Quoted from Sonic:Since we are in the business of magnetism - I wanted to take a moment to talk a little about magnetism and balls...lots of information around this topic - and a lot more misinformation...
Simply stated Ball Baron's Polaris balls should prove more resistant to magnetism than anything else I've seen -so far (and that can change).
I use the word resistant because invariably - depending on the magnetic sources in the pin - balls can/will become magnetized - thus demagnetizing them or replacing them will always be a facet of maintenance. Now I say this because data/specs are key...the reality is that both BC Precision and Ball Baron's 'chromium, high-sheen, ninja' balls are 52100 steel - that's it - there is nothing more to differentiate other than grade of shine....however, BC Precisions 'carbon' balls are 1010 it would seem...actually 1010 has very little carbon compared to 52100. And this leads to the discussion of high carbon - there is more carbon (and other less magnetic metals) in 52100 than 1010...so high carbon can be a misnomer as 52100 is high carbon. But the Polaris is different....it is CA-2 - now that probably can't obtain the sheen of 52100 BUT it has just as much carbon and even more chromium and molybdenum in it than 52100 - making it compositionally less magnetic. So what's the difference. Here is where it comes down to hardness - well, both are around mid-60's on the Rockwell scale...so that's similar...but where the real difference is is the hardening process....the 52100 is hardened all the way through...the CA-2 is surface hardened. This leaves the core of the Polaris 'soft' with big cubic structure making it less apt to stay magnetic - but it is not magnetic proof.
The takeaway is knowing how the pinballs were hardened and the AISI or similar identification of steel - without that information - high carbon or magnetic resistance and all of that are just words - you have to look at the data.
So just some thoughts, I'm sure there are some metallurgists out there or similar that will dispute this and the debate will rage on forever - but that's how I approach my pinballs.....look at the data - then make the decision. In the end they are just pinballs - and they all work in our pins....
Matt
M&M Creations
Maybe a little "older" topic, but I wanted to remind some older posts for those considering Chrome vs. Carbon that there is a bigger trade-off between Carbons and Chrome, other than shininess. Carbon balls are heavier than Chrome (chromes are 2.8 oz ~= 80 grams and carbons are 2.9 oz ~= 81 grams.) It may not look much, but I found this game becomes significantly slower with carbon, IMHO. After a couple of months playing with original chromes and getting some decent high scores, I tried a set of Polaris and my game went completely downhill. The right ramp became very difficult, the left ramp impossible, very hard to hit a clean building shot, ufo bumper sending balls down out lanes, etc. Very frustrating... All my shots were way off in aim and strength. I'd have to recalibrate myself and possibly the flipper power to make this a fun game again. After a good dozen or so games I realized I prefer the faster game with lighter chrome balls and switched back to chrome. I'll probably be buying bulk chrome and change them on a schedule. If new balls will become more frequent regular maintenance, like waxing or putting gas in the car, so be it... The more important thing is to have fun with the game and play the way you like it.