Delrin

Bearings
Bill Shields wrote:


 * Delrin AF will out live all of us put together in either main or rod service unless someone puts a torch to it. The only drawback to it is that you cannot Loctite it in place, so us 'progressive steamers' have to decide which modern material to use: Delrin AF or Loctite -> not both.

From Polymer Plastics Company, LC:


 * What is Delrin AF?


 * Delrin AF is a combination of 10% to 25% oriented PTFE fluorocarbon fibers which are uniformly dispersed in Delrin acetal resin. This thermoplastic combination produces a product that possesses the strength, toughness, dimensional stability and fabrication economy approaching that of Delrin with the added properties of Teflon, the world's most slippery solid material.

Note: Soft steel or stainless steel, as well as all non-ferrous metals do not run well with plastic bearings, even those with a so called "self-lubricating" filler. Metallic bearing surfaces mating with plastic bearings should be hardened, and preferably polished, steel.