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If I had to pick a "safest" mill jar, I'd go with the rubber lortone style jars. It seems to really prevent clumping due to the slight give. Any sort of caking, easily knocks out with a light rap with a rubber mallet. I'm learning this the hardway with my new PVC jar. I get BP that is hard as a rock on the walls. They also really reduce the sound. I feel there is less risk in the case of explosion. Just like HDPE, the give in the jar will drastically reduce shrapnel and energy left in the fragments once they tear. A quick note on the rubber barrels. The bigger ones are octagonal, which acts like 8 lift bars. For optimal efficiency, you have to run the jars at a much slower speed than a similar sized cylindrical jar.
I do agree there are some very dumb things on youtube.
What a speedy response. Thanks for all your input.
I quite agree with fflach that a screw top jar would be worse and is potentially a bomb waiting to happen but I wouldn’t want to be any where near an exploding PVC jar, even with a small amount of BP in it due to the potential shrapnel.
I like the idea of a push fit end cap but I can’t find anything to fit HDPE pipe. Also the problem with HDPE is the lead balls would slide and not tumble.
The other thought I had was to use something like the rubber hexagonal tumbler AR12 under the brand Thumler’s Tumbler which is rated at 12lb capacity.My link I like the setup with this particular jar though it is too big for what I want. I only want to work in small quantities due to my setup.
Working on the principle that the most dangerous time in ball milling is when it is finished and the jar has to be emptied.
This jar would suit being fitted into a heavy wall HDPE pipe and undone with relative safety, in case of accidental ignition. What do you think? Is this logical? Avoiding putting your head over the mortar tube so to speak.
Reading on various forums that commercial charcoal and KNO3 is often contaminated with grit, metal etc then there has to be a very real increase in risk of ignition whilst grinding AND therefore at the time of opening the container, unless you produce your own charcoal from known wood source without shot embedded in it, stones grit etc. and also re-crystallising your KNO3 unless it’s lab grade.
I have a recollection that PGI filmed a test, a number of years ago, for a ball mill explosion and the milling media didn’t travel far. Does anyone remember this?
Hi Mumbles, I see you like the idea of rubber barrels too. Can you point me in the direction for one of the octagonal barrels, in the UK, as the one above is very pricey to get it shipped from the US and ideally I would prefer a smaller one.
Decisions, decisions. What to do. Cheers again.
