16-06-2021, 09:26 PM
(This post was last modified: 16-06-2021, 09:29 PM by Hedd_Jones.)
Experience with steam bearings over many years has taught many of us that if using 'bronze' of unknown provenance (i.e offcuts from the scrap yard) often the shaft needs to be hardened to prevent issues. But particularly also with any of the 'PB' bronzes.
Preferred material is SAE660 (Leaded Bronze) if carving from solid, or One of the 'LG' leaded gunmetals if using castings. LG2 often. These have proven to be fine with the normal steels used by us for shafts. EN8. EN16, EN24 EN40 etc, there is a tendency for owners to use stronger and stronger steels, where EN8 is better than original spec.
It machines better too, machining some of the PB bronzes is like machining snot.
That said, I have no idea what a valve is made from, it might be hard enough for PB.
Preferred material is SAE660 (Leaded Bronze) if carving from solid, or One of the 'LG' leaded gunmetals if using castings. LG2 often. These have proven to be fine with the normal steels used by us for shafts. EN8. EN16, EN24 EN40 etc, there is a tendency for owners to use stronger and stronger steels, where EN8 is better than original spec.
It machines better too, machining some of the PB bronzes is like machining snot.
That said, I have no idea what a valve is made from, it might be hard enough for PB.