I tried different stainless steel balls. The problem with them was that I got the wrong size and they didn't have enough bulk to be effective. (my mistake in choosing too small a ball bearing) These big balls look like the right size. You can feel them rattling in the bottle where the little ones get stuck in the settled pigment. I use them in "The Army Painter Warpaint" which is a bit difficult to mix properly without a bead in a bottle. help with arousal.