# How to tell a ceramic konkave from a normal konkave?
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247
**Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance
**Created:** [October 19, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247 "2012-10-19T15:59:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/1 "2012-10-19T15:59:45Z")
I have a konkave bearing that I was told was ceramic when I got it. I have no way to tell if it is a true ceramic or just a konkave. The shields are off. Is there any test to do that will show me if it is ceramic or not?
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### Author:  [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/2 "2012-10-19T16:49:16Z")
Since the shields are off look at the bearings themselves. I believe ceramics are generally white or dull gray. A steel ball will be shiny bright.
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### Author:  [@Jagmcool](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Jagmcool)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/3 "2012-10-19T16:53:29Z")
Throw it and see if it sounds ceramic. DONT LUBE UNTIL YOU KNOW
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/4 "2012-10-19T16:58:18Z")
How do I knowif it “sounds ceramic”? Also I have heard different rumors about lubing a ceramic… What exactly happens?
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### Author:  [@fjh123](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fjh123)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/5 "2012-10-19T18:14:56Z")
Ceramic balls will not conduct electricity from the inner to outer race. So if you’re tricky you can check with a flashlight and a paper clip…
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### Author:  [@BanjoSpins](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/BanjoSpins)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/6 "2012-10-19T18:24:36Z")
How about a magnet. It seems to me this would work better than the paper clip/flashlight approach.
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/7 "2012-10-19T18:27:27Z")
Please tell m how to do the paper clip and flashlight? Or the magnet method?
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### Author:  [@fjh123](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fjh123)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/8 "2012-10-19T18:35:42Z")
> [@BanjoSpins](#):
>
> How about a magnet. It seems to me this would work better than the paper clip/flashlight approach.
Very bad idea…
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/9 "2012-10-19T18:41:57Z")
Please tell me how it is done
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### Author:  [@BanjoSpins](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/BanjoSpins)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/10 "2012-10-19T18:46:06Z")
> [@fjh123](#):
>
> > [@BanjoSpins](#):
> >
> > How about a magnet. It seems to me this would work better than the paper clip/flashlight approach.
>
> Very bad idea…
Why?
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/11 "2012-10-19T18:49:33Z")
So I can test it out…
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### Author:  [@BanjoSpins](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/BanjoSpins)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/12 "2012-10-19T18:54:47Z")
no, no jullang. I didn’t mean why to your “Please tell me how is is done”. That would be rude of me. My why was to why it is a bad idea to check steel against ceramic bearings with a magnet.
Your’s was a very appropriate request. Sorry for the confusion there.
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/13 "2012-10-19T18:57:26Z")
Oh we’ll that makes more sense. But how do you do both ways? Instructions pleas?
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### Author:  [@fjh123](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fjh123)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/14 "2012-10-19T19:38:09Z")
You just need to complete the circuit. You can just use a battery and a light bulb, hold one end of a wire or bent paperclip to the negative end if the battery and put the outer rim of the bearing to the positive bump and touch the other end of the wire to the inner race and see if it lights up…stick the light bulb in the circuit anywhere you want
Do the magnet thing if you just want to mess up your bearing…
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### Author:  [@fjh123](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fjh123)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/15 "2012-10-19T19:52:38Z")
I use two little batteries and a LED like this…
bad pix…
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/16 "2012-10-19T20:15:51Z")
Oh I get it thanks. I’ll try it out wen I get home. So if its ceramic the bulb will light up?
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### Author:  [@fjh123](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fjh123)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/17 "2012-10-19T20:34:13Z")
> [@juliang22](#):
>
> Oh I get it thanks. I’ll try it out wen I get home. So if its ceramic the bulb will light up?
No ceramic will not, I put a steel bearing in for effect, ceramic does not conduct electricity, that’s why power line insulators are made of ceramic
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/18 "2012-10-19T20:43:11Z")
So if it lights up its steel and if it doesn’t its ceramic?
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### Author:  [@juliang22](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/juliang22)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/19 "2012-10-19T22:03:07Z")
just tried it out and the light bulb lit up. does this mean its steel or ceramic?
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### Author:  [@888alltheway](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/888alltheway)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-tell-a-ceramic-konkave-from-a-normal-konkave/44247/20 "2012-10-19T22:05:19Z")
Steel, or the bearing race is touching both sides.
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