cplmac Posted October 17, 2006 Posted October 17, 2006 I didn't find a thread on ball mills or ball milling so I figured I would open up a thread on the topic. For me specifically I can't seem to find grinding media anywhere. My new mill is in the mail, and I need to get some media for it. Anyone got a lead on a website where I can order media? All I have found so far is pyrocreations, and they only sell 100 piece bags of hardened lead antimony balls, which I will probably get but I would also like to find ceramic.
Mumbles Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Hobby Fireworks sells hardened lead cylnders. The small jar is the normal 6" ID and 1 gallon volume (~9" long). I think that is equivalent to the 12lb barrel in lapidary uses. The large jar is 8" and 12 or 14" long. I looked online, and the only milling medias are in bulk. David Sleeter used to sell it on ebay, perhaps give him an e-mail. The only ones I see are for full 55 gallon drums(~900lbs). There is a guy in Ohio selling 7 barrels for $500. Good sizes too. Perhaps a post to PML will generate responses. Often time professional firework firms use alumina media. They replace the media fairly often actually. A post on PML or a google group could connect you with a place looking to do this. I think a guy in LaCrosse,WI was going to do this. I have also recently heard he is in one of the Dakotas too, so I don't know the location. He posts on rec.pyro and advanced pyro under the moniker lightnpyro. Another possibility would be to buy brass bar or hex stock, and cut it up. Approximatly 10-12 feet of 3/4" diameter x 1" long is required for the 1 gallon jar. Anyway, here is my new mill. Media has to be cast/purchased.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v137/Mumbles/P1010047.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v137/Mumbles/ec2e7a9a.jpg It has since had the motor reinforced down, belt attached, and the bars locked into place. The bars are also the same length now. I had originally planned to have a star roller on the end, but changed my mind.
ewest Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 I know this is pricey, but I buy Goex from these guys so when I needed lead balls for my milling jar I just picked up several boxes of lead balls for Black Powder rifles. It's about $6 for a box of 100. Graf & Sons Search for lead ball (ball not balls) and it should bring up a list of all the different calibers. There's all sorts of ways to make your own, in fact Mumbles had a how-to on the forum for casting lead in copper tubes that several people have used already. But that takes time, which I don't have much of. Money, I've got, so I buy as much stuff as I can rather than build it.
asilentbob Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Yeah, i use .54 musket balls. I need more though, im only using like 50 in a 15lb tumbler. Terribly under loaded.
Cherbanov Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 I use 300st 5mm. i have made them my self, a freind has a mold for 5mm leadballs.
maximusg Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 i salvaged a few kilos of lead from a pallet of old car batteries. And cast a dew hundred cylindrical media for my milling jars. works great
justanotherpyro Posted October 20, 2006 Posted October 20, 2006 I bought some lead from a scrap yard ( used tire allignment weights ) and cast it into empty .45 shell casings. They work great and you can pour 25-50 at a time with ease if you line them up.
Cherbanov Posted October 21, 2006 Posted October 21, 2006 here is the media I us for milling I got about 400 now
rocket Posted October 21, 2006 Posted October 21, 2006 I hope their not steel media you got there, because it sure looks like it. If you using them for BP I would strongly advise not to.
cplmac Posted October 22, 2006 Author Posted October 22, 2006 I got my new mill in the mail yesterday, should have the media by Tuesday. Thumler Tumbler model B for the record.
Cherbanov Posted October 22, 2006 Posted October 22, 2006 no they are not steel balls, they are recently made lead balls they haven't oxidised get. so you dont have to worry about me blowing up .
TheSidewinder Posted October 22, 2006 Posted October 22, 2006 To the OP: I use brass media. I bought a piece of 3/4" rod stock, cut it into 3/4" pieces, then ground the rough edges off. THey work perfectly. Almost as good as lead, but with no contamination (environmental or product) worries. I still have almost half the rod left in case I need to make more. M
cplmac Posted October 23, 2006 Author Posted October 23, 2006 I have heard that the lead antimony balls turn your perch grey, but it has no noticeable effect on the performance. Anyone have any experience with this?
FrankRizzo Posted October 23, 2006 Posted October 23, 2006 I've never milled perc. but it certainly turns potassium nitrate a greenish grey color. I've not noticed any problems using this nitrate in comps.
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