b4utoo Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I guess I wear blinders. There's a thrift store less than 2 miles from me. Never knew it. Until over a year later lol Found these there with a set of tongs... Any idea of what they were...roughly 2" and 3.5" size solid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 They could be bearings. Test them by doing a reverse rebound test. (No, not dropping an anvil on the ball!) ...you know what I mean. Can we see a pic of the tongs??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beech Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Mill balls as mentioned in many other threads like http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/19122-steel-balls-pulverizing-mill/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoenirson Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 An armourer who taught me, used to use those and larger ones for dishing. His method was to weld them to posts, sometimes offset for plenishing in odd locations. 2 of them welded near each other allowed a valley for dishing into for heavy fluting, for things like the later period knee fans that protect the sides and tendon of the joint. He would also weld them to hammers for added momentum. That also helped with inside odd spot where a heavy short arc of swing was the only way to dish. I still use a large partial 8" ball welded to a post for plenishing and heavy dishing over wooden stump. So ya....I would use them for forms for doing customized sheet metal work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Comtois Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Are they cast? It looks like a casting seem on the medium sized one at 17 inches and the small one at 12 inches. The big one at 14 looks like it has a hole right at the tape measure, like it's hollow. Regardless, that's a cool find. I'm thinking eyeballs for critter sculptures, fruit or seed pods (grapes, berries), dishing tools. Could you cut one in half, weld it to either end of a chunk of steel, harden it and make a rounding hammer head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 if you have a welder you could make some wicked chain maces.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Quade Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 If you are a DnD player or know some you can use a friend and a flatter and turn them into D20's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Weld a handle on one of the smaller ones to make a large-radius ball peen hammer. Getting fancier, drill a large diameter hole in it and make a wooden handle to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Welded to the top of a shank, preferably square in section, gives you a round topped stake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoenirson Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Ball topped stake is what I JUST put together with this steel ball. The ball sits at 34" high on the stand for planishing and forming, and when used as hammer leaves lots of pipe as a handle when used on low dishing stump. This one is a 5" diameter ball. It acts like a mild steel in welding, not like a cast ball at all. Seller claimed it was a very old cannon ball. Total weight was 24lbs which is excellent, as I have a lighter 9" diameter factory knuckle (17lbs) for larger dished pieces like helmet tops. I find the heavier the weight the less work I have to do. Heavy dishing ball does all the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Well 5.17 would fit an 18 pounder; unfortunately you generally want the cannon ball to shatter and do more damage and so cast iron works better than steel (and was MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper back when they were using round shot in cannon) Sellers seem to always claim that they are cannon balls even when their size wouldn't fit any cannon used in the last 200 years...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoenirson Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Ah, yes. Suspicion confirmed. Thank you. Better for my use anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 These are best used to practice your packaging skills. Put a couple in a flat rate box. I will let you know how you did the moment I receive them. Robert Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 they're not bigger enough for a combat zone, but the quantity might offset that .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommytaptap Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Set into plates beneath the legs of whatever you wish to move; they would make the best sets of roller castors you will ever see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Newton's Cradle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommytaptap Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 30 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: Newton's Cradle! Halleluhah brother! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will52100 Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10m3zkXxTOg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fjHgZH-dnM I got a lot of ideas from this guy, don't speak Russian, but a pic is worth a thousand words. I primarily use it with a ring to make candle stick cups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammerfall Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Hammermill balls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 have a few of them, ball bearings up to 4" / 100mm, plain mild balls up to 8" / 200mm and use them to make stake tools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heelerau Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 They are mill balls, I have some to and am pleased to have looked at this thread. I will mount at least one of mine on a stake so it will fit my anvil hardy hole/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setlab Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Where is a good place to buy some various sizes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 well I am on the wrong continent for you, shipping would cost a lot unless you knew someone in the US military here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Well I currently have 2 100# dock weights. They have a steel hook coming out of them and made from cast iron. US$30 each Only problem is that they are pickup only... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 9 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: Only problem is that they are pickup only... That's what the hook is for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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