Where the hell can I find big balls???

Armour Guy · Post by **Armour Guy** » Sat Feb 16, 2002 4:41 pm

I've looked everywhere - Called every scrap yard in the phone book, every steel yard, and every steel manufacturing place. Made about 35 calls Friday, and NO ONE knows where I can get larger ball bearings or other sort of steel balls, for planishing stakes.

Where exactly would I go to find balls in the 3" to 6" range?

Also - I've heard that you can use a bowling ball to planish - any truth to that?

Gundo · Post by **Gundo** » Sat Feb 16, 2002 5:15 pm

Sporting goods super-stores should be able to order a shot-put for you if they don't carry them. Somebody suggested bocce [lawn bowling] balls a while ago, as they are commonly made of steel, but I don't know of anyone that has actually used those.

Ball bearings [big ones] make great planishing balls, because bearings are made of very hard steel. Finding those as scrap is a matter of luck, though. You can buy them new, but you'll spend a lot if you do.

You can planish on a bowling ball, if the piece is big enough to fit over the ball. You can't do an elbow or knee on a bowling ball, obviously.

Another option is mill balls. As in gravel mill. These are the ones that go inside the big canister that breaks big rocks down into little rocks. You need to be near a gravel industry site for those to show up in your scrap yard.

------------------
Gundobad,
Wise Ogre Armory

'Soylens viridis homines est.'

A position worth taking, is worth defending.

David deKunstenaar · Post by **David deKunstenaar** » Sat Feb 16, 2002 5:23 pm

A rock crusher uses large berrings, and they have to be replaced fairly often. Might try a quarry.

white mountain armoury · Sat Feb 16, 2002 6:58 pm

large cranes use large bearings as well, and they do need periodic replacement.

robertcorbett1 · Post by **robertcorbett1** » Sat Feb 16, 2002 8:38 pm

Try King Architectural Metals www.kingmetals.com in Dallas or Baltimore. They make ornamental iron fence bits and have round balls in many sizes. You'll have to finish them as they are in furnace scale forged condition. If you have them sand blasted or tumble blasted, they can be welded to a 1" square bar and work great.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Sat Feb 16, 2002 9:47 pm

This place carries bocce balls, and also some cheaper (steel) balls for boules.

http://www.leevalley.com

Look under the "gifts" section. The boules balls appear to be in the 3" range. Has anyone tried things like this?

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Sun Feb 17, 2002 3:18 pm

Do an internet search on mill or grinding balls.

Steve

justmagnus · Post by **justmagnus** » Sun Feb 17, 2002 4:53 pm

Thanks for the link Robert.

I went to the King Mtals site and looked at the page with steel balls.

http://www.kingmetals.com/Pages/Page10A.html

The also have 11 Ga Hollow Steel Hemishpheres. How do you think they would hold up as dishing bowls if you attached the to some type of collar?

Thanks,
Magnus

Gundo · Post by **Gundo** » Sun Feb 17, 2002 6:46 pm

11 ga is pretty sturdy, but without some sort of supporting material I think it'd deform. Now, inverted, welded to a stake, filled with sand or lead and capped, they'd make good planishing tools. Basically a home-made mushroom stake. You don't use the lower half of the planishing ball, after all.

Excellent link. I'm getting a catalog, and I'm going to be making some 'mushrooms'.

------------------
Gundobad,
Wise Ogre Armory

'Soylens viridis homines est.'

A position worth taking, is worth defending.

Jean Paul de Sens · Post by **Jean Paul de Sens** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 10:51 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Gundo:
11 ga is pretty sturdy, but without some sort of supporting material I think it'd deform. Now, inverted, welded to a stake, filled with sand or lead and capped, they'd make good planishing tools. Basically a home-made mushroom stake. You don't use the lower half of the planishing ball, after all.

Excellent link. I'm getting a catalog, and I'm going to be making some 'mushrooms'.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is a good link. There are many appropriately sized balls there

------------------
Jean Paul de Sens (JP)

And Shepherds we shall be
for thee my lord for thee
power hath descended forth from thy hand
so that my feet may swiftly carry out thy command
And we shall flow a river forth unto thee
And teeming with souls shall it ever be
In nomini patriath, fili, espritus sancti.

-The Boondock Saints

Sigeric · Post by **Sigeric** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 11:37 am

Here's a couple more places for you to try. These are all located in central Minnesota. The rep at Midway said he can get either steel or stainless bearings, but they would be expensive. I didn't ask for a price...

