I'd be interested to know what you recommend as a good quality bearing manufacturer to use.
I want to replace the bearings in my router motor, and it seems that bearing quality makes a big difference on how the router performs.
I've been reading an article of a bad experience with the NSK bearings fitted to the Portamate router motor https://www.horizontalroutertable.com/nsk-bearings-100-failure/
Made in China bearings is just about always a crap shoot...
I prefer to stay away from them...
That article on the NSK failures...
WTB under rated bearing were used for the task at hand - out of parameters... (load and speed)...
Porter cable does this... they like skateboard bearings...
Thanks for your reply.
Seems SKF are the way to go and they are readily available in the UK.
One thing I can't find out absolutely clearly despite asking bearing suppliers, is should I fit standard bearings or C3 bearings in a router motor. I ask that because SKF do a super energy efficient bearing, which "...can provide more than twice the service life while reducing energy use"
I only want to replace the bearings once and the 'energy efficient' bearings are only a few pennies more than their standard bearings. But they only do the C3 fitment
'energy efficient' bearings; sounds like marketing got a hold of that one...
they may ''help'' out where a machine runs 24/7...
I always thought of C3 bearings as ''sloppy''... (the ''C'' standing for ''Clearance'')
too much clearance and you get runout..
your primary concern is the sustained speed rating...
a bearing rated for 17/18K no load RPM in a 25KRPM machine is doomed to fail sooner than later...
SKF claim that their Energy Efficient bearings "...provide more than twice the service life while reducing energy use. Design improvements reduce frictional losses in the bearing by at least 30%..."
The standard SKF bearing has a 'Limiting Speed' of 34,000 r/min compared to the SKF Energy Efficient, which has a Limiting Speed of 36,000 r/min
The C3 bearing concerned me too, but what is 'sloppy' to me as woodworker may be miniscule to a precision bearing manufacturer. I'd be surprised if SFK produced new bearings that were sloppy.
You can buy very good bearings but those may only be rated for up to 4000 rpm so they wouldn't last in a router. Watch for the rpm the bearing is rated for.
Thanks for that. The SKF bearings I'm looking at have a reference speed of 41,000 r/min and a limiting speed of 21,000 r/min.
The limiting speed is explained as 'the empirically obtained value for the maximum speed at which bearings can be continuously operated without failing from seizure or generation of excessive heat'
So I reckon they should be suitable for a router motor that's used only intermittently at those speeds. Plus I can't find anything higher rated than that.
I'm not absolutely certain but I think the 6004 is one of those common cheap bearings. You could find out by going on ebay and check their bearing sellers. The 608 is the skateboard bearing and it can be had for $8 a 10 pack which makes them $.80 each. Seems to me I saw deals on 6004 bearings too.
If you can read the code etched on the side of the bearing, put EXACTLY that in there. There are a bunch of bearing cross reference tables online, or email SKF, ***, NTN if you can't find an exact match for all the extension codes.
like everything else in the world, bearing makers manufacture their products in different places. I can tell you firsthand that the same bearings one maker can come from all over (and trust me, it is a royal pain in the butt because US customs levies duties on bearings based on country of manufacture, not where purchased from.... so getting them cleared can be a long affair). I have rarely had any issues with the 3 companies I listed above in the smaller bearing sizes, regardless of where they are made. For larger, high HP bearings I strongly recommend Timken as well.
I would blame a lot of bearing problems more on installation issues than on manufacturing issues.
why would you do that???
in the case of PC bearings. IMO, they fail because they weren't/aren't up to the task...
come on now.. that's throwing good money after bad...
a bearing used in a roller skate is used in a tool...
match SIZE/DIMENSION and make sure it's RATED for the task or exceeds it...
I'm just saying... I have seen problems when people put bearing in that are the right size, but the suffixes are not what they were designed for. Double shields put in where a single shield was required (resulted in a catastrophic failure and endbell replacement), non-contact seals put in (caused lubricant to drop at full load) ….. all those little letters mean something different.
From my professional experience, if it says 6004 2RZ, you are better off putting back the same kind of bearing. Pick the bearing maker you want, but put the designed type in.
that is what I said...
you say EXACT, I take EXACT to mean the same piece of crap the manufacturer used...
I say put in a better quality bearing w/ the same call numbers/letters...
Exactly. The same bearing can come in different grades. I had a bearing go on a router years ago and we had a specialty bearing store in town at the time. I went there to get a replacement and the guy at the counter told me that the bearing it had wasn't meant for anywhere near the rpm that the router was turning. He said he could sell me one that far exceeded that rpm but it would cost me $300.
I would think it's efficiency rating should go up too, i.e. how much output power compared to how much input power. It can be as low as 60-65% sometimes.
Great discussion; very informative!
What I'm taking away is, buy a router from a manufacturer who uses quality components from the get-go.
a) you likely won't need to be replacing parts
b) if you do need service it will hopefully be covered under warranty, or the manufacturer may just decide to do you a good deed and look after the problem anyway.
c) if you do need a replacement part (outside of warranty) you won't have difficulty locating that part.
That is good advice but how do you determine that the manufacturer actually uses quality components.
For example, my router motor is the Portamate PM-P254 and it is advertised as having "Precision NSK deep groove ball bearings"
Now it's my understanding that NSK are indeed a renowned bearing manufacturer of good quality bearings. But the bearings I removed from my router were not only knackered after just a few months use, but they actually looked and felt cheap & nasty, especially when compared side-by-side with the replacement SKF bearings.
The NSK bearings I removed had 'NSK China' stamped on them and it could well be that they are not genuine NSK bearings, but cheap knock-offs. Although surely the router motor manufacturer knows that.
What I don't get is why a manufacturer would fit low quality bearings when good quality bearings are, relatively, so inexpensive.
I can only say my router motor is smoother, quieter and totally vibration free since I replaced the bearings. It is definitely better than when it was brand new. The bearings only lasted a few months with limited light use in my home workshop.
I have a 1958 Dominion planer/thicknesser, which I believe still has its original bearings, and they appear to be as good as new. I'm convinced of the importance of quality bearings.
Thanks Dan.
Yes, we have Hitachi in England but only the plunge routers I think.
I have a Hitachi M12VC fixed base router, which I bought from the USA, but I have to use it with a transformer because of the different voltages.
I've had it for a few years and I really like it; one of the quietest routers I've used and a nice smooth soft-start.
I'd definitely buy another but I think they've rebadged to Metabo HPT M12VC, and a lot cheaper. It's the shipping and Duty that spoils it.
Keeping your bearings clean and well-lubricated is critical to the overall performance and safety. To keep your bearings in top shape, lubricants prevent general wear and tear by reducing friction between surfaces. When applied regularly and sufficiently, a lubricant eliminates friction, making your bearings perform faster without obstruction. It also can repel moisture to prevent rust and corrosion and builds a barrier against dirt, grime, and other contaminants that hamper the performance of your bearings.
Choosing the right lubricant to maintain your bearings can be tricky with countless options and alternatives available for your perusal.
When buying a lubricant, it’s imperative to look at the benefits it has to offer. The type of lubricant, its viscosity, and the amount needed for efficient lubrication are of equal importance.
@Roberthan, are you advocating taking the router apart periodically to lubricate the bearings? Aren't most of them sealed anyway?
What type of lubricant would you recommend for a router bearing, given the speeds?
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