dagabu Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 My mom's trying to convince me to place my ball mill in my basement under a blast shield of some kind (like wire mesh to protect from the media), but I insist that it should go outside. This part of the basement is very secluded and made solely of concrete (walls) and insulation. How can I convince her that it should go outside more than just telling her of the slight chance of explosion (which she dismisses as not a big deal if in that section of the house)? Or is she right in that it is acceptable to run a ball mill indoors in a vacant place where it is nearly impossible to start a fire? I have to do the math but I believe that 1# of good BP can create 2000 sq feet of gas. It would be a low volume explosion that would literally lift the house up and let it crash down. A fire is not likely until the gas line is severed and then all the wood would burn. The chance of you or her getting out when asleep would be slim. Wire mesh would not hold the media, check online for tests done with a witness box. Ball mills do explode, there have been plenty of documented cases, outside is mandatory. Barricaded is best. Mine site in a concrete tub 2'x2'x2' with a 1/4" sheet of plywood on top. D
Richtee Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 My mom's trying to convince me to place my ball mill in my basement under a blast shield of some kind (like wire mesh to protect from the media), but I insist that it should go outside.Who the hell is yer Mom? Either a hard core crazy pyro or just crazy? I find this post weird. OUTSIDE if at all possible. Amybe build your own living quarters away from the crazy lady. Wow.
Ventsi Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Optimus , thats unreal..... SB, how about you build yourself an nice drying rack in that basement, and have that as an excuse not to put the mill inside. Why doesn't she want it on the outside if I may ask? ************************And here is a few grams of leftovers from building today discarded in a very proper fashion.
scarbelly Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Yeah thanks guys. I figured as much. I can put it outside, she just seems to think that the cords are at risk of short circuiting (which is obviously not a big deal compared to an explosion hazard). At the moment, I'm only pushing 150 grams and it's in a pop off top lortone jar, but I still don't want to go picking fights with the god of explosives. @ Richtee, my mom just doesn't understand the hazards of pyro as much as she should I guess. Don't the exploding ball mills usually have to do with something being in it that's not supposed to be in there? (I know that there is ALWAYS a risk, I'm just wondering)
Arthur Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 The big continuous problem with a mill is the noise it makes. You will need run times in the order of 8 hours which is quite enough to disturb the neighbours, which will bring the men in boots round quicker than you want. You can minimise the noise of a mill by using a rubber rock tumbler jar. You can minimise the risks of ball mill explosion by goor working practise. You cannot eliminate the noise or risk completely. When you can live in your own house then you do as you want til then you do as your parents say!
Richtee Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Yeah thanks guys. I figured as much. I can put it outside, she just seems to think that the cords are at risk of short circuiting (which is obviously not a big deal compared to an explosion hazard). At the moment, I'm only pushing 150 grams and it's in a pop off top lortone jar, but I still don't want to go picking fights with the god of explosives. @ Richtee, my mom just doesn't understand the hazards of pyro as much as she should I guess. Don't the exploding ball mills usually have to do with something being in it that's not supposed to be in there? (I know that there is ALWAYS a risk, I'm just wondering)Heh... my comment was mainly "tongue in cheek" thanks for taking it that way. Anywaaaay- If you built a box out of 3/4 exterior grade plywood with enough room for some air circ and used a long enough cord to connet to the mill INSIDE the box, any problems with the electricity could be avoided. Depending on your location and age of house, any outdoor power recepticals are protected by a ground fault circuit interruptor anyway. You can also purchase a cord just for outdoor use. The box will dampen the noise, and provide some protection in the unlikely event of a mishap.
dagabu Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 You can also purchase a cord just for outdoor use. Its funny but up here in the Nort, we lay extension cords on the ground all fall, winter and spring long to light trees and blow ups in the yard. A GFCI keeps any shorts safe so no, I am not a bit concerned about extension cords at all. D
Swede Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 (edited) I like the idea of one of those sprinkler valve boxes set in the earth. They are normally black plastic with a green lid, and typically they allow access to valves and such for sprinklers. Get one about 2 to 3 feet long, set it flush with the ground, and if you want to be really fancy, route some UF (Underground Feeder) cable to the box, plus a weather-proof outdoor junction box inside the sprinkler box. There's your AC voltage source, and any explosion will lift the green lid, but no real damage, and it will be virtually soundproof and very stealthy with regards to casual observation. Probably the toughest problem is drainage. Be sure that it drains exceptionally well, and I wouldn't leave a ball mill inside permanently. Somewhere in the circuit, a GFCI should be added so moisture cannot cause danger or shorts. Edited December 10, 2009 by Swede
Updup Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Why does she mind it being run outside? If shes just suggesting in be run in your basemnt i would just say "I don't think that's a good idea" and run it outside, however if she insists it be run indoors, because she dosn't like it in the yard or somthing, make a nice little box for it out doors, and make the box look nice, so its not an eyesore to your mom. Also, my scale is being finicky, do scales not like the cold? It was working fine two days ago, and it has been cold here before, but now it's changing numbers randomly ]=. I've left it inside for about three hours but it's still screwed up, anyone else have theese problems?
