I was able to contact this artist, Mr. Howe. We had a nice conversation! I told him that I do not want to compete with him (AS IF I could!) but I was curious about how he did the bearings for his art pieces. We talked a while about the design process, and how he got into it, etc. However, he would NOT reveal to me how he sets up bearings on these creations. He said, "That is a secret I do not share." I am unable to ascertain how from the videos. He is careful to only allow close up camera shots that do not reveal his methods.
So I got to thinking. It is always dangerous when I get to thinking! I
believe I discovered his secret, but I have to build a test wind spinner, and then live another 25 years to be sure. 🤣
The thing is, his early art pieces are about 30 years old now, and those bearings STILL rotate freely, out in all weather, with ZERO maintenance. No oil or grease. Even "sealed" bearings have a life span, right? I have to imagine that exposed bearings would clot up with dust, insects, and bird droppings over time. Yet his method seems to avoid all of the pitfalls of outdoor exposure.
In 2015, I went to the FabTech show in Chicago. That is a DISNEYLAND for guys like us! Every one of you should go to this show at least once in your lifetime. Plan to spend three FULL days there, and you
might take in 50% of it!
I showed the videos of Howe's work to several bearing manufacturers. We all pondered HOW he did it, but even they could not give me a straight answer. A large metal object, rotating on a
curved round steel bar, held in place AND remaining perpendicular to the curved bar regardless of the position on the bar, with no apparent width, no set screws, nothing. The ONLY thing I can think of, is that he slips a Metric bearing race over a curved IMPERIAL diameter rod, using the slight diameter difference to allow THREE contact points to the bar (two inside the curve and one outside) and carefully TIG welds the inner race into place at those two points . Okay, that WOULD work but then, how does the bearing last
seemingly indefinitely, without lubrication?
Joe