Please help me find some balls.

Geewhizz on 01/02/2014 - 13:04

I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find some plastic balls, around 85 mm for our first flush diverters.

Instead of paying a minimum of $25 for the first flushes, we made them ourselves using pvc downpipe, a threaded cap, a tap, and a couple of other bits and pieces, for a total of less than $7 each. We used ball pit balls and they worked fine for a year or so, but are a little the worse for wear, so we need something a bit sturdier.

The obvious thing would be to buy balls specifically made for first flushes, but have been unable to find any.

Have tried numerous toy stores and the local plumbing supplies stores, without much luck. Can anyone offer any suggestions as to where we might find some please?

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2014 - 13:22

    have you tried going to one of those indoor play grounds and just pinch one from the pit?

    • berger on 01/02/2014 - 13:29

      He mentioned that in his post..

  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2014 - 13:30

    another solution is you find a ball close to its size. Buy this product from bunnings its like a plastic epoxy paint to waterproof things like electronics.
    dip the ball in and let it dry between coats til you get the right size.

    • Geewhizz on 01/02/2014 - 13:46

      The size is not too critical. The only real condition is that it needs to fit and float freely within a 90mm round downpipe.

      My problem has been that I simply can't find ANY plastic balls whatsoever, apart from the abovementioned ball pit ones that are too soft. I neglected to mention in my post that this is for our drinking water supply, so I'd be hesitant to apply any sort of coating.

  • berger on 01/02/2014 - 14:35
    +1

    Try an art & craft shop? Can you use polystyrene?

    • Geewhizz on 02/02/2014 - 09:11

      Thanks for the suggestion. We had already considered that, and they do come in lots of sizes. However, we figured it would be a pain to keep clean, so might tend to grow lots of algae, and whatever we use would tend to get buffeted a bit as the pipe comes close to filling, so polystyrene might tend to break up a bit.

  • NancyCat on 01/02/2014 - 15:16

    100 multi-coloured 8cm diameter air filled Fun Ballz from ToysRUs $20 (+ postage) for that price you can just replace it more often?

    http://www.toysrus.com.au/ball-pits-and-tents/fun-ballz-bag-…

  • Food on 01/02/2014 - 16:49
    +1

    Thought I might have needed to report post to mods by the looks of the title…

    • YTW on 01/02/2014 - 19:55
      +1

      Haha…I thought they needed some courage to stand up to someone…

  • YTW on 01/02/2014 - 19:55
    +1

    The quality of those kids balls varies wildly. A lot are soft and crap but some are much sturdier. I'd be checking a few different ones out as they sound the closest to what you need. Perhaps going along to an indoor play centre and checking theirs out and offering them a couple of dollars for one may be an option. They tend to have fairly tough ones to deal with the abuse from all the kids.

    • Geewhizz on 02/02/2014 - 09:06
      +1

      Yes, now that you mention it, those that the play cafe that WAS here had were far sturdier. Will definitely follow this up though. Thanks.

      The elcheapo ones are simply too flimsy - anything you use tends to get beaten up a bit when it gets buffeted around near the top, which also rules out polystyrene, because it would tend to break up.

  • p1 ama on 01/02/2014 - 21:56

    I'm sorry, but I laughed so hard when I read the title.

    • nobro25 on 02/02/2014 - 22:38

      On the contrary, I though he was trying to look for help (i.e. The pun for "looking for balls" = searching to regain his confidence). I that was the case I might be able to refer you to a therapist. But it seems this isn't the case.

  • discountmonkey on 02/02/2014 - 08:51

    What about a modified crab pot float? BCF sell them here - a walk through a local tackle shop may yield a more appropriate size.

    • Geewhizz on 02/02/2014 - 09:08

      Polystyrene would not really be suitable, because it would tend to break up a bit, and it does need to seal so these with the hole in the middle might be a bit problematic, but I suspect there would have to be some sort of fishing float that would suit the purpose. Thanks for the suggestion.

  • chichi on 02/02/2014 - 10:47

    What about those plastic golf practice balls with the holes in them? Like this
    http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productI…

    http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productI…

    although I'm thinking they may be too small?

    • Geewhizz on 02/02/2014 - 15:21

      They are a bit, but thanks muchly for taking the time to reply.

      The way the ball in a first flush works though, is once the pipe that is the first flush is full, the ball floats to the top and blocks the entrance to it, sending clean water through to the tank, but keeping dirt and debris in the bottom of the pipe, to be flushed out later. As such, the holes would prevent it from doing its job.

      • Speckled Jim on 03/02/2014 - 12:27

        You may be looking at this the wrong way around. Instead of finding a ball for the ID of the PVC pipe, I'd change the pipe and fittings to suit the best type of ball.

        My opinion on the toughest ball for this application?
        A squash ball :)

        • Geewhizz on 03/02/2014 - 16:50

          Instead of finding a ball for the ID of the PVC pipe, I'd change the pipe and fittings to suit the best type of ball.

          Can't be done. It has to use standard PVC downpipe, to fit in with the guttering.

        • Speckled Jim on 04/02/2014 - 12:15
          +1

          Aesthetics?

          If not, I'd use an 90-40mm reducer like this for a squash ball (39.5 - 40.5mm, find a smaller one).

          Or cut the same reducer at 60mm for a raquetball ball (57mm).

          They're both tough as nails, inexpensive and widely available.

        • Geewhizz on 05/02/2014 - 12:50

          There actually is a reducer of some sort inside, but we don't remember what we used …. shall have to get an inspection camera in there to see how big the hole actually is.

  • Ontoit on 02/02/2014 - 18:54
    +1

    Rebel sports?
    http://www.rebelsport.com.au/Product/Spalding-Hi-Bounce-Look…
    Not exactly sure of the size but from memory between 3"-4".

    Otherwise perhaps look at supermarkets and see if they have those machines with those high bouncy balls for $2?

    Hope you find your balls!

  • Miss Dior on 03/02/2014 - 12:21
    +1

    I would write to Josh Byrne who presents for Gardening Australia and writes for Organic Gardener. He did a segment on this some time ago and should have some good advice. He also has a book on small space organics that covers much of this type of info - cheapest at Big W. Alternatively the editor of Organic Gardener magazine, Steve Payne is very helpful.

    Organic Gardener site:
    http://www.organicgardener.com.au/category/521

    Contact us page:
    http://www.organicgardener.com.au/contact-us

    Josh's personal site is:
    http://joshbyrne.com.au/

    His book:
    http://joshbyrne.com.au/shop/

    Hope this is helpful.

  • cannedhams on 03/02/2014 - 15:04

    I would try and find a ceramic ball that could fit. They have these in various sizes. Ceramic wont perish and it will probably hold its own against any buffeting, I doubt it would ever get smashed as the water in the flush diverter would let it down gently.

    Something like this.

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/251397337615?hlpht=true&ops=…

  • coolhead on 03/02/2014 - 15:11

    thank goodness its a totally differnet topic.. for once i thot maybe someone is not able to propose someone or do something else and needs some balls… huufff….

  • Geewhizz on 05/02/2014 - 12:48

    Found same sort of thing on chuck-out at Coles for 25 cents. :)

    The balls are a perfect size. I'll superglue the two halves and see how they go. At worst I guess they might just be a bit too rigid, or the superglue might fail …… will have to wait until it rains and see.

    Thanks for all the fantastic suggestions. Will probably still be looking for something more suitable, but they may do the job well in the meantime.

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