"mlcorson" wrote: (clip) I am a novice on the lathe and mini mill, but I
can use them and I am willing to learn whatever it takes to mount bearings
and have them work in my projects. All part of the learning curve. Fun too!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sorry, Mike, I overlooked the last part of your original post, where you
mention machine tools. And, I think you SHOULD use your lathe and mill just
because they are there. To mount a ball bearing, the outer race should be a
light press fit into a machined recess, and the inner race should be a light
press fit onto the shaft. If you make it too loose, it will slip--you can
correct that with Loc-tite. If you make it too tight, you'll have trouble
with assembly, and you may disturb the beasring clearances enough to make
them roll rough.

As some others have mentioned, roller blade wheels have excellent bearings.
I have several of them in use, which came from junky shoes from flea
markets.

Another possible bearing source: remember when every workbench had a
belt-driven grinder/wire brush? Those arbor-shaft assemblies are still
knocking around.