I'm looking to put together a set of ball bearings between about 4/16
and 1", in as small increments as possible for removing dents from
brass instrument tubing from the inside. What size increments do
readily available - i.e. "off the shelf" ball bearings normally come
in?

One supplier has said in that size range they have 16 bearings - 1/4,
9/32, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 15/32, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16,
7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch. I see there are several gaps where the size
jumps by more than a 1/32. I was hoping to find a set that more evenly
covers the sizes. Is this a realistic goal? I'd like to find them all
at once instead of piecemeal it together so it would be worth the
time/bother for whoever sends them to me.

Would I be more likely to find a greater number of increments in metric
or inch sizes? In fact, if I included both metric and inch sizes, would
that be likely to fill in "gaps" in sizes?

Thanks for all input.

My SKF catalogue lists metric from 0.4 mm upwards. There is a
progression from 0.5mm upto 25mm in 0.5mm increments with a few
exceptions. I would suggest getting onto the SKF website and finding
their list of ball sizes.

wrote:

I'm looking to put together a set of ball bearings between about 4/16
and 1", in as small increments as possible for removing dents from
brass instrument tubing from the inside. What size increments do
readily available - i.e. "off the shelf" ball bearings normally come
in?

One supplier has said in that size range they have 16 bearings - 1/4,
9/32, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 15/32, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16,
7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch. I see there are several gaps where the size
jumps by more than a 1/32. I was hoping to find a set that more evenly
covers the sizes. Is this a realistic goal? I'd like to find them all
at once instead of piecemeal it together so it would be worth the
time/bother for whoever sends them to me.

Would I be more likely to find a greater number of increments in metric
or inch sizes? In fact, if I included both metric and inch sizes, would
that be likely to fill in "gaps" in sizes?

Thanks for all input.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm looking to put together a set of ball bearings between about 4/16
and 1", in as small increments as possible for removing dents from
brass instrument tubing from the inside. What size increments do
readily available - i.e. "off the shelf" ball bearings normally come
in?

One supplier has said in that size range they have 16 bearings - 1/4,
9/32, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 15/32, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16,
7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch. I see there are several gaps where the size
jumps by more than a 1/32. I was hoping to find a set that more evenly
covers the sizes. Is this a realistic goal? I'd like to find them all
at once instead of piecemeal it together so it would be worth the
time/bother for whoever sends them to me.

Would I be more likely to find a greater number of increments in metric
or inch sizes? In fact, if I included both metric and inch sizes, would
that be likely to fill in "gaps" in sizes?

Thanks for all input.

Brassplayer,
Sorry I cannot give you advice. But interested in knowing do you plan on
pushing the balls, pulling the balls, how do you retrieve if they get stuck?
etc. etc. etc. Sound like a lot of fun.
Ivan Vegvary

Ivan Vegvary wrote:


wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm looking to put together a set of ball bearings between about 4/16
and 1", in as small increments as possible for removing dents from
brass instrument tubing from the inside. What size increments do
readily available - i.e. "off the shelf" ball bearings normally come
in?

One supplier has said in that size range they have 16 bearings - 1/4,
9/32, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 15/32, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16,
7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch. I see there are several gaps where the size
jumps by more than a 1/32. I was hoping to find a set that more evenly
covers the sizes. Is this a realistic goal? I'd like to find them all
at once instead of piecemeal it together so it would be worth the
time/bother for whoever sends them to me.

Would I be more likely to find a greater number of increments in metric
or inch sizes? In fact, if I included both metric and inch sizes, would
that be likely to fill in "gaps" in sizes?

Thanks for all input.

Brassplayer,
Sorry I cannot give you advice. But interested in knowing do you plan on
pushing the balls, pulling the balls, how do you retrieve if they get
stuck?
etc. etc. etc. Sound like a lot of fun.

FWIW, there seem to be two commercially available systems that use
high-powered magnets to pull the balls,
http://www.magneticdentremovalsystem.com/ and the other is called the
"Dent Eraser", googling which gives a large number of sources, including an
announcement of a demonstration by its inventor, then a professor at OSU,
back in 2002--seems like it's a fairly recent innovation.

There's a pretty good discussion of this at
http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-5820.html. Note
especially the comments about the strength of the magnets.