Ickler Bearing & Machine Company
1-800-243-8382

Interstate Bearing Technologies
1-800-729-0385

Midway Iron
1-800-246-4002

rmermuys · Post by **rmermuys** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 11:42 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Lisa:
This place carries bocce balls, and also some cheaper (steel) balls for boules.

http://www.leevalley.com

Look under the "gifts" section. The boules balls appear to be in the 3" range. Has anyone tried things like this?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just got an email back from Leevalley. The Bocce balls are made of Phenolic Plastic. I don't know if Phenolic would hold up, but I replied to their email asking for the diameter of the steel boules balls.

justmagnus · Post by **justmagnus** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 12:45 pm

"Here's a couple more places for you to try. These are all located in central Minnesota. The rep at Midway said he can get either steel or stainless bearings, but they would be expensive. I didn't ask for a price..."

I bought some 1-1/2"dia steel balls (not hardened so they weren't bearings)from a local bearing distributor and they were much more expensive ($37 for 6) than the ones listed at King Metals. I think the bearings of that size would probably be comparable.

Torc · Post by **Torc** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 12:50 pm

The armour I attend shop at uses shot putts and cannon balls.

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 12:57 pm

It should be noted that for balls ranging from 1.5" - 2 5/8" should not cost more then about $5. Since those are the sizes trailer ball hitches come in commonly. $5 on sale usually. And that's in CDN$ too. Just cut the bottom attachment thingy off and weld a stake to the side of the ball which takes care of the flat top.

I've got a shotput that I use for a lot of stuff. It cost me $16 CDN.

------------------
The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Sinric · Post by **Sinric** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 1:18 pm

McMaster-Carr has "Precision Grade Chrome Steel Balls" up to 3 inches in diameter. I bought a 2 inch ball and welded it to the face of a hammer for dishing elbow and knee cops. The 2 inch balls are $17.14, 2 1/2 inch is $79.39, and the 3 inch is $99.44. Unlike mill balls the hardened chrome steel balls don't show much wear even after years of use as a hammer.

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/108/html/3347.html

------------------
Craig Nadler
cwn@nh.ultranet.com
http://www.eskimo.com/~cwn/

rmermuys · Post by **rmermuys** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 3:55 pm

Ickler Bearing & Machine Company - CC $9 or more.
800-243-8382
440 Grade 25
1/2 $.50
9/16 .53
5/8 .50
11/16 .59
3/4 1.50
13/16 1.50
7/8 1.80
1 $1.80
1 1/16 $190
1 1/8 $2
1 1/4 $4
1 1/2 $15
1 5/8 $17

Interstate Bearing Tech CC No Minimum
800-729-0385
Chrome Steel - Unknown Grade
1/2 $0.35
9/16 $0.45
5/8 $0.55
11/16 $0.60
3/4 $0.60
7/8 $0.85
1 $1.70
1 1/2 $6.50
2 $13.65

Midway Iron
800-246-4002
Can only get 11ga (.120) hollow balls or 11ga (.120) hemispheres

Royal Steel Ball
304 E. 29th St - PO Box 901
Sterling, Illinois 61081
Bus. (815) 626-2539 // Fax (815) 626-2544

Weldable 1013 Soft Carbon
7/8 $0.20
1 $0.30

Chrome Steel AISI 52100
Grade 200
7/8 $0.50
1 $0.70
1 1/16 $.97
1 1/8 $1.18
1 3/16 $1.48
1 1/4 $1.70
1 516 $2
1 3/8 $2.30
1 7/16 $2.65
1 1/2 $3
1 9/16 $3.40
1 5/8 $3.85
1 11/16 $4.21
1 3/4 $4.84
1 7/8 $6.50
2 $7.89
2 1/8 $13.80
2 1/4 $25
2 1/2 $28
2 3/4 $52
3 $44
4" $186.00

SS 440
Grade 100
7/8 $1.60
1 $2.25
1 1/16 $3.9
1 1/8 $3
1 3/16 $3.45
1 1/4 $4.2
1 516 $7.2
1 3/8 $5.5
1 7/16 $
1 1/2 $7.2
1 9/16 $15
1 5/8 $26
1 11/16 $8.7
1 3/4 $9.7
1 7/8 $26
2 $13.7
2 1/8 $
2 1/4 $42
2 1/2 $50
2 3/4 $
3 $77.25
4" $

SS 316
7/8 $3
1 $4.5
1 1/8 $5.5
1 1/4 $9.4

------------------
Yours In Service...

