buying bearing balls - where online?
06-30-22, 03:01 AM
#1
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buying bearing balls - where online?
I've run out of one size.
Last time I bought balls was quite some time ago - I got a BIG lot when Bike Warehouse/Nashbar had a sale.
Don't need anything fancy, steel grade 25 is what I got last time.
Last time I bought balls was quite some time ago - I got a BIG lot when Bike Warehouse/Nashbar had a sale.
Don't need anything fancy, steel grade 25 is what I got last time.
06-30-22, 03:27 AM
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Those bearings are a commodity. You can find bearings in the US on Amazon shipped free with prime. It's no coincidence that some importers and supply houses use Amazon to ship consumer quantities from the bulk shipments they get.
06-30-22, 04:26 AM
#3
Industry guy
What diameter are you looking for?
Grade 25 is actually a pretty "fancy" grade of bearing.
The lower the number , the better precision of the balls, not only to a standard
but also to the other balls in the production run.
rusty
Grade 25 is actually a pretty "fancy" grade of bearing.
The lower the number , the better precision of the balls, not only to a standard
but also to the other balls in the production run.
rusty
06-30-22, 05:32 AM
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I recently got a bunch from Boca Bearings. Price seemed decent and shipping was pretty quick.
06-30-22, 05:34 AM
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06-30-22, 05:35 AM
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I've bought from BOCA, Amazon, my local bearing house.
06-30-22, 05:35 AM
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25 was the good stuff then, now I see grade 10 from the far east online, somehow I doubt it really matters. I inherited some tins that said grade 100, and I think remember seeing 200 in a cycle-specific context.
I wonder what an average ball would "grade" if taken out after some level of use - nevermind the condition they are in when most are replaced...
06-30-22, 05:45 AM
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I buy mine from BC Trade on eBay. US seller and they have many sizes and grades to choose from.
06-30-22, 06:07 AM
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Ł5.99 for 100 grade 25 chrome steel
And they've got all the other sizes, even 7/32"
Ł5.99 for 100 grade 25 chrome steel
And they've got all the other sizes, even 7/32"
06-30-22, 06:40 AM
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06-30-22, 08:25 AM
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06-30-22, 08:28 AM
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Bearings — Dixie Industrial Sales
I haven't dealt with them since moving out of the small storefront they had in Hapeville. Used to be called Dixie Bearings and Drives but assumably the same company.
I haven't dealt with them since moving out of the small storefront they had in Hapeville. Used to be called Dixie Bearings and Drives but assumably the same company.
06-30-22, 01:47 PM
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I used to find the best "bulk" price for grade 25 was from an industrial supplier, sort of like McMaster-Carr but not as extensive a catalog. Everything came in bags of 100 or more.
But they went under and haven't found as good a price, since.
I did check out some Chinese sellers but you must really read the descriptions carefully, they can be very loose with the specs and you might wind up with lower grade than 25. Caveat Emptor.
But they went under and haven't found as good a price, since.
I did check out some Chinese sellers but you must really read the descriptions carefully, they can be very loose with the specs and you might wind up with lower grade than 25. Caveat Emptor.
06-30-22, 02:17 PM
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For such consumables, I always check ebay and Amazon. Often, ebay is the cheapest route, sometimes Amazon.
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Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
07-01-22, 11:22 AM
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My view on things is there is so little I actually need from my LBS that I generally try to purchase consumables (bearing balls, non-exotic tires, chains, etc) from them, despite the fact that the price will be somewhat higher. Consequently, I just buy bottles of Wheels Mfg bearing balls from Bucephalus Bikes here in Evanston. YMMV.
07-01-22, 12:39 PM
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I bought some "63/37" solder from the far east via that auction site, it was rubbish, flowed like clotted cream and I had to set the iron *way* above 361 degrees. I think maybe that "63/37" was a brand name, not an indication of the alloy.
07-01-22, 12:39 PM
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I need to bookmark a few of these sources. 
Useful thread!
Presumably, Schweinfurt is no longer an option?
Useful thread! Presumably, Schweinfurt is no longer an option?
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07-01-22, 07:49 PM
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Grade 25? The skater dudes always go with Abec 5. So I go Wheels Manufacturing ball bearings.
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I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
07-01-22, 11:46 PM
#21
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I like the grade 25 loose bearings from Ball Barron and PGN bearings on ebay
Other question, I forgot where to look on this site to write a new thread? Can anyone explain? I found this path once and I guess I forget where the page or link is on this site?
Other question, I forgot where to look on this site to write a new thread? Can anyone explain? I found this path once and I guess I forget where the page or link is on this site?
07-02-22, 05:31 AM
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07-02-22, 06:07 AM
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If you are on desktop, the link is here:
OT: I buy Grade 25 bearings by the hundreds, all sizes, from amazon/ebay.
ETA: I started out buying those little plastic cups with 20 or so balls each at the LBSs around me but as they close down/retire, and get farther away ordering them makes better sense to my lizard brain.
Last edited by FBOATSB; 07-02-22 at 06:18 AM.
07-02-22, 07:14 AM
#24
Disraeli Gears
I always have bought bearing balls from BikeToolsEtc
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.c...ll&tc=Chromium
They have stainless too, if that's what you want. Price is about the same, or a bit cheaper per unit (100 or 1000) than McMaster-Carr.
I'm a *mazo* and ROC (when I know about it) refusenik:
*mazo* just because I really dislike the guy and his business model -- becoming the emperor middleman;
ROC not on political grounds per se, but because their manufacturing (materials, processes, toxicity, environmental safeguards, quality control) are categorically suspect and unregulated.
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.c...ll&tc=Chromium
They have stainless too, if that's what you want. Price is about the same, or a bit cheaper per unit (100 or 1000) than McMaster-Carr.
I'm a *mazo* and ROC (when I know about it) refusenik:
*mazo* just because I really dislike the guy and his business model -- becoming the emperor middleman;
ROC not on political grounds per se, but because their manufacturing (materials, processes, toxicity, environmental safeguards, quality control) are categorically suspect and unregulated.
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07-02-22, 01:40 PM
#25
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How do you tell what is what on the McMaster-Carr website? They don't seem to use the standard number grades.