Hollow Stainless Steel Balls Diameter 19 mm to 3000 mm
Hollow stainless steel balls pressed from AISI 304 or AISI 316 sheet and seam welded into a closed sphere. Wall thickness ranges from 1 mm to 6 mm and diameters from 19 mm to 3000 mm, so the same part serves as a handrail finial, a float in a process tank, or a three metre gazing sphere in a park. Because the ball is hollow rather than cast, a two metre sphere stays light enough for two people and a trolley to place, and the mounting boss can be welded exactly where your drawing needs it.
Key Benefits
- Hollow construction keeps large diameters light enough to hoist and set without heavy plant
- Mirror polished 304 and 316 hold their reflection outdoors without repainting
- Wall thickness selectable from 1 mm to 6 mm so cost follows the load case not a fixed catalogue
- Drilled, tapped and pedestal welded before polishing so no site fabrication is needed
- Vacuum metallising, electroplating and candy colour spray give colour without a painted look
- Diameters from 19 mm to 3000 mm come from one supplier so a whole handrail run matches
Problems It Solves
- Cast or solid spheres get too heavy to install once you pass about half a metre
- Painted mild steel spheres rust at the seam and need repainting every few seasons
- Buying spheres in several diameters from several suppliers gives visibly different polish
- Site drilling a finished mirror sphere scratches the surface and voids the finish
- Small suppliers cannot press anything above one metre so large schemes stall
Application Scenarios
Gazing spheres and focal points in private gardens and public parks
Sphere finials and infill balls on stainless steel balustrades and handrails
Floating balls in tanks and water treatment basins where a sealed steel float is required
Reflective spheres in hotel lobbies, atriums and retail concourses
Cluster installations where dozens of spheres in graded diameters form one artwork
Water features where the sphere sits in or above a pool and carries a spill of water
Who It Is For
- Landscape architects specifying a reflective focal element in a planting scheme
- Balustrade and metalwork contractors needing matched sphere sizes across a project
- Public art fabricators subcontracting the sphere while they build the base
- Garden centres and outdoor decor importers buying graded diameters by the container
- Process equipment builders who need a sealed stainless float rather than a plastic one
Technical Features
- Two hemispheres stamped on a press, then seam welded and ground back to an invisible joint
- AISI 304 for general outdoor work and AISI 316 for coastal and pool chemistry exposure
- Carbon steel available where the ball is painted or used inside a closed system
- Metric and unified thread holes tapped to your drawing before final polish
- Pedestals, spigots and base plates welded on so the sphere arrives ready to bolt down
- Mirror, brushed and matt finishes, plus transparent candy colours over a metallised base
Specifications and Materials
| Material | AISI 304 or AISI 316 stainless steel, carbon steel on request |
|---|---|
| Diameter Range | 19 mm to 3000 mm |
| Wall Thickness | 1 mm to 6 mm |
| Forming Method | Stamping press formed hemispheres, seam welded |
| Standard Finish | Mirror polished |
| Optional Finishes | Vacuum metallising, electroplating, transparent or matt candy colour spray |
| Secondary Operations | Drilling, metric and unified thread tapping, pedestal welding |
| Lead Time | 20 to 30 days after deposit received |
| Packing | Soft foam plastic inside, strong wooden or iron case outside |
| Place of Origin | Shenzhen, China |
| Alternative Material | Carbon steel on request |
| Size Range | 19mm to 3000mm |
| Optional Finish | Electroplating and colour coating |
Materials
- AISI 304 stainless steel, the default for garden, park and interior spheres
- AISI 316 stainless steel, specified near the coast, near pools and near de-icing salt
- Carbon steel, used where the ball is fully coated or sits inside a closed assembly
Customization
- Any diameter between 19 mm and 3000 mm, not only the sizes shown
- Wall thickness chosen for the load case rather than a fixed default
- Thread holes, blind holes and drain holes positioned to your drawing
- Welded pedestal, spigot, flange or base plate for the fixing you already have
- Colour matched candy finishes and two tone spheres
- Graded sets where every sphere in a run shares the same polish batch
How It Is Made
- Step 1Sheet cut and blanked to the diameter and thickness on the order
- Step 2Hemispheres stamping press formed
- Step 3Halves fitted and seam welded into a closed sphere
- Step 4Weld ground and blended until the joint no longer reads in reflection
- Step 5Holes drilled and threads tapped, pedestal or base plate welded on
- Step 6Mirror polished through progressive grits, or brushed or matt finished
- Step 7Optional vacuum metallising, electroplating or candy colour spray
- Step 8Protective film applied, foam wrapped and cased
Quality Control and Use
Quality Control
- Seam checked in reflected light because a mirror finish shows any flat spot on the weld
- Diameter and wall thickness checked against the order before polishing starts
- Thread holes gauged for pitch and depth after tapping
- Finished spheres kept under protective film until they are packed
- Photographs of the finished batch sent for approval before the balance is invoiced
Use Guide
- Give the diameter, wall thickness, finish and fixing type when you ask for a price
- Send the base or plinth detail so the pedestal is welded in the right place
- Specify 316 if the sphere sits within a few hundred metres of salt water
- Leave the protective film on until the sphere is bolted down and the site is clean
- Wash with clean water and a soft cloth, never a wire brush or a chloride cleaner
Compared With The Alternatives
| Alternative | How this product compares |
|---|---|
| Cast or solid steel spheres | Much lighter for the same diameter, so installation needs less lifting plant, but a hollow ball is not a load bearing element |
| Painted mild steel spheres | No repainting cycle and no seam rust, at a higher first cost |
| GRP or acrylic spheres | Real specular reflection and no yellowing outdoors, but heavier and slower to produce |
| Stainless steel hemispheres | A closed sphere reads as a complete form, while a hemisphere is cheaper when it sits against a wall or floor |
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View DetailsGuides That Help You Specify This
AISI 304 vs 316 Stainless Steel for Outdoor Sculpture
When 304 is enough, when 316 earns the extra cost, and why chloride rather than rain is what actually attacks a polished surface.
How to Choose Wall Thickness for a Stainless Steel Sphere
What 1 mm, 2 mm and 6 mm walls actually change, and why thickness is a handling decision more than a strength one.
Questions About Hollow Stainless Steel Balls Diameter 19 mm to 3000 mm
What is the largest diameter you can make?
3000 mm on the standard press tooling. Above 19 mm there is no fixed step, so an intermediate diameter costs the same as a round number.
How long does an order take?
20 to 30 days after the deposit is received. Large mixed diameter orders that need several polish batches sit at the top of that range.
Should I use 304 or 316?
304 is fine for inland gardens, parks and interiors. Choose 316 for coastal sites, pool surrounds and anywhere de-icing salt is used.
Can you drill and tap the ball before it is polished?
Yes. Send the hole positions with the order. Drilling a finished mirror sphere on site scratches the surface, so all holes are made before final polish.
How are the spheres packed for sea freight?
Soft foam plastic against the surface, then a strong wooden or iron case. Large spheres are cradled on a wooden stand inside the case.
What are the payment terms?
T/T with 50% deposit and 50% balance before shipping. Photographs of the finished batch are sent before the balance is invoiced.
Get a Price on Hollow Stainless Steel Balls Diameter 19 mm to 3000 mm
Send the size, finish and fixing you need and we will come back with a price and a lead time for Hollow Stainless Steel Balls Diameter 19 mm to 3000 mm.