Lord Randall - Seneschal/Webminister
Middle Kingdom - Principality of Northshield - Shire of Turm an dem See
Email: rmermuys@mail2.sts.net WWW: http://sca.sts.net

rmermuys · Post by **rmermuys** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 6:18 pm

I found a lead on some forged steel balls in the 2" and 3" size. Will forged steel weld okay onto a stake, and will it hold up to the punishment?

------------------
Yours In Service...

Lord Randall - Seneschal/Webminister
Middle Kingdom - Principality of Northshield - Shire of Turm an dem See
Email: rmermuys@mail2.sts.net WWW: http://sca.sts.net

robertcorbett1 · Post by **robertcorbett1** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 6:28 pm

You know...that 3 15/16" diameter forged steel ball is just about the size of the I.D. of the 11 ga hemisphere (if you get my drift)

A little massaging of the forged ball and tack welding the hemisphere over it, makes a pretty nice form. Bear in mind that this is a light duty tool. If you hammer hard enough, you will planish the 11 ga hemisphere as well. My sand blasted forged ball works just fine by itself.

Also, have made some flails and a Scottish Highland game "hammer" from the hemispheres as well.

Richard Blackmoore · Post by **Richard Blackmoore** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 6:40 pm

Pretty much any former Enron executive or DNC keynote speaker

rmermuys · Post by **rmermuys** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 7:42 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Richard Blackmoore:
Pretty much any former Enron executive or DNC keynote speaker <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Huh?

Richard Blackmoore · Post by **Richard Blackmoore** » Mon Feb 18, 2002 10:02 pm

Sorry, I should have saved this for off topic posts, but the thread title caught my eye while I was watching the news. Bad joke.

While I was reading this thread, CNN was running a clip of Skilling busily not recalling pretty much anything that he did while running Enron, in his testimony before Congress. I then flipped to another channel that was running a series of speeches Clinton gave in front of the DNC and other groups, including the one where he wagged his finger and denied doing any of the things he was later forced to admit doing.

Sorry to derail the thread.

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 1:02 am

Have any of you tried to use sch. 40 pipe welding caps as planishing stakes? they come in 2" 4" 6" 8" ect. about 1/4" thick wall sch. 80 is much heaver. They sound a little like the hemisphere one was talking about.
Turn them upside down and they can be a dishing bowl too. I use a 4" and 8"
Also a CNC machined form, for about $70.00 at local machine shop is a good investment.
Best of luck Hal.

freiman the minstrel · Tue Feb 19, 2002 10:33 am

I really don't reccomend Bacci Balls. I tried it and it really messes up the finish. I almost never play bacci, but I was still not expecting it, and I was disappointed.

Yeah, I know I should have known...

Bolverksson · Post by **Bolverksson** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 3:30 pm

I Ran across this company on the web:

http://www.grhcompany.com/

Their site said they can supply small quanities. If that means less then 10 or 10 thousand I don't know, but they have up to 6" available

[This message has been edited by Bolverksson (edited 02-19-2002).]

Sinric · Post by **Sinric** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 4:01 pm

Bolverksson:

Thanks, I just ordered 4 balls (2 1/2", 3", 4", and 5"). The prices were:

2.5" $8.14
3" $11.23
4" $13.27
5" $27.80

Please note that these are mill balls and not ball bearings. Mill balls can have flat spots and such. The saleman said that if you ask on a small order like this they will pick out balls that don't have any flat spots. The ball stake that I'm currently using was made from a used mill ball and work great.

------------------
Craig Nadler
cwn@nh.ultranet.com
http://www.eskimo.com/~cwn/

The Lost Scott · Post by **The Lost Scott** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 4:18 pm

I just talked with Bob at GRH great guy and great prices they are out of the 6" but have 5" balls and down I'll be sending in an order shortly.

LS

Brandr · Post by **Brandr** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 6:34 pm

I just tried to order a 3 1/8" ball from King Metals and they are out until about the 15th of March. Have to try somewhere else.

Brandr

Sigeric · Post by **Sigeric** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 10:16 am

Sinric, Did they happen to give you an estimate on weight? I'm trying to figure a final cost once I include shipping charges.

Sinric · Post by **Sinric** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 11:22 am

Sigeric:

They said the 4" was 9 lb. and the 5" was 18 lb..

------------------
Craig Nadler
cwn@nh.ultranet.com
http://www.eskimo.com/~cwn/

Gundo · Post by **Gundo** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 5:37 pm

I jsut got my King catalog...there is a lot of cool stuff in there. Some of it looks applicable to armoring, even.

------------------
Gundobad,
Wise Ogre Armory

'Soylens viridis homines est.'

A position worth taking, is worth defending.