Source of small floating balls?

[tkeithlu]

I have some sight gauges that are difficult to see at any distance. I'd like to add a bright colored floating ball to each so I could see the fluid level at a glance. The plastic beads I've tried are too dense to float on water (density 1.0) or light oil (density 0.7). I need then to be no more than 1/4"/6mm in diameter.

Does anyone know a source? Thanks.

[marciaanddave]

Could you use the balls from a battery hydrometer?

[SailRN]

Maybe the little orange balls used on fishing lines? Not sure of the size but they are small, orange for good visibility, and I see them floating. Or maybe the polystyrene beads out of a bean bag chair?

[Nord Sal]

Originally Posted by marciaanddave

Could you use the balls from a battery hydrometer?

Those will sink in freshwater.

[Nord Sal]

Maybe these?

https://www.yakimabait.com/products/lil-corky/

size 14 = 1/4" dia.
size 12 = 5/16" dia.
size 10 = 3/8" dia.
size 8 = 1/2 " dia.

[SailRN]

I was thinking of these round beads, called fishing beads:







Sizes Available:
3 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm

Colors Available:
Transparent - Cerise (Salmon Egg), Chartreuse, Orange, Blue,
Green, Ruby, and Yellow
Opaque - Chartreuse, Neon Pink, Glow, Black, and White


Be sure the size you get not only fits in the sight gauge, but also the ends of the sight gauge has restrictions that prevent the bead from leaving the gauge and getting where you don't want it.

[MikeHoncho]

how about adding dye to the water?

[Cheechako]

Be careful the balls you get are not compressed foam. Fuel will melt it into goo.

[Oeanda]

Yep- the beads we use as spacers in fishing lures will work well. These ones in my hand are about a quarter inch but I’ve got all sizes somewhere in this mess. They float well and are very hard and tough.

[Knotical]

Orange ping pong balls.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by Oeanda

Attachment 257357


Yep- the beads we use as spacers in fishing lures will work well. These ones in my hand are about a quarter inch but I’ve got all sizes somewhere in this mess. They float well and are very hard and tough.

Looks good. The trick would be to test them with gasoline and diesel for floating and any swelling/degradation.

[Oeanda]

In the name of science, I can easily do that later this evening.

[SailRN]

Originally Posted by Oeanda

In the name of science, I can easily do that later this evening.

Well, the water gauge seems to be solved.

If they don't float in gasoline, diesel, or whatever 0.7 specific gravity light oil the OP needs to measure, and the oil doesn't degrade them, then perhaps by drilling holes in the bead to entrap air (using one drill entry point at the existing holes but at various angles to make voids within the bead) and using the plastic shavings melted and used to make a thin patch over the holes, the buoyancy of the bead increased might be enough.

Or if a colored background could be positioned behind the sight gauge that makes a sharp contrast with the oil...

[Bowdrie]

Let's see, a 1/4in max dia.
Might be tempted to just take a little piece of 3/16ths dowel ~3/4in long and using a pin stuck in one end to dip it in epoxy.
Hang on close pin to dry.
Should be visible thru the sight glass tube.

[tkeithlu]

Wow! That's a wonderful discussion. Thanks for all the good ideas. I'll see what a local tackle shop has to offer and test them in gasoline. If they'll float in SD .57 gasoline and not disolve, they'll do any job I have or can come up with in the future. If not, the painted dowels will be my next try.