Thanks! Great link and information, especially the video. There's a little more about the procedure here... this was one of my earlier posts here from a few years ago. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250009
There's a scene in the move "The Train" with Burt Lancaster where he does it on a steam locomotive part, figured it was similar. Wonder how they do in the block though for main bearings, if you have to preheat it and tin it. EDIT: And Claymart's link explained it...
My buddy pours Babbitt only because he loves the old processes, Its hard labor intensive, nasty work, makes no money at it, but he still likes doing it.
What is it like to machine? I imagine it being soft and cloggy, but guess it isn't that soft or it wouldn't last?
My father was born in 1904 and told me stories of his adventures with his first Model T he had in the early 1920's. He said he had a "kit" that could pour his own babbit bearings and he could drop the crank and after pouring bearings he would lap them in to get a good fit. All done in his dirt driveway at home. He said a lot of local guys did the same, as money was tight, and few could afford to pay a garage to do the work.