• If you have bought, sold or gained information from our Classifieds, please donate to HomeModelEngineMachinist and give back.

    You can become a Supporting Member which comes with a decal or just click here to donate.

Materials search

Find deals on amazon
Advertise with us
Shop deals on ebay
Home Model Engine Machinist Forum

Help Support Home Model Engine Machinist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
pkastagehand

pkastagehand

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 1, 2011
Messages
173
Reaction score
32
The suppliers I've used in the past for a couple of items for my A3 steam loco have both gone out of business due to age/health of the owners.

Does anyone have a good source for Stainless Steel balls for pumps and check valves and the like.

Also, to make springs I need some Cold Drawn Stainless Steel wire. McMaster-Carr doesn't seem to have 0.028" dia. Closest is 0.029" which probably would work if no one else has a source for it.

Thanks,

Paul

Addendum: I just thought of trying PM Research and they have the stainless balls but no wire; stainless or otherwise.
 
Fender and Ernie Ball have stainless guitar strings. Might be worth a look.
 
Paul,

Have a search on Ebay for mandolin strings.

I bought a full set plus some either side of normal, I got about 12 strings all in and they will allow me to make almost any springs I will ever require for modelling. May be a little small for what you require, I don't know exactly what they go up to. Very cheap, well as far as I am concerned.

Make sure you don't get the wound ones. You can also get them in Phos Bronze (used a lot in steam valves).

Just got to make my Hemingway spring winder.

John
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: P.J
McMaster Carr usually has most common things including bearing balls and springs. Boca Bearings is a great source of all kinds of rolling element bearings and parts. Associated Spring has lots of different spring products. I usually try to find a ready made part before I try to make one myself.

Lohring Miller
 
I have used guitar springs before but they weren't stainless steel and I wasn't sure if one could find them.

I ordered .029 from McMaster-Carr. Should be able to back off the adjustment on the safety valve to compensate assuming I don't run out of thread.

PM Research has balls and I can order smaller quantities instead of having to get a bag of 100. Can't imagine building enough gadgets to use up 100 balls before I'm too decrepit to use the tools.

Thanks all who responded.

Paul
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
BME - Big Mill Engine
Replies
12
Views
5K
seagar
seagar
E
Metal considerations and sources
Replies
1
Views
4K
Noggin
Noggin
gbritnell
New motor for my 11" Logan
Replies
6
Views
2K
black85vette
B
B
Lookin' good and gettin' the bling flowing
Replies
9
Views
5K
shred
S

Latest posts

Back
Top