Ball bearings for paint pots?

[FramFramson]

One of the best ideas I ever heard was to put a ball bearing in each of your paint pots - shaking them up then becomes a thousand times easier and if they've gone a bit hard, you'll have something in the pot to stir it up besides sticking a brush in (which wastes no small amount of pant - and may not be an option for those of you using squeeze bottles).

I figure balls with a diameter of about 6-8mm should work perfectly, so if I pick up a sackful from an industrial supply place that should just about do the trick.

What I'm worried about is rust! These ball bearings may be required to stay submerged in paint for years and I don't want them leeching rust or other corrosion-based taints into my paint. Granted they should stay covered up unless that colour is particularly low, but cheaper steel may still have problems.

What's the best way to safeguard against this? Is there a minimum grade of steel or quality I should be looking for? I'm sure there are different ball bearing alloys, so maybe I should be going for a certain type? Or maybe even something inert like glass beads, even though glass will weigh a lot less? Ceramic?

[OSHIROmodels]

Stainless steel will do you right  

I'd also go for a possibly slightly smaller size and have a couple in each pot, not only will it help to agitate the paint a bit more but it'll sound groovy  

cheers

James

[goon3423]

I use fishing sinkers, they work like a champ & are really cheap.

[Dr. Zombie]

Whenever I cut of a bit or a tab from a metal figure I plonk it into my paintpots in stead of just binning it.

[Valerik]

I JUST did this!!

So have absolutely no idea how long they will last without corroding...

Inna hurry, as usual, I trotted on down to Tri-County Ace Hardware, asked, was directed to, sorted & purchased some.
Mine are CHROME, rather than the stainless steel I sought, & damned if the lil' buggers weren't Expensive!!

I know, I know, boutique hardware store, limited demand/stock, charge what the traffic (ME!!??!!) will bear...

So where should I look, inna small town, past the Back of Beyond, along the road from Nowhere to Not Much Else?

What local business or proprietor would have the stainless steel spheres I seek?


Valerik

The salacious amongst us will take note I avoided giving an opportunity to snicker, giggle, teehee, or make fun of me

[Mindenbrush]

I used Stainless Steel ball bearings that I purchased from a bicycle shop, max 5mm diameter so that they go inside the Vallejo type bottles.

They have been in some of the bottles for at least 8 years and no discolouration in the paint 

[FramFramson]

Stainless steel will do you right  

I'd also go for a possibly slightly smaller size and have a couple in each pot, not only will it help to agitate the paint a bit more but it'll sound groovy  

cheers

James

I like this also because it'll take longer for the paint to reach the point where it's so low that the bearings poke out on top (which will probably lead to paint drying out on the bearings).

[Timbor]

I have often thought of doing this and never actually did.  Think these would do the job?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/100-PCS-5mm-0-1969-316-Stainless-Steel-Bearing-Balls-Grade-100-G100-/291120119983?pt=BI_Heavy_Equipment_Parts&hash=item43c81c80af

[Dr DeAth]

I use glass beads from the bead section in the local Hobbycraft store. They work a treat and they're not going to rust!

[Vermis]

I've bought from simplybearings.co.uk before, and a quick search shows they're still in business (something that bears checking these days!) and sell stainless steel balls.

For completeness' sake, Hasslefree sell steel balls too, but only chrome.

[Grizzly]

I've been using 2-3 glass beads per pot as well myself. I think the size is 6/0 seed bead.

[Calimero]

I've read somewhere on the net that Reapers have little metal skulls in their paint pot... I don't know if that's true though

[Connectamabob]

I use 5mm stainless bearings. Got a whole bag of them (about the volume of a Skittles/M&Ms bag) for 2$ at an industrial surplus outlet about 10 years ago. Have several pots that have been around for for that long, and the bearings show no sign of corrosion. I put two in each pot, three if it's a large one, as multiples seem to do a better job than just one.

When I was a kid, I used copper BBs 'cause that's what I had, but I don't recommend them: too small and lightweight; they get bogged down in thicker paints.

If you can't find stainless bearings (or can't find them at a good price), I'd think glass beads would be the best alternative. Not quite as heavy for their size as steel, but if anything's 100% contamination-safe, it'll be glass. Heard of lots of people using lead sinkers over the years, but that's one I can too easily imagine contaminating paints in various ways. Maybe unfounded, but with guaranteed safe alternatives easily at hand, I feel there's no incentive to bother with even theoretical risks.

[Wirelizard]

I've read somewhere on the net that Reapers have little metal skulls in their paint pot... I don't know if that's true though

I've heard this too, that there's a little pewter skull in each Reaper dropper bottle.

I've got a couple of Reaper droppers that after four+ years of use are finally nearly finished, so later this year when I stop being able to get usable amounts of paint out of them I shall pop the top off properly and see if there is indeed a little skull inside.

I've also heard that Reaper will sell you a paint pot full of their cast pewter skulls... but only at the few conventions where they show up in person somewhere in the southern States.

[FramFramson]

Sounds like stainless ought to work fine then.

What's the issue with chrome? Is it just more expensive?