CHAPTER X. 



BABBITING BOXES. 



With a little care and practice, anyone of ordinary 

 ability can babbitt boxes. 



Babbitt metal is made of block tin and antimony, 

 the best grades containing a little copper. Zinc 

 should not be used in babbitt as it has a tendency to 

 cause the boxes to heat, and besides does not wear 

 long. In preparing the box to babbitt, remove any 

 old babbitt and clean well, as any grease and moisture 

 would, when heated, generate gases and blow the 

 molten metal out. Bolt the box in the position for 

 which it is intended, as otherwise the tightening will 

 throw it out of adjustment and line. 



Place shimming (pieces of pasteboard) between 

 the margins of the halves of the box, to allow an 

 excess of metal, to allow for wear. In prepar- 

 ing this shimming see that its inner edges butt 

 against the shaft, in order to separate the babbitt in 

 the lower half from the babbitt in the upper half. 

 Cut two or three small notches, each about one- 

 quarter of an inch long and one-eighth of an inch 

 deep, in the edges of the shimming to allow the metal 

 to flow through into the lower half of the box, the 

 little fins thus formed being readily broken. Hold 

 the shaft in place in the box by inserting a leather 

 strip wrapped around the shaft at the box end. 



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