Magnetic 316 ball bearings ??

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pcatterall

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Just bought some allegedly 316 8mm ball bearings ( just the balls). They were described as "316 stainless non magnetic"
They are for my Raymarine wheel steering.

They have arrived and I find that they are magnetic. They are no where near as 'magnetic' as ordinary steel balls but I find that the original balls had no magnetism at all. As a rough measure one of the new bearings is unable to support the weight of another single bearing whereas one of the steel bearings can lift a packet of 20 bearings.

I guess that the only item that would be affected by 'magnetic' bearings would be the compass ( some 3 feet away) but believe that these 'low magnetic' bearings would have no significant affect.

Is my guess reasonable or should I be trying to source 'absolute zero' magnetic material?
 
300 series stainless steel can acquire quasi magnetism as a result of cold work, which may well be involved in the production process. Presumably you could demagnetise them using a de-Gaussing process. There are many devices for this on EBay from £2.
 
vyv_cox said:
300 series stainless steel can acquire quasi magnetism as a result of cold work, which may well be involved in the production process. Presumably you could demagnetise them using a de-Gaussing process. There are many devices for this on EBay from £2.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Vyv. I hadn't heard of those. They look like a handy bit of kit - but perhaps more reliable for magnetizing than de-magnetizing according to this demo ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9XxJ1D5jsQ

(I think I could easily waste half a day watching his Youtube videos)
 
vyv_cox said:
300 series stainless steel can acquire quasi magnetism as a result of cold work, which may well be involved in the production process. Presumably you could demagnetise them using a de-Gaussing process. There are many devices for this on EBay from £2.
Click to expand...

Cheers vyv
Very useful tool for under a pound! I always find my screwdrivers are magnetic when not needed and non magnetic when magnetism is useful so now I can make as required! ( as well as doing the bearings)
 
That's brilliant !

Now if I'm late for an appointment or answering the phone I'll just say " sorry I was just de-guassing my ball bearings " and it'll be politely glossed over. :)
 
Seajet said:
That's brilliant !

Now if I'm late for an appointment or answering the phone I'll just say " sorry I was just de-guassing my ball bearings " and it'll be politely glossed over. :)
Click to expand...

Many years ago I was at tech college. One morning one of my fellow students arrived late with the words "sorry I'm late, I was helping to catch a giraffe".
 
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