Little conundrums in building a 100 lb capacity (including media) ball mill

[dagabu]

It is easy to tell when the load is about done, from the sound the media makes.

 

With a fresh load, at 1^st you get a slightly rattling tumbling type sound.

 

As the load progress's, it gets quieter & quieter.

 

After a certain time (depending on what you are milling), the load starts to rattle again.

 

At first just slightly, then more & more pronounced.

 

What's going on there is the load has stopped milling & is beginning to cake.

 

If you allow the mill to continue running, you end up with the load caked HARD in the jar.

 

That was about the best summary of the best time to remove the BP from the jar that I have read so far! Nice tut OG.

 

-dag

[oldguy]

 

 

 

 

 

[oldguy]

Next mill will be a tri or quad level job.

I scored some 8 inch pvc pipe today > FREE except for the fuel to go get it.

[oldguy]

Space next to my shop is starting to look like a plumbing supply.

 

Scored 20 ft of 6 inch Scedule 80 PVC water main pipe today (free).

 

[oldguy]

 

 

 

 

 

Rough mock up of a 6 inch schedule 80 jar with a threaded rods drill/exopy inserted, gasket, end plate & end cap nuts. Easy to open either end or both ends for that matter.

 

 

[guntoteninfadel]

WOW! Did I miss the 1 800 call and order now number? LMAO seriously, great ball mill and I wish/hope that my ball mill will be comparable, my powered conveyor rollers should be in this week and if I can talk my camera into cooperating with the computer will detail my build here. That thing is going to seriously generate some chems! I hope you have the ball mill jar thing worked out before I need one because with your permission I am going to build one just like yours. Ponder on and let us know the results, as I said before awesome ball mill!

 

Ok I get the threaded rod with glue thing now, pics are worth a thousand words. Seems like it might need a few more bolts on the end, course I really am clueless but do keep posting and letting us know.

Edited June 8, 2011 by guntoteninfadel

[oldguy]

Thanks for the kind words.

Build yours any way you want. No design patents here, anything I post is free to the public.

 

I am waiting for a large diameter hydraulic pipe cutter to arrive by freight in the next couple days. Once it is up & running I should be able to cut big thick PVC pipe quickly & perfectly, without any hassle any size or width I want. If it works like it is supposed to? I will add a thin ring over theend plate with the studs through it. With that ring holding the end plate down securely, I should be able to use even fewer cap nuts. Just have to wait & see. If it works, or not I will post pictures.

Edited June 8, 2011 by oldguy

[dagabu]

OG,

 

Them jars are looking better and better all the time! I REALLY like the look of the acorn nuts on the jar ends, very slick.

 

I am here to tell you all that the 12" jar is a beast and will hold 50# of ceramic media plus chems. Don't sell yourself short if turning this baby, get a good 3/4 HP motor to do the work! The wife took one look at my new jar and asked if it was her tenderizing jar.

 

Hey OG, looks like you need to work with Ritchee and get a whole new line of jars out there for cooking folk!

 

-dag

[Mumbles]

How easy do those nuts come off? A small tool would be easy to help get them off, but wingnuts may be easier in the long run as you can just use your hands. I can't tell what kind of clearance you'd have with them though.

[oldguy]

About everyone has screw gun (portable battery screw driver).

With that & a socket they come off & go on quick, easy & secure.

 

A small hand rachet & socket also work very well, just a little slower.

Rachet & socket are safer with any content that might go boom, as a screw gun will spark

 

Todays mock up with a sturdy ring over the plate, with a gasket under the plate.

 

Edited June 9, 2011 by oldguy

[oldguy]

The wife took one look at my new jar and asked if it was her tenderizing jar.

Hey OG, looks like you need to work with Ritchee and get a whole new line of jars out there for cooking folk!

-dag

 

Dag, that might be a use for those 50 lbs of billiard balls.

 

That would tenderize tough meat quick.

Hell, you could also include some marinade flavoring.

 

[FrankRizzo]

Oldguy - What did you use for the threaded studs, and did you drill/tap the PVC to accept them?

[oldguy]

Oldguy - What did you use for the threaded studs, and did you drill/tap the PVC to accept them?

 

These are all mock ups.

Once I have the design where I want it.

I will put a few togather solid.

 

 

Plan is to drill/tap the rods into the pipe with a drill press

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I tested one rod on some thick scrap pvc.

Drop of knife scale epoxy on the rod & threaded it in.

Cured overnight, that puppy will never come out.

[guntoteninfadel]

I really want a couple of those!

[oldguy]

I really want a couple of those!

 

They are not tough to buildf, (if ....big IF) you can find the parts.

[dagabu]

Looking good OG, I got my 12" all filled and tumbling away today, I have to build a larger stand though.

 

That Zirc M sure grinds fast! Finished a batch of 75:15:10 tonight in a 6" jar. Great stuff

 

-dag