be chilled (freezer, bucket of ice water).

 

[srmofo]

Makes it bigger on ID. Press fit applications

 

[Pudge87]

question from somebody who doesn't know

why heat a bearing?

obviously there is a need, and i need to know what it is ! lol

When the bearing is size to size or depending on the bearing size a few thousandths press fit.

 

[Denwad]

ah i figured as much

i've heard of people heating grease in tubs and dropping bearings into it (which seems like a bad idea to me for some reason ), and i wasn't sure if this was some trick i hadn't heard of.

thats nuts, a 65w lightbulb will heat a bearing enough for a press fit application, who'da thunk

 

[fourjeepin]

thats nuts, a 65w lightbulb will heat a bearing enough for a press fit application, who'da thunk

Remember the easy bake oven? As a kid in the 70's, all of the girls had one. I'm sure these are no longer PC. Along with Global Cooling, BB guns, sling shots and lawn darts. BTW, if you still have your lawn darts they are worth mega bucks as there manufacture was banned by the gov.

 

[kenburkholz]

I have used an old Fry Daddy, which seems to work well for larger bearings. Ken.

 

[daveblank]

Fry Daddy Jr with ATF works perfectly for me.

 

[kamesama980]

Electric frying pan with a quart of cheap oil (just to even out heat) in it for me. $1 garage sale

 

[ezzzzzzz]

I use a the convection oven that I have in the shop for cooking frozen pizzas, works great for heating bearings.

Ditto...although I don't cook in mine. Works great for bearings, sleeves, bushings, gears, etc.

 

[vga]

Hot peanut oil works very well for me. I use this when heating very large bearings and seals related to large tonnage HVAC chiller overhauls.

 

[royesses]

I used to use a Kenmore deep fryer filled with oil. Just set it to temp and come back 15 or 20 minutes later.

 

[Fixnair]

I have used a propane torch for years. You can direct the heat to the inner race only and when the appropriate heat stick melts you can still pick it up and drop it on the shaft bare handed. If you are careful the outer race will stay near room temp.

 

[HAP]

Straight into a regular toaster... just like bread, or is it toast

 

[Super Mech]

How does the grease not melt out? And if using oil does it contaminate the beating grease? Do the shields get damaged if they are not metal? I've pressed many bearings but never used a heater. Just asking.

 

[Davefr]

You guys are making this way too complicated. Try the lightbulb trick. I did and am now enlightened.

(hint: the concave shape of the lightbulb heats the inner race way more then the outer race - exactly what you want)

 

[Outlawmws]

You guys are making this way too complicated. Try the lightbulb trick. I did and am now enlightened.

(hint: the concave shape of the lightbulb heats the inner race way more then the outer race - exactly what you want)

The only drawback is incandescent light bulbs are fast becoming extinct...