GearHeads Corner

Hi All,
I'ver recently finished a clock and the pinion which has a one inch diameter epicycloidal tooth form and it is too weak to take the force of the driving wheel.

My solution was to cut two 1/16" pinions from brass and sandwich a wooden one in between.  This gave me the width that I wanted and the strength, but created another problem.  What glue do I use to join brass to baltic birch?

I am currently using CA but I'm not sure that there isn't something a lot better.  Any advice??

After some polishing, sanding, etc this pinion is working as far as the movement goes only question is the glue.

I'm with you, CA is what I use..

Art

If I have any doubts about joining two gears together, I usually drill them for 3 -  1/16" pins and put them through the hubs parallel to the arbor 120 degrees apart. In John T's case, I'd use stainless or brass - most hobby shops carry it. Really easy if you're using CNC and in which case I usually make them blind holes so you never know that the pins are there. Otherwise, put an arbor sized bit of rod in the gears to keep them aligned and then drill them at the same time or after they're glued. If nothing else, the pins will take the stress off the glue.

One product that I came to rely on when making small motors is Loctite 609 sleeve retainer ( non-threaded parts ). It's not meant for gluing two flat surfaces together but I'd try it anyways. If I had to disassemble two pieces of brass or aluminum that I had 609'd together, I'd have to use the arbor press. I also have some 680 which I believe is even stronger.

On a couple of recent clock projects, I made the winding ratchet parts out of brass and screwed them to the wheel and drum. Still ticking...

I've made a number of 1" pinions but I found that I have to be selective with the wood. I found Maple works well for me.

I ran a quick test with a small piece of brass and glued it to a bit of Maple with some Loctite 609.

As is typical, it sets up fairly quickly. The next day I gave it a few blows with a small hammer. I would say that it pretty much sticks like the proverbial to the blanket.

As an old cabinet maker I can tell you that the glue we use is Titebond.  For wood to wood it can't be beat.
regards
Joe