It seems that one does _not_ need an exact fit for the tubing in
question--apparently one uses the magnet and ball in a manner more
analogous to working sheet metal with a hammer and dolly, so getting stuck
shouldn't be an issue if one is using the system in the way that was
intended.

One manufacturer of musical instrument repair equipment
http://www.ferreestools.com/magnetic_dent_tools.htm seems to be flat out
scared of the physical danger represented by the magnets and won't sell
them at all and another will only sell to "qualified personnel" however
defined.

Ivan Vegvary

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

wrote:
I'm looking to put together a set of ball bearings between about 4/16
and 1", in as small increments as possible for removing dents from
brass instrument tubing from the inside. What size increments do
readily available - i.e. "off the shelf" ball bearings normally come
in?


Give these guys a try, they claim to have 40,000 sizes for same day
shipment.

http://www.precisionballs.com/


--
Regards,
Steve Saling
aka The Garlic Dude ©
Gilroy, CA
The Garlic Capital of The World
http://www.pulsareng.com/

Ivan Vegvary wrote:

Brassplayer,
Sorry I cannot give you advice. But interested in knowing do you plan on
pushing the balls, pulling the balls, how do you retrieve if they get stuck?
etc. etc. etc.

Lubricate the balls with oil or vaseline before inserting, push in with
flexible pvc tubing, push back out from the other side the same way,
with supporting material around the tubing opposite the dents to
prevent it from pusing out the opposite side. The horn will be
partially disassembled at key solder joints prior to this.

May I suggest an alternative? It is very likely that you will never need all
the sizes you are attempting to buy. I would buy a small lathe and make what
you need , when you need it. This would also give you the opportunity to
bore a hole in the center to attach a rod which will allow you play the dent
slowly and more carefully. In truth you may need a series of sizes for one
dent.
Steve

wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm looking to put together a set of ball bearings between about 4/16
and 1", in as small increments as possible for removing dents from
brass instrument tubing from the inside. What size increments do
readily available - i.e. "off the shelf" ball bearings normally come
in?

One supplier has said in that size range they have 16 bearings - 1/4,
9/32, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 15/32, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16,
7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch. I see there are several gaps where the size
jumps by more than a 1/32. I was hoping to find a set that more evenly
covers the sizes. Is this a realistic goal? I'd like to find them all
at once instead of piecemeal it together so it would be worth the
time/bother for whoever sends them to me.

Would I be more likely to find a greater number of increments in metric
or inch sizes? In fact, if I included both metric and inch sizes, would
that be likely to fill in "gaps" in sizes?

Thanks for all input.

On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 10:32:40 +0100, "Steve Lusardi"
wrote:

I would buy a small lathe and make what
you need , when you need it.

And learn machining & tooling & safety ....
Rather than buying cheap balls by the pound?
--
Cliff

wrote in message ups.com...
I'm looking to put together a set of ball bearings between about 4/16
and 1", in as small increments as possible for removing dents from
brass instrument tubing from the inside. What size increments do
readily available - i.e. "off the shelf" ball bearings normally come
in?

One supplier has said in that size range they have 16 bearings - 1/4,
9/32, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 15/32, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16,
7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch. I see there are several gaps where the size
jumps by more than a 1/32. I was hoping to find a set that more evenly
covers the sizes. Is this a realistic goal? I'd like to find them all
at once instead of piecemeal it together so it would be worth the
time/bother for whoever sends them to me.

Would I be more likely to find a greater number of increments in metric
or inch sizes? In fact, if I included both metric and inch sizes, would
that be likely to fill in "gaps" in sizes?

Thanks for all input.


Look up Swedging tool. It is used by plumbers, musicians and anyone dealing with tubing to
straighten tubing or remove dents. (I used a plumbers swedge on copper pipe with success.)
Musicians with brass horns use them. Swedges must be available in many sizes for these two groups.
Even if they are not available in the size(s) you require, a lathe could turn them out in every
increment that you do need. Make your own for a lot less than precision bearing balls.

Although I am not aware of the tube that you want to repair, I do not think using balls is
practical. Too much of a chance of jamming one in place then ruining the tubing in an attempt to
remove the ball.

Jim Y