13 replies to this topic

[Stuart]

Where can waterglass be bought from. I want to make some hummers and mabye some stingers but can until I have it. What is it used for other than fire proofing stuff?

Stuart

[Richard H]

Stuart,

goto: http://www.potclays.co.uk

Buy Online > then search for sodium silicate. they apparently do 0.5 kg @ ?1.35.

[Phoenix]

Or Potterycrafts - 1kg for ?2.18. As you've no doubt gathered, it's used in ceramics.

EDIT: It's also used for preserving eggs, so the grocer's might not be a bad place to look. Call it "waterglass" or "egg preserver" or they won't know what you mean.

Edited by Phoenix, 21 February 2004 - 08:44 PM.

[Stuart]

Thanks for the replies everyone

Stuart

[maxman]

What is the difference between Sodium silicate 75S and 140S? has anyone an idea?
Is this a solution or powder they are selling at potclays?
I wanted it for fireproofing stinger vents.

Thanks

Maxman

[alany]

What is the difference between Sodium silicate 75S and 140S? has anyone an idea?
Is this a solution or powder they are selling at  potclays?
I wanted it for fireproofing stinger vents.

Thanks

Maxman

Oddly enough I had someone ask me this last night.

Apparently sodium silicate solutions use dairy (and other liquid food) units for specific gravity. There are a whole bunch of weird units, like degrees Twaddle, degrees Quevenne. I think S might be a similar unit like degrees Twaddle which is a difference in density of 1/200 used specifically for liquids with a density greater than than of water.

I could also be a viscosity measure like Stokes which is St (Stoke if you're a yank). Might be some other insane unit someone in the art world dreamed out, who knows?

It is basically a solution concentration with larger numbers being more concentrated. Thicker syrup-like solutions dry faster but don't penetrate as well unless warmed first. The solution I got is very thick, like honey almost, so I usually dilute it 1:1 before use.

[phildunford]

For protecting the 'fire hole' in saxons and the like I find it's better to use a pointed end rammer for the clay end plug which produces a depression in the clay. You can then drill into this and create a hole that will not enlarge when when it burns. Once you have made the tooling it's very little trouble and seems to produce a better result than protecting the hole with water glass.

[alany]

For protecting the 'fire hole' in saxons and the like I find it's better to use a pointed end rammer for the clay end plug which produces a depression in the clay. You can then drill into this and create a hole that will not enlarge when when it burns. Once you have made the tooling it's very little trouble and seems to produce a better result than protecting the hole with water glass.

Yep, can't agree more, clay is cheap and easy, no drying time, no extra step.

The only exception I can think of is helicopter/tourbillion devices which can benefit from the reduced mass of clay and extra propellant room. Although I've never been completely convinced that the mass of a thicker paper tube compared to a bigger end plug is a good trade-off.

One nice use for waterglass is rolling resistant tubes to begin with. Diluted it makes a reasonable paste and drys to a glassy semi-refractory material. Another is to treat paper mortars (or pyro tubes) with the calcium silicate trick. And yet another similar use is adhesive/end-plug paste made from calcium carbonate and sodium silicate which is like plaster, it cures into a solid. The pyro glue is often bulked out with zinc oxide, which according to Degn makes it stronger too - can't confirm that with experence though.

Dare I mention its use in rolling of the glassy finish shell on cherry b*mb style salutes, smoke b*mbs and torpedeos?

Then there are the recreational uses, like crystal gardens.

[dfk]

The only exception I can think of is helicopter/tourbillion devices which can benefit from the reduced mass of clay and extra propellant room. Although I've never been completely convinced that the mass of a thicker paper tube compared to a bigger end plug is a good trade-off.

Your overlooking things like tourbillions where they have thrust holes on either side of the device. Unfortunately you can only rig one end of a tube using the indented plug method which makes useing some other method necessary.

[alany]

Not all of them, your basic helicopter style device has one vent only.

I don't normally bother with any protection of the holes in true traditional 4 vent tourbillions, I just use a good solid tube.

There is nothing to stop you making a tourbillion in 2 or more parts, but once you start doing that it basically a mini girandola.

[dfk]

I wasn't talking about helicopters I said tourbillions.
The subject was fire proofing holes any how, a concave inner plug with vent hole drilled through works best to protect. What you said doesn't make the fact that you can only fit one end of a device with this plug any less true.

[spawned]

Oh whats this i see 'Gum Arabic' http://www.potclays.co.uk/ ....

[adamw]

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. It is possible to find things eventually you know...

[BrightStar]

Just received an order from potclays.co.uk - sodium silicate and calcium chloride for treating cardboard mortars. They were very helpful on the phone and delivery was quick (3 days). Good stuff...