McMaster Carr sells ball bearings from many alloys and on of the options is E52100. Wikipedia doesn't shsowcase that. Only alloys steels in general. It is advertised as "very hard" Rockwell 60  What would E designate and the 52100?

I want a large one for testing anvils. And a training aid in shop class to demonstrate rebound. I also need a package of ball bearings for my forge blower rebuilds.

We have a Graingers in Anchorage so I just walked in and asked. The counter guy brought out a basket of ball bearings in plastic bags and let me choose. I use 1/2" or 3/8" bearings for rebound tests and they aren't uncomfortable in my pocket. I do however understand a class room situation where you want better illustration so a larger bearing would probably be better.

I'm afraid I am no help with the E designator. Maybe just take a flat faced hammer with and give them a try? I gently rolled them into each other to gauge the rebound like playing marbles. The counter guys were very helpful, I was probably the most entertain thing to come down the pike in days.

They have a size gauge at the counter to determine ball size, think drill index or sieve. They handle sizing bearings for things like forge blowers pretty regularly, just take in a couple of the ones you have.

Unfortunately I don't know what if any good any of this will do if you cant walk into a brick and mortar store. Mic the bearings you have and just ignore the E ?

Frosty The Lucky.

41 minutes ago, SReynolds said:

McMaster Carr sells ball bearings from many alloys and on of the options is E52100. Wikipedia doesn't shsowcase that. Only alloys steels in general. It is advertised as "very hard" Rockwell 60  What would E designate and the 52100?

I want a large one for testing anvils. And a training aid in shop class to demonstrate rebound. I also need a package of ball bearings for my forge blower rebuilds.

it is a common knife steel.  100 pt carbon, higher Chrome that 51xx series.,

E is for electrical steel. For bearings cruise by a bearing supplier, or electrical motor rebuild shop to see what they are tossing. 

Got it. I was thinking 52100 was just that.  So yeah. That makes sense.

The issue with the forge blower isn't that.  I know what I need. I was mearly giving an example of what I intend to use them for.

The YouTube videos of dropping a ball bearing onto the face of an anvil can, apparently, be dangerous. 

I have a couple buckets full, Stop by and pick through.

Neil

Not today. Thanks. I ordered a package of 17/64 bearings and one 1.5" bearing. From McMaster Carr. 

When a designation has another letter added to it it usually means that it has a designated  range within the general ranges---like 440 A,B,C

or 4140H to ensure certain properties.

On Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 3:45 PM, Steve Sells said:

it is a common knife steel.  100 pt carbon, higher Chrome that 51xx series.,

Yes sir. I gFound It now.IN my steel chart.

My McMaster Carr bearings just arrived. Only takes 24 hours. Not sure why more folks don't buy from them. Perhaps there are. But folks I ask wonder why you'd order from computer when all you gotta do is drive to town and pay retail. 

So I'm thinking the 1-1/2" 52100 Rockwell 60 was a mistake. Frosty was right. The 1/2" would be fine. 

Upon dropping the 1-1/2" bearing from shoulder height to Trenton on the floor the bearing shot up and through the garage roof.  NowI gotta patch the roof.

22 minutes ago, SReynolds said:

My McMaster Carr bearings just arrived. Only takes 24 hours. Not sure why more folks don't buy from them. Perhaps there are. But folks I ask wonder why you'd order from computer when all you gotta do is drive to town and pay retail. 

So I'm thinking the 1-1/2" 52100 Rockwell 60 was a mistake. Frosty was right. The 1/2" would be fine. 

Upon dropping the 1-1/2" bearing from shoulder height to Trenton on the floor the bearing shot up and through the garage roof.  NowI gotta patch the roof.

Lol. Here's the spec sheets on 52100 for you. 

Using the heat treaters guide app. It's awesome for working with new alloys and even better.... It's FREE! 

1 hour ago, SReynolds said:

Upon dropping the 1-1/2" bearing from shoulder height to Trenton on the floor the bearing shot up and through the garage roof.  NowI gotta patch the roof.

The "F" on that bearing alloy stands for "Flubber." Makes good bearings but everything just keeps going faster so you don't see it used often or for very long.

Frosty The Lucky.

The letter "E" prefix means the material is made by Electric Arc furnace steelmaking processes. There are other steel making processes such as those which make steel directly from Iron Ore. That would be what's done at the integrated steel mill using a blast furnace.  Most steel today is produced by taking scrap and re melting it using an electric Arc furnace and so that "E" designates that the Steel has been made by that process. 

Patrick 

I had this fellow take a class of mine who works just to the North at Timken in Canton Ohio. he had given me all this steel making information I had forgotten about. Books and videos etc. Interesting stuff and I looked up that 52100 in one of the classification manuals.