Fitting a lazy susan bearing allows you to create smooth, rotating platforms for various uses, from kitchen cabinets to display stands.
A lazy susan bearing, often a round metal plate with concentric rings of ball bearings, is the core component that enables rotation. These bearings typically have pre-drilled holes on both the outer and inner rings for attachment to two separate surfaces – a stationary base and a rotating top (the turntable).
Materials & Tools
To fit a lazy susan bearing, you'll generally need:
- Lazy susan bearing
- Turntable platform
- Base surface
- Fasteners (e.g., screws appropriate for your materials and bearing hole size)
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Pencil or marker
- Lubricant (heavy oil or grease)
Step-by-Step Guide to Fitting a Lazy Susan Bearing
Here’s a straightforward process for attaching a lazy susan bearing, incorporating essential steps for proper function and durability.
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Prepare the Bearing:
- Before attachment, ensure the bearing rotates smoothly.
- Lubricate the bearing balls with a small amount of heavy oil or grease. This helps reduce friction and prolong the bearing's life.
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Mark and Drill the Turntable:
- Position the bearing centrally on the underside of your turntable.
- Align the holes on the bearing with where you want the fasteners to go.
- Use the smallest holes [on the bearing] as a template to mark the turntable for blind fastening. This method hides the fasteners from the top surface of the turntable.
- Remove the bearing and then drill holes into the turntable at the marked points. The size of the drill bit depends on your chosen fasteners.
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Attach the Turntable to the Bearing:
- Align the drilled holes on the turntable with the corresponding holes on the bearing's inner ring.
- Assemble turning section [the turntable] to the bearing.
- Fasten the turntable to the bearing. Drill holes for self-tapping screws if using them, and secure the turntable firmly to the inner ring of the bearing. Ensure the screw length is appropriate so it doesn't protrude through the top surface.
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Attach the Base to the Bearing:
- Center the bearing (now attached to the turntable) on your base surface.
- Rotate the turntable slightly to access the holes on the bearing's outer ring. These are often the larger holes.
- Mark the base surface through these outer ring holes.
- Remove the turntable/bearing assembly carefully.
- Drill pilot holes into the base surface if necessary for your fasteners.
- Re-align the bearing (with the turntable attached) onto the base, matching the outer ring holes with the drilled holes on the base.
- Fasten the bearing's outer ring securely to the base.
Once both the turntable and the base are attached to the bearing, the top section should rotate smoothly on the base.
By following these steps, you can effectively fit a lazy susan bearing to create a functional rotating platform.
