stix Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 Just a quick one. First time use, so I'm not sure. It's slightly damp, so to be sure I'm drying it out. The crystals are like fine table (castor) sugar - which is similar to my KNO3. I'm wondering if it's easier to mill than KNO3 - ie. is it softer and easier to crush? If my KNO3 takes 6hrs in my mill....??? Obviously I'll work it out eventually via actual testing, but it would be interesting to know beforehand. btw. I'm surprised how heavy it is. Which poses another question. I usually ballmill 150grams of KNO3 which takes 6hrs (not very efficient I know) nevertheless, then do I go on weight or volume? Cheers.
stix Posted September 4, 2015 Author Posted September 4, 2015 Well consider the case closed. After around 2.5 hours it's now a fine powder, much like white flour, icing/confectioners sugar or talc - no need for further milling. Cheers.
gregh Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 I use a cheap blender for grinding individual chems like that. It doesn't nearly take 2.5 hours!
stix Posted September 5, 2015 Author Posted September 5, 2015 I use a cheap blender for grinding individual chems like that. It doesn't nearly take 2.5 hours! I use a 20 dollar coffee grinder. Yeah thanks guys. I have a coffee grinder too. My ballmill is approx. 1ltr capacity, small but perfect for what I do. Before I made the ballmill I used a coffee grinder to mill KNO3 for sugar rockets. It wasn't very consistent especially when making batches of 100grams or more. The particle size can really affect the viscosity of the r-candy when casting, and also the burn-rate of the fuel. For me consistency is very important because I like to experiment. If I'm changing the ratios of a few components, then I want to be sure that the ratios are responsible for the changes, and not the particle size of the components - if that makes sense. It's good to start off with consistently ground chems. I'm never in that much of a desperate rush to get a comp made. 2 to 6hrs of milling is no big deal. I often set up a timer so when I get home from work the job is done - no waste of time at all. Cheers.
stix Posted September 8, 2015 Author Posted September 8, 2015 Just to push the point (not that I like to ) but for the last 2.5 hrs I've been milling some Ba(NO3)2 Barium Nitrate. It's now a nice fine powder. My KNO3 takes much longer. The good thing is that I was able to relax, knock back a few beers and let the mill do it's work. I'm just opening a nice cold one now - cheers.
rogeryermaw Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Beer? Good lord man it's 7 am! Joking! (Yes I realize where you are) On a more serious note, barium salts are heavy and less likely to go airborne but mind that dust, nonetheless. To be affected by it can feel nasty. Can't wait to hear your green went as smoothly as the red!
stix Posted September 8, 2015 Author Posted September 8, 2015 Beer? Good lord man it's 7 am! Joking! (Yes I realize where you are) On a more serious note, barium salts are heavy and less likely to go airborne but mind that dust, nonetheless. To be affected by it can feel nasty. Can't wait to hear your green went as smoothly as the red! Yeah Roger, I was very concerned about it too. I thought I left one in the freezer and it almost turned into a "beer scare", but all good now. . I did some reading and was surprised that barium nitrate is quite toxic compared to strontium. I probably should be more careful. That red is a great red - It says "I'm red, and there ain't nothing you can deny about it!!". However, the red mix didn't go all that smoothly, although the end result has worked well, I wasn't happy with my production of it. 22% acetone is way too much, with my chems anyway. It was way too sloppy. I had to wait for about 1hr until it became usable. All the while I was kneading it as it was drying on the surface - crunchy bits mixed in, perhaps being re-dissolved? Not ideal, or the 'play dough' consistency I thought it might be. Needs work. I think that there is a "thread twist/overlap" happening here. Anyway, I'll just say that milling Strontium/Barium/Potassium Nitrate or other millable chems is a least a known point to start with. Cheers.
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