Best precision balls according to redditors
We found 64 Reddit comments discussing the best precision balls. We ranked the 37 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 64 Reddit comments discussing the best precision balls. We ranked the 37 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Use ceramic bearing balls. ( https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Making-Plastic-Bearing-100pcs/dp/B07TJCNP5G/ref=rtpb_1/137-8536023-0703351?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07TJCNP5G&pd_rd_r=563eb58a-4463-4975-9697-c52025b89697&pd_rd_w=JOdjh&pd_rd_wg=VS4cH&pf_rd_p=93b3b076-f930-43df-b8f9-7a7b49a1950c&pf_rd_r=JKVQ2BZ5SJNK78NAA3KS&psc=1&refRID=JKVQ2BZ5SJNK78NAA3KS )
Or steel ones ( https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Carbon-Bearing-Precision-100pcs/dp/B07SV6QSR3/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=6mm+bearing+ball&qid=1572155597&sr=8-4 ) warning: if these hit something hard, they WILL throw shrapnel (think flying knives).
https://www.amazon.com/Inch-Chrome-Steel-Bearing-Ball/dp/B0074VCP8S/ref=pd_day0_328_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0074VCP8S&pd_rd_r=SYPQGB4E4FVHM2Y9FQQ2&pd_rd_w=3R4hu&pd_rd_wg=lVuyh&psc=1&refRID=SYPQGB4E4FVHM2Y9FQQ2
Most hardware stores sell bearings in the specialty hardware section. Or something like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018B7D05K
I found ceramic ones that you could buy in quantity of one.. heres the link
https://www.amazon.com/CERAMIC-BALL-SI3N4-GRADE5-EACH/dp/B00E8LV8U8
It's easier than that, even:
Just buy an assortment of bearings. They're cheap. Then when you take it apart, you will definitely have the right size, just match the old ones to the new ones... Which will be 1/4", since this is an 80's Japanese bottom bracket and will be totally standard. ;)
(edit: And then you'll have bearings for your hubs and headset too!)
Here's another idea. 3/4" ball Bering are almost exactly 1oz each. So 16 per lbs. https://www.amazon.com/PGN-Precision-Steel-Bearing-Balls/dp/B07SHX8BB9 They cost about 4$ per pound... Dont go crazy though, a 2" ball is about 1lb each, but they cost 20$ each! LOL
Surprisingly cheap. Here is a grab bag of 500 bearings of assorted sizes between 1/8 and 1/4" for $8.
> A 1/4" bearing from a "bike specific" company is the exact same thing as a 1/4" bearing from any other company
As long as they're not a terrible grade... Grade 25 is typical for bike use these days and they're cheap enough not to bother with something like a grade 300. There are still grade 300's being sold by bike companies, but like you said, they're more expensive (even though they're lower quality).
woah guys hold on the above link is NOT FOOD GRADE! the manufacturer does make a variant that is, and you can find it at This link
You should definitely replace any missing ball bearings, they are pretty cheap and will make the bearings smoother than they would be with some missing. Here are some bearings i got in the past that are good, but you can always just get the individual sizes you need instead.
I've settled on these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007B2A84S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
1 inch stainless steel balls, they are surprisingly heavy for how small they are, which is great because I can add as many as I need to counteract floating without being bulky
one on either side of a bag will weigh down even the most air filled bag
Like these?
How do you swap the bearings?
> THinking about it, you wouldn't want balls that big for bearings
And yet...
You can get an assortment of bearings on amazon. I got these when i serviced my bike: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018B7D05K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I’m trying a 1mm ball. Getting it tomorrow but leaving for the weekend. If I’m not too lazy I’ll try it tomorrow and post an update if this size works.
Speaking of, would you be able to get me a measurement of the bearing? I'd love to find a replacement for mine.
