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When a loose ball bearing fails mid-project — seizing up a drawer slide, grinding in a pivot joint, or corroding inside a pump — the culprit is almost always substandard material or imprecise sizing. Engineers, machinists, hobbyists, and DIY builders who need reliable rolling elements turn to A2 stainless steel precision balls that hold their geometry under load and resist rust in damp or outdoor environments.
These precision balls are manufactured from A2 (AISI 304) stainless steel, offering a balanced combination of corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. Available in a continuous diameter range from 1 mm (approx. 0.039 in) up to 16 mm (approx. 0.630 in), with fractional inch sizes such as 3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 9/32", 3/8", and 1/2" also stocked. Quantities per order range from as few as 2 pieces up to 50,000 pieces, making them equally suited to prototype runs and production restocks.
Typical use cases include replacement rolling elements in ball bearings and linear guides, load-distributing balls in ball-screw assemblies, check-valve seats in fluid-control systems, decorative or functional balls in jewelry making and craft projects, and precision spacers in optical or scientific instruments. Long-tail search terms that describe these applications include "stainless steel ball bearing replacement balls", "A2 304 precision steel balls bulk", and "corrosion resistant metal balls for DIY projects".
Manufactured from AISI 304 / A2 grade stainless steel, delivering solid corrosion resistance in humid, wet, and mildly acidic environments without surface treatment.
Thirty-one distinct diameters — including metric and fractional inch sizes — cover the vast majority of standard bearing races, valve seats, and rolling-element applications.
Each ball is ground and polished to a consistent spherical form, minimising friction, vibration, and noise in rotating or sliding assemblies.
Order from as few as 2 pieces for a quick repair up to 50,000 pieces for production runs — bulk pricing scales with quantity so you only pay for what you need.
Tight diameter tolerances ensure each ball seats correctly in its race or socket, preventing premature wear, uneven load distribution, and assembly rework.
Used in mechanical engineering, fluid control, woodworking jigs, scientific instruments, jewelry, and craft applications — wherever a smooth, hard, round rolling element is required.
| Material | A2 Stainless Steel (AISI 304) |
|---|---|
| Diameter Range | 1 mm – 16 mm (incl. fractional inch sizes) |
| Available Diameters | 1, 1.5, 2, 2.381 (3/32"), 2.5, 3, 3.175 (1/8"), 3.5, 3.969 (5/32"), 4, 4.5, 4.763 (3/16"), 5, 5.5, 6, 6.35 (1/4"), 6.5, 7, 7.144 (9/32"), 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 (3/8"), 10, 11, 12, 12.7 (1/2"), 13, 14, 15, 16 mm |
| Surface Finish | Ground and polished |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good — suitable for damp and mildly corrosive environments |
| Hardness | See variant options |
| Grade / Tolerance | See variant options |
| Quantity per Pack | 2 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40 / 50 / 100 / 200 / 500 / 1000 / 2000 / 5000 / 10000 / 20000 / 50000 pcs (varies by diameter) |
| Weight per Unit | See variant options |
| Application | Ball bearings, linear guides, ball screws, check valves, instruments, crafts |
Measure the inner diameter of your bearing race or socket with a calliper. The ball diameter should match the race specification exactly — even a 0.1 mm difference can cause excessive play or binding. If you are replacing existing balls, measure one of the originals. For new designs, consult your bearing manufacturer's datasheet for the recommended ball diameter.
A2 (AISI 304) stainless steel provides solid mechanical strength suitable for light-to-medium load applications such as drawer slides, small pivot bearings, check valves, and instrument assemblies. For heavy industrial loads or high-speed precision bearings, a higher-grade chrome steel or ceramic ball may be more appropriate. Contact us to confirm suitability for your specific load and speed requirements.
A2 (304) stainless steel offers good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, fresh water, and mildly acidic or alkaline environments. It is not recommended for prolonged exposure to chloride-rich environments (e.g., salt water or swimming pool water) where A4 (316) stainless steel would be a better choice. For most indoor and outdoor DIY applications, A2 performs reliably without additional coating.
Yes. In addition to metric diameters, we stock several fractional inch sizes: 3/32" (2.381 mm), 1/8" (3.175 mm), 5/32" (3.969 mm), 3/16" (4.763 mm), 9/32" (7.144 mm), 3/8" (9.5 mm), and 1/2" (12.7 mm). Select the matching diameter from the variant dropdown above.
A2 (304) stainless steel is widely used in food-processing and light medical equipment due to its corrosion resistance and ease of cleaning. However, suitability depends on your specific regulatory requirements. Please contact us to confirm compliance with any applicable standards before use in regulated applications.
The minimum order quantity varies by diameter — starting from as few as 2 pieces for larger diameters (13 mm and above) and 200 pieces for the smallest sizes (1 mm and 1.5 mm). Bulk quantity options are available up to 50,000 pieces, and the per-unit price decreases significantly as quantity increases. Select your preferred quantity from the Amount(pcs) dropdown to see the corresponding price.
Use a digital calliper to measure the diameter of an existing ball from your assembly, or refer to the bearing manufacturer's part number and datasheet. Cross-reference the measured diameter with the available sizes listed in the Diameter dropdown. If you are unsure, order a small quantity first to confirm fit before placing a bulk order.
