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  #1  
Old 05-22-2009, 11:31 AM
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What are rod bearings made of?

Ok, this post is kinda convoluted, so bear with me (and pardon the pun).

In addition to being an amateur mechanic, I'm an amateur jewelry artist and silversmith. I find that certain auto parts lend themselves to interesting secondary functions as jewelry or art pieces. While cleaning out the garage a few weeks ago, I found my box of junk left over from rebuilding a 616.912 motor, including the old main bearing set. Inspiration struck, and I wound up with a bracelet/cuff made from the 250,000-mile connecting rod bearings:


Upon further thought, I'm a little concerned whether this is safe to wear. The bearings, to my understanding, are a shell of hardened carbon steel with a thin layer of Babbitt metal on the inner/lubricated surface. So which of the possible Babbitt alloys is it?

According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_metal there are a handful of possible alloys, one of which is 80% lead.

I don't think lead is readily absorbed through the skin; it's apparently only dangerous if ingested or inhaled. From here: http://www.rings-things.com/jewelry-safety.html "Jewelry components containing lead are generally considered safe for adults to handle and wear externally."

I think I might just put a layer of acrylic or clearcoat on the inside of the bearing shells. Better safe than sorry.

Comments? Opinions? Advice?

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  #2  
Old 05-22-2009, 11:36 AM
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I would NOT ever use anything which has lead in it for things like this...While clear coat might be ok for an adult ... things like this can later on get into the mouths of children.... just not worth the chance...
Other metals are available which do not use lead...
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  #3  
Old 05-22-2009, 12:30 PM
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Thats' a pretty manly looking bracelet. Although, something of the sort should be made from a Cummins or Cat diesel bearing to prevent an assault from peers.
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Old 05-22-2009, 12:37 PM
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A ' manly smoker' bracelet no doubt.... someone who clearly wants to show that he is tougher than any lowly chemicals or heavy metals...
But who will be viewed by smart people as having a bolt missing...
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  #5  
Old 05-22-2009, 01:31 PM
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I'm going to bet that it has lead in it. I'd not be wearing it! Looks neat though.
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  #6  
Old 05-22-2009, 01:32 PM
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Neat idea, bad material. Clearcoat wears off, metal gets etched by sweat and gets into your pores. I have a wrought brass ring from a trip to Prague. When I wore it there was always green goo in the grooves and a little green stain on my finger. Cu, Zn, NBD. Get some Pb on your body, in your clothes, in your pores and a little sucker or chewer goes to work on that spot, there's exposure. Thankfully in Erie county, the threshold for a visit from the inspector is quite low and proactive. We're pretty sure it was a window with peeling lead paint on the outside of the. Exposure was noted when the little crawler started going up that stairwell in the summer.

Cheap / costume jewelry is one of the exposure routes they have you watch out for.

Not a risk that I would take.
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Old 05-22-2009, 04:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiskeydan View Post
Thats' a pretty manly looking bracelet. Although, something of the sort should be made from a Cummins or Cat diesel bearing to prevent an assault from peers.

Some CAT Main and Rod (big end of the Rod) Bearings are made entirely of Aluminum.
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Old 05-22-2009, 04:12 PM
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How about degreasing the inside face of the Bearing and useing some of that really high quality gasket type Contact Cement that is made by 3M and glue some sized Leather strips on the parts that make contact with the skin.
I think the Leather would work with the "style" also.
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Old 05-22-2009, 04:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
How about degreasing the inside face of the Bearing and useing some of that really high quality gasket type Contact Cement that is made by 3M and glue some sized Leather strips on the parts that make contact with the skin.
I think the Leather would work with the "style" also.
Ha, I was just about to suggest the same thing. Black leather pads would look pretty cool, and would provide a pretty good barrier to the lead, I would think. Just don't leave it where a 3-year-old could put it in his mouth.

It does look really cool, though.
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Old 05-22-2009, 05:08 PM
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You might be able to remove the lead/tin/etc. lining from the bearing face? Its relativly thin. maybe melt it off? Nobody would know the differance, the outershell is the cosmetic part anyhow
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  #11  
Old 05-22-2009, 05:20 PM
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A piece of lead as big as a grain of salt is a significant exposure for a toddler.
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  #12  
Old 05-22-2009, 07:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moon161 View Post
A piece of lead as big as a grain of salt is a significant exposure for a toddler.
Well, I'm guessing the bracelet isn't designed for a toddler, so the concern should be the exposure risk for an adult. Personally, I wouldn't mess around with it because I'm a bit paranoid about, well, everything. But unless he's going to leave the bracelet where kids can chew on it (if that's the case, yeah, find something else to make jewelry out of, or do castings), I think his only concern is whether it will leach through his skin and poison him.

If your kid goes up to random strangers and sucks on their wrists, that may be a sign he/she has already been exposed to lead.
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  #13  
Old 05-22-2009, 08:12 PM
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Even dental suppliers are under fire to reduce the lead in the 'amalgam' that is used for tooth filling. Although the amount is small to begin with and the amount absorbed into the body even less, there's a CYA mentality that says "none is best."

If you want to wear such a thing yourself, with or without a leather lining, be my guest. Caution is advised, however, in giving such things as a gift, and for sure don't sell them.

Something larger (industrial engine?) would make a great neck-brace for the "heavy metal" crowd. They wouldn't worry about the lead, would probably say "more, please!"

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