Edit: Think it's less than 2mm? Found this set of ball bearings on Amazon.
i tried both using these bearings https://www.amazon.com/PGN-Precision-Chrome-Steel-Bearing/dp/B07CHSGGKK/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=.5+inch+ball+bearing&qid=1558567260&s=gateway&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D8RDV1L/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_apa_i_c5JUCbEXF4066
Keep in mind, I can only say they helped some. I think it's still possible to do better.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D8T9VP8/
Remove the constraint on the leadscrew at the top. That's helped me in the past. Also, your leadscrew can be straight as an arrow, but simultaneously be at an angle because of your coupler. Take everything off the leadscrew so that the only thing you have left is the motor, coupler and screw itself. Turn the motor and see if there's runout. If there is, then try to see if you can re-insert it and tighten up the set screw without pitching the leadscrew to one side. Lastly, a trick that might help you is to put a metal ball bearing in the coupler between the shaft and leadscrew. 5/16" is the perfect size to fit in on the leadscrew side of the coupler. You want the ball bearing to make contact with the motor shaft and screw. The benefit to doing this is that you retain the angular compensation of the alignment coupler, but get rid of all the springiness of it. If you have the screw and shaft touching without the ball bearing, then the screw actually has to lift up a little bit and stretch out the coupler when it's compensating. If you leave a space in there (which is what you're usually instructed to do) then you might find that you've got a hysteresis problem when doing Z hops because the coupler is stretching and compressing without returning to its normal state repeatably.
Sure thing!
Magnet:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I46V06A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_DL-OCbDDQ353J
Weight:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0074VCP8S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_NO-OCbSHCR82S
O-Rings:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000DZDQU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_1P-OCb0J9BCCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAaIcZhrMhA
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Instead of solder though, because I wanted something a little bit more measurable I slipped a 1mm ball bearing into the hole of the joystick.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SZF3PWS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
25pcs 2.5mm Si3N4 Silicon Nitride Ceramic Bearing Balls G5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D8RDV1L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TNCRDbXRC6FQ6
I would buy something like this assortment, pick the one that's the right size, put some grease on 'em, and get on with life. The extras will be useful for something, eventually.
edit: typically, you fill the race up with bearings, and then remove one. So if it takes 10 to fill the race with balls, use 9.
Amazon, we got a pack of 30 for ~$12
I think it was these: 30 Bearing 608ZZ 8x22x7 Shielded Greased Miniature Ball Bearings https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BBD6X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_OykNybTZ859CZ
Are you sure? Most BB bearings are about 1/4 in.
In any case, amazon sells them for cheap
Ex: https://www.amazon.ca/BC-Precision-BCBIKE5-500-Piece-Assorted/dp/B018B7D05K/
I'm assuming these are the equivalent of the NSB3 and NSB6 ball bearings? Amazon prime link
NSB6: 3/8 inch ball bearings
NSB3: 3/16 inch ball bearings
would these be the same as the ones on acerracing?
Amazon
25 1" Inch Gorilla Paracord Monkey Fist Steel Ball Bearing Tactical Cores Balls https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S1N4B9E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_f0TLyb2YW6Q33
0.5mm ball bearing worked. The link below is for 1 ball bearing.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E8LV8U8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's why I suggested clear marbles, to minimize the impurities, but clear leaded glass crystal is a thing. OP could also pick up some large food grade stainless steel or ceramic ball bearings, but I didn't suggest that originally because of the expense.
https://www.amazon.com/Inch-Stainless-Steel-Bearing-Balls/dp/B007B2A84S
https://www.google.com/search?q="food+grade"+large+"stainless"+steel+ceramic+"loose"+"ball"+bearing
But ultimately you could play the "possible unsafe impurities" game with just about any material unless you personally have it tested.
A friend of mine uses a large stainless ball bearings as whiskey stones.
I use these
Here you go, it was for 14$ but still, cheap. link
This is what I use (for the middle bearing):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JKBUR1Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(for the outside bearings)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BBD6X4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I timed my spin to 2mins 20 seconds. Not too bad
The rail systems are over $50, typically.
Get some decent bearings - I used these @ $10 for 30 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BBD6X4
For those bearings a 5/16" steel rod (about $2/ft, purchased at Lowe's) fits in nicely. Mount two of those bearings on the rod and sandwich it between two pieces of wood (or steel if you desire) and it'll ride atop a 3/4" wood rail smooth as butter. Put as many of these as you want along the top of your barn door and for about 1/10th of the cost you have the same thing.
I need to finish up and post photos of the system I did, it's just too expensive to buy a few pieces of metal.