[TowerTalk] Glen Martain

[Roger (K8RI)]

They are very easy to make as they are much like the old "Pillow Blocks" we 
used to pur babbit bearings in.  Used against a smooth shaft they are pretty 
rugged, but do need protection from the weather.

Take two pieces of hardwoos of sufficient thickness, fit them together, put 
two bolts through (to hold the pieces togather) on each side of the proposed 
hole.  Bore a hole through the center a tad undersize.  use a "fly cutter" 
to finish the hold to size.  If the proper size even a hole saw will work. 
The hole should be a snug fit, but tight enough to hinder rotation.

Fit the bearing to the top of the tower and mark the bolt holes to fasten 
the blocks to the top plate.

You can even stack a pair with the grain at right angles to each other.

After all this, you can oil them in a number of ways.  You can use a vacuum 
cleaner to a cylinder with the wood submerged in oil (letting the air back 
in forces the oile into the wood poors), or just put it into oil and let 
soak, or soak in hot oil.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL Life Member)
N833R World's oldest Debonair
www.rogerhalstead.com
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