poisonkiller Posted February 21, 2008 Posted February 21, 2008 Hi! I'm back after being away from pyro for a while. Recently I've been wondering, if there is a good alternative for ball mill. The reason I need an alternative, is because I can't afford to order a ball mill (saving money for chemicals). I would build one for myself, but I can't (no motor, a limited amount of money, even if I could get one, I wouldn't get it to work correctly anyway), maybe I could buy a rock tumbler, but there aren't any in our stores. The only thing I have is a coffee grinder. I need a good alternative, so I could make some decent BP (believe me or not, I haven't seen good BP in my life, once made some, failed miserably).Any good ideas?
Mumbles Posted February 21, 2008 Posted February 21, 2008 A rock tumbler should work fine. Many here use them, They're not as efficient, but they get the job done. As far as a "good" alternative, there really are none. In no way shape or form should you use the coffee grinder to grind live materials. Unless you have a wheel mill, or whatever they are using at the military plant in Indiana, all other methods will likely yield inferior results.
Arthur Posted February 21, 2008 Posted February 21, 2008 There is no economy option! A rock tumbler is a low duty ball mill and many (most?) people find them perfectly satisfactory. Just load the barrel with it's load weight of lead balls (it will not look full!) and add a little material to mill. From experience a cheap rock tumbler is cheaper than a DIY ball mill. BUT you can make the mill to suit your needs, if you have the skill tools and time.
zwdog922 Posted February 21, 2008 Posted February 21, 2008 I use a rock tumbler and it seems 2 work fine
FREAKYDUTCHMEN Posted February 21, 2008 Posted February 21, 2008 My rock tumbler works even better than my old ballmill.
poisonkiller Posted February 22, 2008 Author Posted February 22, 2008 Then rock tumbler it is. There's just one problem, I can't buy it, because no store is selling it. Does anyone know a good rock tumbler which costs ~10-20$ and can be shipped international?
TheSidewinder Posted February 22, 2008 Posted February 22, 2008 I don't think you'll find one that cheap. Maybe $50.... on sale at Harbor Freight. No idea if they ship internationally, but that would be pricey too.
Draco_Americanus Posted February 22, 2008 Posted February 22, 2008 try e-bay for a cheap ball mill, one warning about the Harbor Freight ball mill and all the red color or other cheapies is they will eat belts like they are going out of syle, I modifyed my Harbor Freight mill to use a small polyester reenforced V-beltand its done well ever since, lortone makes a few good rock rumblers, I have a QT6 and it's built well, does not eat belts but it was not cheap
poisonkiller Posted February 23, 2008 Author Posted February 23, 2008 Okay, I got my ball mill problem out of the way. I'm getting 2.7kg of lead in about 2 weeks (for media), but can I use tin instead of lead?
Bonny Posted February 23, 2008 Posted February 23, 2008 Okay, I got my ball mill problem out of the way. I'm getting 2.7kg of lead in about 2 weeks (for media), but can I use tin instead of lead? Just go with the lead. I'm not sure but tin may spark and is not nearly as heavy. If you want something less toxic than lead go with brass.
pyrogeorge Posted March 14, 2008 Posted March 14, 2008 The ROCK TUMBLER how works?With balls inside the barrel or something other material?
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