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ball mill troubles.


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Posted

my ball mill is realy just a rock tumbler that my parents gave me when i was alot younger. It is farely reliable, but lately all of my chemmicals just stick to the walls after about 2 minutes of milling. All of the chemicals are compleetly dry so it isnt a moisture issure.Over the years the plastic case that the chemicals are milled in has become scratchd and is no longer smoot. i dont know if this is the cause, but i felt i should mention it. if you think this is the reason, or if somthing els might be it, please post with a reason and a posible solution.

 

Note: the media i use is eather nickels (excuse the spelling) or marbles, somethimes both.

 

Thanks!

Posted

I hope that you don't mill BP with nickles and marbles...

 

Anyways I had the same problem with my BP. I also thought that my powder was completely dry but it wasn't.

 

Try:

 

1) Put your powder on a plate and put it in the sun for about 15-25 minutes. Weigh the powder before and then check again after the time is up and see if there is a difference in the wieght. If there is then there was some moisture in the powder.

 

2)Get a new ball mill. Make one, buy one, or if you can just replace the barrel.

Posted
my new scale should come in today (500g with .01g acuracy) ill try what you said. when you said that i shouldnt use nickles and marbles, what should i use as a substitute for expensive media sold online? Finaly, where can i get plans for a new ball mill?
Posted

I use a mix between a cut up steal rod, some axle ball type deals, and some lead egg weights. They work pretty good.

And I got a question, does bigger mean better in media?

Posted

wheight is good, but lots of small objects is important because they make more contact points between them.

 

I am begining to believe my troubles are from the scratched up inside of my drum. It is plastick and i was wondering if anyone knew of anyway to fix it.

Posted

Spray paint maybe or pvc glue, making a new drum. Polyurethane I would think if you got it in the spray can and used that.

And your saying that if say I used bb's that that would work better for grinding. I used bb's once and the bp stuck to them as it milled.

Posted
no not bbs, thats to extreem. im just sayint it gets to a point where huge balls dont help. 7 huge balls that fill up your mill may be heavy, but have only a few contact points, so you have to find the perfect mesure of size and wheight.
Posted
i just finished painting it with polyurethane, and its drying. Im probubly going to do several layers, but it looks like it could do the trick. Thanks!!!
Posted
I was trying to figure out what to do to add a new layer. Sounds like a good idea.
Posted
i just finished painting it with polyurethane, and its drying. Im probubly going to do several layers, but it looks like it could do the trick. Thanks!!!

He he he my idea. I'm sorry its just it had to say that but make sure it dries real good b/c it might be a little sticky and you think its dry so it will take a couple days. Just so you know and I don't leave you in the dark.

Posted
thanks you just saved me like 100 bucks for a new one.
Posted

You can get ball mills on ebay for about $30, they are sold as "rock" or "rotary" tumblers.

Some people say they aren't as good as a true ball mill, but I've had no problems with mine.

Posted
Ah man dude I feel sorry for you did you get it before or after the sale b/c there was a sale and they were as much as the single barrel one I have one just like that.
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