dagabu Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Why does she mind it being run outside? If shes just suggesting in be run in your basemnt i would just say "I don't think that's a good idea" and run it outside, however if she insists it be run indoors, because she dosn't like it in the yard or somthing, make a nice little box for it out doors, and make the box look nice, so its not an eyesore to your mom. Also, my scale is being finicky, do scales not like the cold? It was working fine two days ago, and it has been cold here before, but now it's changing numbers randomly ]=. I've left it inside for about three hours but it's still screwed up, anyone else have theese problems? Yes, mine will not turn on right now, I have to bring it in till is warms up. Make sure you check that can measure correctly, the sensor can loose its calibration. D
Updup Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) Yes, mine will not turn on right now, I have to bring it in till is warms up. Make sure you check that can measure correctly, the sensor can loose its calibration. D Hmm, it's been inside since about 12 noon and still, when I turn it on (It does turn on) it acts as if its in an earthquake, changing negitive positive and back and to random numbers. It's not the cold, I now know that, do any of you know how I might fix it? Its a crap scale, only accurate to 2 grams, but its my only scale. If it can't be fixed, guess what's going on my X-mas list! Edited December 11, 2009 by Updup
scarbelly Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Thank you for the tips guys. My mom is partly just worried that I will leave it out there in the rain (which I won't unless I make a rain-resistant container for it). The sound is no issue whatsoever right now; I'm using a lortone jar, and you can't even hear the mill from inside my house. Any other houses are separated by a wooden fence and a pretty significant distance. Updup, have you tried changing the batteries?
Updup Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Updup, have you tried changing the batteries? I have taken them out and tryed running it from its A/C adapter, but it STILL dosn't work .
Ventsi Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 I had one of those rechargeable scales, after a month it went mokey bananas on me the same way you describe, eventually I just got a good scale and burried the old one under some thermite. Do you mind posting a pic of the one you're having troubles with?
Updup Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 I had one of those rechargeable scales, after a month it went mokey bananas on me the same way you describe, eventually I just got a good scale and burried the old one under some thermite. Do you mind posting a pic of the one you're having troubles with? Sure, I can post a picture, its not rechargeble though. http://www.e-scales.co.uk/images/ultra55backlit.gifTold you it was crap, It wasn't bought to be used for pyro so .
Mumbles Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 I've had that problem twice before. It always meant that the scale went to crap on me. I don't know if it got too many chemicals in it, or if I accidentally put something heavy on the tray and busted the sensors. Either way they were long gone. The one I didn't care about, only a cheap shipping scale, but the other was a nice centigram balance, which I have yet to replace. I am getting by with a postal scale accurate to 1g right now. I got it for $30 or so from walmart, and honestly, it's not worth even that much. I may consider storing this one in a gallon sized plastic bag to prevent chemicals, and see if I really am just blowing sensors.
Updup Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) Okay, I think it's dead, so I'm going to take it apart, worst case is that it just stays broken, and best case is I can fix it [=. Besides, I got it for about 12 bucks . Thanks for the insight guys! EDIT: I would never trash it, I would just use the parts in ways they are not ment to be used. Anyway i got it fixed, took it apart and scrached off some rubber that was one one of the wires and now, it works fine (I think it was shifting the wires that accually helped), altought I am going to fish out the manual and see if it was in some zany "Mode". Mumbles, try taking one of your broken scales apart and shifting stuff around (or just clean the inside if theirs gunk in it), might work O.o. Edited December 11, 2009 by Updup
Swede Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Okay, I think it's dead, so I'm going to take it apart, worst case is that it just stays broken, and best case is I can fix it [=. Besides, I got it for about 12 bucks . Thanks for the insight guys! Don't trash it yet! Sometimes it drops into the calibration mode which will give a wild display just as you described. Find the instruction manual, and see if you can recalibrate it. Each scale has a different calibration procedure, and some of them are a bit weird, but it might come back to life after recalibration.
TheEskimo Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Well, I'm back after my brief hiatus. Things calmed down, and well......The smoke has been smelt I'm experimenting w/roman candles.As for scales....anybody have duds with the cheap 0.1 gram ones from AmeriPyro or Skylighter that they throw in for free? I have gotten 3, and they all die quickly, and refuse to work, even with new batteries.Apparently I can complete differentials in calc with ease, but I cannot add. I seem to think that 1+(-2)= -3. Silly mistakes cost you on tests.
firetech Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Are you talking about the ProScale 222 and 333? I have them both and they are pieces of sh*t. I actually had 3 222's. I bought one, got it replaced for free, got another one with the SL sale last year as a freebie, that one went nuts and they sent me the new 333 for free, which starts jumping all over the place the day I get it. Well, you get what you pay for right?
optimus Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) Optimus , thats unreal..... Indeed I'm posting this for those who didn't check the link... http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2009/12/500x_fenomen_over_borras_340152c.jpg I can see why there's so much hype and cries of UFO/wormhole/HAARP etc - it really does look weird. Edited December 11, 2009 by optimus
Updup Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Are you SUreee its not a fake? Seems to awesome to be real, perhaps some amazing pyro made a super cool firework =P
dagabu Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Are you SUreee its not a fake? Seems to awesome to be real, perhaps some amazing pyro made a super cool firework =P It was a Russian ICBM that the third stage went awry on. Google it, there are about a thousand stories about what happened. Sure is pretty though. D
homebrewed77 Posted December 12, 2009 Posted December 12, 2009 Well...Thats what "they" say happened..Who know though what it May or may not have been. Was neat looking..I hope it was just a ICBM....But..who knows ppl eat up every thing the tv and media tells them.
TheEskimo Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 This was me yesterday: This was my brother yesterday: An empty stomach, and getting hammered for the first time with mixed drinks, lends itself to amusing everyone around.
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