You're welcome Jesse. They are stainless balls. I suspect it's the quality of our water here - pouring boiling water onto the pump is ebough for the body to expand and the ball loses its grip on the seat. Another source of stainless springs is the schraeder valves in car tyres - best to get them from a tyre fitter's cast offs, rather than the cars parked nearby! JohnP ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jesse Livingston" <fernj1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 8:47 PM Subject: [modeleng] Re: Kettle Weeeel thankee John, I thought the idea sounded rather idiotic, but I have seen some idiotic inventions before so thought only the worst. We may have that sort of cordless kettle over here, but most everyone I know uses instant tea so no need of a kettle as we drink iced tea . What type balls do you use in your loco hand pumps that have to be loosened with hot water?. I use stainless steel balls and springs and have never had them stick or at least I don't remember it happening. At my age, one frequently forgets things, but my lovely wife does not let me forget the important things.. Oh in case someone out there does not know where to get stainless springs in small sizes, the springs used in hand sprayers (window cleaner, etc) are almost always stainless since they have to live in a chemical environment. Jesse in coolish W. Tennessee Jesse, It's that seperation by a common language again! Whilst cordless tools are battery powered, cordless kettles in the UK are mains powered. It's just that the kettle sits on a base which has an easy connect/disconnect plug and socket. The power cord goes into the base. The advantage is that you don't have to trail the lead around when you boil a kettle of water to free off stuck balls in the loco hand pump! JohnP MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line. -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.5/1149 - Release Date: 24/11/2007 10:06 MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.