Zimer Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 In my procedure to build a ballmill I found some problems, first, I have jar in 4.33 inch diameter (110 MM). I want to mill 200g BP per one batch, what the lenght it should be?, and what the medias diameter and lenght should be if I am using brass medias?, how can I improve them?, how much medias probably I need to use in this jar? thank you very much
brainfever Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 According to my quick estimates that diameter is more then enough for a couple hundred grams of composition (allmost 1 liter volume per 100 mm length) so I would make it about 150-200 mm long for stability issues. For the media (if you have acces to any given diameter of round stock brass) I'd go for the cheapest standard measure between 10 and 20 mm diameter.Make enough of it to fill your milling jar for about 40% and have a length:diameter between 1.2 and 1.8 (so they roll/lift/land on the round part instead of tumbling over the sawn of sharper edges and wreck your milling jar) 1 is too short, 2 is too long. Media improvement: Buy brass tube. Cut with tube cutter. Pour in molten lead. This makes for heavy and hard media that will last you a pretty long time and won't contaminate your composition with lead dust.
Zimer Posted July 30, 2006 Author Posted July 30, 2006 someone was told me that the brass\lead medias has problems.the lead came out from the tube after short time
Beta1969-Retired Posted July 30, 2006 Posted July 30, 2006 I've been using solid glass that looks just like an ice cube. When balling stuff ( not wet ) pick them up and the dust just falls off.Not bad for 1.00 a pound. i don't think they can even make a spark.
ULTRABUF Posted July 30, 2006 Posted July 30, 2006 I'm pretty sure glass will chip if you use it for milling stuff.
Zimer Posted July 30, 2006 Author Posted July 30, 2006 I really need to know, brass medias are good?and what is the recommended medias size for my jar?
TheSidewinder Posted July 31, 2006 Posted July 31, 2006 Brass media works just fine. It's what I use. For your jar, I think pieces a half-inch long (or a half-inch diameter) would work best. You may need to experiment with smaller or larger pieces. M
Mumbles Posted July 31, 2006 Posted July 31, 2006 Yes, they can. There is always a slight spark risk though. With the low energy tumbling done it is practically a non-existant risk, but still the possibility is out there. They are however great for crushing individual chemicals.
shadopyro Posted July 31, 2006 Posted July 31, 2006 I cant quite remeber where i heard this but would it be possible to use the British pennies as milling media? i believe they're made from copper-possibly brass.
optimus Posted July 31, 2006 Posted July 31, 2006 Wiki says since 1992 the penny has been minted in copper-plated steel, so I suppose you could, but they would likely be enifficient and require cleaning. Why don't you just use lead bullets or brass cylinders? Both are easy to obtain.
Zimer Posted August 2, 2006 Author Posted August 2, 2006 today i got some brass rod. 16 MM Dia. (0.6299 inch)i cut each one to 20 MM in legnth (0.7874 inch)each one weight 33 gram (1.1640 ounces) its ok? click here for picture
TheSidewinder Posted August 2, 2006 Posted August 2, 2006 Those should be OK. They *MAY* be a little big for the size jar you have, though. Be sure and sand the cut edges smooth. It helps keep your mix from getting embedded in the media. Also, most Nitrates will stain brass, so don't be surprised when they darken up a bit. I just wash them thoroughly between uses and all is fine. M
shadopyro Posted August 2, 2006 Posted August 2, 2006 "Wiki says since 1992 the penny has been minted in copper-plated steel, so I suppose you could, but they would likely be enifficient and require cleaning. Why don't you just use lead bullets or brass cylinders? Both are easy to obtain. " Well its just that i've got this jar of pennies that have so far found not use whatsoever, and i thought maybe i could find a use for it. i remeber that lead bullets really contaminate the marterials being milled (from UKR)- though i think i'll try the brass cylinders, i think i'll just buy a load of steel BBs for separate chemicals- im not too keen on milling straight gunpowder/blackpowder anyway. Procrastination should be made a sin!
RUUUUUN Posted August 2, 2006 Posted August 2, 2006 So get some jacketed hollow point rounds and plug the hollow point, that way you have a lead media with a coating of copper on it.
shadopyro Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Unfortunatly in this country, normal people do not carry guns around, therefore its really rather hard to find bullets...
optimus Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Try muzzleloading suppliers. It didn't take me long atall to find Antimony-hardened lead bullets. People may not carry guns here, but there's certainly alot of firing ranges!
shadopyro Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 Your right but the most i found outta the internet is "antique original musket balls!". Steel cylinders'll do me fine for now, in fact i even asked at the local gunsmiths/fishing tackle shop and they gave me the name of a place about 30miles away! (i dont have a car and my dads too cynical to gimme a lift!)
s25 Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 I was in a rather cheap store today and saw ceramnic balls now these are time as in 1cm each and like 5 euro for a few hundred,I think i shall have to give this a go in my soon to be made mill and I am wondering will normal untreated ceramnic used in cooking (somehow :s dunno how!) work in the mill?I cannot see why not just seeking verification...
hst45 Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 s25, I have two concerns. 1) safety 2)Efficiency First, If you are milling a combined fuel/oxidizer mix such as BP, i would personally shy away from using an unknown media and stick with a known non-sparking media such as hardened lead or brass. Ceramic materials of unknown content MIGHT have some sparking potential. It's probably small, but i would be gutless and not risk it. if on the other hand you're using the media to grind a single component your risk is probably acceptable. Secondly, if the mass of the media is small the grinding efficiency of the media is poor. The grinding force is generated by large/heavy media crushing small particles between them. Small/light media don't exert sufficient force. If it's cheap give it a try, but i beleive you'll find the results to be poor compared to lead or brass. Shadopyro, i don't know if they they ship to your country, but try Cabelas.com. They're an outfitter out of Nebraska that carries all sorts of good outdoor surff, including Lead and FMJ bullets (grinding media), night-vision scopes , ghillie suits, etc.
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