TubaForum.net

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 9:31 pm Thank you LeMark for the amazon link. I chose to buy a fishing magnet by that brand. It is a 250lb pull with a threaded eye that i intend to turn into a handle. The pull is perfect for dent balls.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

Would you mind posting the link for that one? I'm interested to see it.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

So the magnet and 1.5 inch gauge ball are working fairly well. However I have a few dents that are being stubborn. I was thinking it would be nice if i could hammer them. Maybe I could try using the ball as a hammer. So i set the magnet on the dent, the ball is drawn to it hard. I lift off and repeat. This is working very well on the deep dents. Learning new things all the time.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 10:33 am So the magnet and 1.5 inch gauge ball are working fairly well. However I have a few dents that are being stubborn. I was thinking it would be nice if i could hammer them. Maybe I could try using the ball as a hammer. So i set the magnet on the dent, the ball is drawn to it hard. I lift off and repeat. This is working very well on the deep dents. Learning new things all the time.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

Thanks for the update.

Without success I’ve looked for larger steel balls at reasonable prices but have found none. What I have found available are precision ground and dimensioned balls that are understandably expensive, but the job doesn’t need those expensive features. Is it a case of absorb the price or are more reasonably priced alternatives available?

What size are you looking for and where are you looking? I found what I thought were very reasonable steel balls on Amazon

LeMark wrote: ↑Sat Oct 21, 2023 3:44 pm What size are you looking for and where are you looking? I found what I thought were very reasonable steel balls on Amazon

I’m in the UK and I looked on eBay and Amazon. It’s some time back that I was looking but the 2” size comes to mind.

With their weight carriage can be expensive and maybe I just wasn’t looking at the right listings. It would be interesting to know what others have used and where they sourced items from.

I don't know if the UK version of Amazon has anything like this, but the Yankee version is full of them. Maybe this will help

For tuba I recommend 1 1/2, 2, 2/12, and 3 inch sizes

(2 Pieces) PGN - 2" Inch Chrome Steel Bearing Balls - G25 Precision https://a.co/d/eoeKnkC

My employer has been extremely kind and is allowing me to use whatever tools and equipment they have. Prior to that, I was intending to purchase a couple sizes from mc master carr. Prices on gauge balls from them are way more reasonable than ball bearings on Amazon. Here is one that I was looking at,
https://www.mcmaster.com/product/9528K71

Perhaps you have a similar tool source in the UK. Maybe you could find a local machine shop and pay them a visit. At the very least they could give you direction as to where to get what your looking for.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:25 am My employer has been extremely kind and is allowing me to use whatever tools and equipment they have. Prior to that, I was intending to purchase a couple sizes from mc master carr. Prices on gauge balls from them are way more reasonable than ball bearings on Amazon. Here is one that I was looking at,
https://www.mcmaster.com/product/9528K71

Perhaps you have a similar tool source in the UK. Maybe you could find a local machine shop and pay them a visit. At the very least they could give you direction as to where to get what your looking for.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

Unless I'm misreading, it looks like Amazon is $22 for a 2 pack and McMaster is $30 for a single 2" ball.

Really? When I was looking before, it was $86 for the two pack. Or you just found a better deal.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 7:09 am Really? When I was looking before, it was $86 for the two pack. Or you just found a better deal.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

I posted the link above

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:25 am My employer has been extremely kind and is allowing me to use whatever tools and equipment they have. Prior to that, I was intending to purchase a couple sizes from mc master carr. Prices on gauge balls from them are way more reasonable than ball bearings on Amazon. Here is one that I was looking at,
https://www.mcmaster.com/product/9528K71

Perhaps you have a similar tool source in the UK. Maybe you could find a local machine shop and pay them a visit. At the very least they could give you direction as to where to get what your looking for.

Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk

Thanks for the link. It seems like you’re fortunate with your enlightened employer.

Prices do seem to vary widely for functionally similar items, I guess that it’s a case of shopping around.