The little tool with a thousand uses.
Ball bearings—the familiar pieces that use balls to maintain the separation between the bearing races—have any number of uses. But the ones we're used to seeing in cars and other machines tend to be made of metal. Here, Matthais Wandel has a new video showing how to make them out of wood. Self-aligning ball bearing
The first modern ball bearing design was developed in 1794, and they started going into bicycles in 1869. Everything from yo-yos to watches to jet engines use ball bearings in one way or another. New greaseless bearings spin with ten times less friction than previous models.
Wandel uses his wooden bearings for a much simpler use: a toy for his daughter.
David Grossman is a staff writer for PopularMechanics.com. He's previously written for The Verge, Rolling Stone, The New Republic and several other publications. He's based out of Brooklyn.
Apple Could Owe You $395 for Its Faulty Keyboard
Finally, There’s a Decent Female Crash Test Dummy
The Best Christmas Lights for Holiday Decorating
The 31 Tallest Buildings in the World
How to Submit Your Genius Idea for a New Emoji
Shock-Absorbing, Reusable Body Armor Is on the Way
15 Patents That Changed the World
Meet the First Working, Retractable Lightsaber
The World’s 30 Strangest Military Bases
Watch the Mesmerizing Way Pencils are Made
The 30 Creepiest Abandoned Military Bases
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link.
Cylindrical roller bearing ©Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.