11 replies to this topic

[Mortartube]

What do you guys use for ball mill jars?

All of my attempts have been less than satisfactory. I want to be able to mill 100g batches of BP.

I am currently using a piece of very thick plastic water pipe (as in the water companies use), but it is very hevy and eventually slips on the mill (it has 2 rubber vacuum cleaner frive belts around it and rubber on the mill roller), I am convinced it's the overall weight of it that makes it slip rather than the surface. But it has an OD of around 5" (125mm) so it revolves at around optimum speed on my setup. Any suggestions welcome.

[digger]

What do you guys use for ball mill jars?

All of my attempts have been less than satisfactory. I want to be able to mill 100g batches of BP.

I am currently using a piece of very thick plastic water pipe (as in the water companies use), but it is very hevy and eventually slips on the mill (it has 2 rubber vacuum cleaner frive belts around it and rubber on the mill roller), I am convinced it's the overall weight of it that makes it slip rather than the surface. But it has an OD of around 5" (125mm) so it revolves at around optimum speed on my setup. Any suggestions welcome.

Here you go these are what I use for ball milling.

CLICK ME

Great results, the 3 liter job should be good for 100g - 600g with ceramic media. Maybe more with lead/brass.

Just a quick question, what diameter are your rollers?

Edited by digger, 01 August 2008 - 09:08 AM.

[Mortartube]

Oooh they look good. Thanks digger.

I can't tell you exactly what diameter my rollers are, but around 60mm. I have cobbled some pulleys together that gives me just under 60 rpm. 59.78 rpm to be exact.

I need to get some decent lift powder made before the silly season.

[paul]

I´m using a PVC fitting... Filled with 16mm OD 18mm long pieces of stainless...
Very very heavy, but I think the mill´s gonna take it



Thats the not yet finished mill btw:

Edited by paul, 01 August 2008 - 11:10 AM.

[Mortartube]

That mill is a work of art. It's lovely. Wish mine looked that new and shiny. Lol.

[Bonny]

I use empty peanut butter containers for milling. They are HDPE. I use a few sizes, and simply move the idle roller over for larger jars. I have had them last for up to a year, but I will be making something more suitable one of these days.

Edited by Bonny, 01 August 2008 - 12:50 PM.

[pyrotrev]

Not wanting anything too strong in case of ignition I use these wide mouth jars: http://www.scichem.c...heet=ind115.pdf. Nice and cheap too.

[BlackMesa]

Hello, i was considering making my own Ball mill when i have remembered that i have an old mineral/stone shining peice of equipment. It looks as though it would be almost perfect for milling if i put in some milling medium. Its a plastic container, almost keg shaped with a screw on lid on one side (waterproof) and it rotates on its stand with a rubber belt for several days at a time. My concern is, will it be to slow to ball mill my powders to fit through a 400 screen? or would i just have to put it on longer? i dotn hav a technical way of describing its speed but the keg has a diameter of about 5 inches and it turns once a second.

Its made from plastic, could anybody suggest a good milling medium to go with this? thankyou:)

[portfire]

60 RPM is a little too slow, the Ball mill thread as the formula for working out optimum speeds etc. Try using a smaller diameter jar, 4" maybe.

http://www.inoxia.co...ategory/17.aspx

My suggestion is go for the 1.3lt jar and the 20mm ceramic media.

Dean

[Arthur Brown]

Most rock tumblers make ok ish ball mills and are cheaper and easier to get than other machines.

Set it running with some nitrate with some lead balls, and record the particle size distribution after elapsed time. The you have say 1 hour 20 mesh 5 hours 160 mesh and 10 hours say 300 mesh or something like that. Overloaded mills never produce fines , overweight mills damage the drive and support system. Read the instructions if it says 2lb then load it to 2lb with balls and media! Don't fill it full by volume as that will be far too heavy for the machinery.

[BlackMesa]

Most rock tumblers make ok ish ball mills and are cheaper and easier to get than other machines.

Set it running with some nitrate with some lead balls, and record the particle size distribution after elapsed time. The you have say 1 hour 20 mesh 5 hours 160 mesh and 10 hours say 300 mesh or something like that. Overloaded mills never produce fines , overweight mills damage the drive and support system. Read the instructions if it says 2lb then load it to 2lb with balls and media! Don't fill it full by volume as that will be far too heavy for the machinery.

Would stainless steel medium work at this speed? i already have perfect stainless steel balls about 1cm in diameter each. It runs for 4days at a time so maybe even with the low speed it can get it quite fine?

[Pyrogeorge]

i have rock tumbler and i make fine black powder about 1.30 hour milling..but only 200gr.