I've been reading firework\pyro files for a long time, and I've become curious enough to build some sort of device. (I'm not too keen calling them bombs!)

Firstly, could somebody please explain the measurement 'mesh'? (I think it has something to do with how fine something is ground)

Secondly, is there any other non-standard measurements I should be aware of?

Thirdly, what kind of morter and pestle do you recommend? Marble or wood?

anything else to take note of?

Thanks in advance.
om.

i dont really know of any pestles, so i cant recomend it, even though rock tumbler work perfect for grinding chemicals down.

A mesh is a standard measurement. 1 mesh is 1 inch across, 4 mesh is 1/4 inch across, and 600 mesh is 1/600 inch wide. They usually dont do this in the U.S., but you could look around for micron. It is the same as with mesh, but instead with meters.

Search the rec.pyrotechnics google archives and you should find tons of useful info on mesh size and anything else you can think of.

Get a ceramic/marble mortar and pestle. It'll grind better, and be much easier to clean.

has anyone used 1000 mesh! Aluminum powder in their flashpowder

36 micron is about the same as 600 mesh

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Originally posted by cooper:
has anyone used 1000 mesh! Aluminum powder in their flashpowder

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I have ball milled 600 mesh for about a week...That probly knocked it up to 700 or 800...

go to firefox-fx.com they have 1000 mesh

what mesh is 2 micron

yeah, i have seen it right in front of my face, and i know a couple of places that sell it. I have made some 800 mesh magnesium before with my ball mill. It is almost as powerful as 7/3(both chemicals 500 mesh) when mixed with kno3.

edits: 2 micron is in between 100 and 1400 mesh.

[This message has been edited by NickSG (edited 12-19-2002).]

[This message has been edited by NickSG (edited 12-19-2002).]

Nick, u mean 1000-1400 mesh, not 100-1400 right?

Other than that i would say definitely not to use a wood mortar and pestle as some finely ground chemicals might get stuck in the pores of the wood if you do not clean it properly. You don't want to have any unfortunate accidents, do u?

yeah, i meant 1000 to 1400 mesh.

To find the measurement in inches for mesh put a 1 on top of the mesh size. Ball mills are better than mortar and pestels also.

CTR

Ball mills are only better than a mortar and pestle because you can run a ball mill for days.

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Originally posted by DavidThePyro:
Ball mills are only better than a mortar and pestle because you can run a ball mill for days.

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And it takes no work, not to mention the extra safty factor.

CTR

he wanted to know any other non standard measurements to. all i can offer at the moment is the mol measurement for acid but its hardly used in place of percentages. ps i think one mol is roughly about 5 or 6 percent but some one else will be able to tell u better how much it is.

molarity in acid refers to how many moles of solute are in a litre. A mole is a set amount for each element. A certain amount of grams will equal one mole. e.g. 12 grams is one mole of carbon. 14 grams is one mole of nitrogen. 1 molarity = 1 mol of solute in a litre of water.

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Originally posted by wolfhound:
molarity in acid refers to how many moles of solute are in a litre. A mole is a set amount for each element. A certain amount of grams will equal one mole. e.g. 12 grams is one mole of carbon. 14 grams is one mole of nitrogen. 1 molarity = 1 mol of solute in a litre of water.

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You add up the atomic mass of all elements in the chemical forula of a compound and express it in g/mole.

CTR

I was tired when i typed this and i want to add in that the mass of one mole is called the molar mass. Like for NaCl - Na= 23 grams per mole and Cl = 35.5 g/mole. Thus one mole of NaCl = 58.5 g/mole.

how is it that 2 microns is finner than 36 microns?

Agent boris_KGB:"36 micron is about the same as 600 mesh"
nickSG: "2 micron is in between 100 and 1400 mesh"
**nickSG ment 1000-1400 mesh.

i would think that it is the other way round.

Ah well

Cheers
^scythe^

Well I micron is one millionth of a meter... So it's like something 2 feet across is smaller than something 36 feet across...

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Thirdly, what kind of morter and pestle do you recommend? Marble or wood?

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I made one out of a small bowl and a smoth long rock. well i guess i didn't really make it i just use those things like a morter and pestle and just call it one.