Ok, I've been thinking about building a ball mill and have some questions.

No no no, not the same questions everyone else asks, I don't need help building it. I could use some information on it's operation though.

Many ball mills use lead-antimony balls because they are nonsparking. Does the antimony have any special properties in the alloy, or does it just make the lead harder. If so is it essential to use hard lead balls or could regular lead ones work? Would they be less effectve if they were softer?

When milling something that is not volitle by itself (iron oxide for instance) does could another type of ball be used? Brass maybe? (It's harder, maybe it would be more effective?)

How important is the size/weight of the balls, and what are the ideals?

Finaly, I know that the best container to use is plastic (it won't spark) but what is the best way to clean it before using it for a different compound? I wouldn't want some tiny shred of something imbedded in the plastic to end up blowing the whole shebang sky high.

Size/weight DOES matter. Weight would matter more than mass though. Although you wouldn't want to use HUGE balls because it would have TOO much mass and wouldn't work correctly. You just want like 50cal lead shots.

quote:Originally posted by Prometheus:

Ok, I've been thinking about building a ball mill and have some questions.

No no no, not the same questions everyone else asks, I don't need help building it. I could use some information on it's operation though.

Many ball mills use lead-antimony balls because they are nonsparking. Does the antimony have any special properties in the alloy, or does it just make the lead harder. If so is it essential to use hard lead balls or could regular lead ones work? Would they be less effectve if they were softer?

Antimony added to lead shot just makes it harder. Regular lead would do fine (I use both)

When milling something that is not volitle by itself (iron oxide for instance) does could another type of ball be used? Brass maybe? (It's harder, maybe it would be more effective?)

Check the hardness of both metals beforehand.

How important is the size/weight of the balls, and what are the ideals?

Superpro answered that one

Finaly, I know that the best container to use is plastic (it won't spark) but what is the best way to clean it before using it for a different compound? I wouldn't want some tiny shred of something imbedded in the plastic to end up blowing the whole shebang sky high.

The only way to make sure is to mark what containers contained what.

I have 3 mills, one for milling chlorates, one for milling metal powders, and one for milling sulfur/assorted chems.

It may be an inconvenience to make many containers, but it's worth it for safety.

Forgot something, eh orangejuice? O_o

It may be an inconvenience, but skin graphts are a bigger one. Thanks.

What did you mean about checking the hardness of the metals?