3 replies to this topic

[novacat14]

Ok i was wondering if there is a good way to make sure my ball mill container is clean enough to avoid contaminating other things i want to mill, and i will make it know i am not milling food. Just other chemicals besides the usuall BP, but the thing is almost always giving off black resedue from the charcoal, no matter how many times i wash it. Should i just get a new one? I have a small 3Lb rubber like continer for my ball mill

thanks for any help

[ProfHawking]

what i do is wash it out and wash the media, then run it for a few hours with water & media inside.

I dont know if its a particularly the best way, but seems to work.

[Damp Squib]

Damd if I know ,even after only a few hours use the inside of a new container developes a matt like finish whether using lead cylinders,brass cylinders or steel balls thats almost impossible to perfectly clean,it doesnt help that sulphur and to a lesser extent charcoal are water repellent

The best I hope for is clean enough not upset ratios of the next batch,first a dry wipe out with some kitchen roll inside a dustbin,then a wipe round with some hot soapy water and a hot rinse,this gets the container looking clean but you can still make out a light shade of black

The trace amount left wont affect the next batch of BP but of course if you mill clorate it must have its own dedicated mill jar,in my honest opinion you can never clean it well enough to be sure theres no cross contamination just dont use the same jar for chemicals that dont mix

The small size of the particle thats embedded into the walls of jar I would imagine is almost impossible to completely clean out without using some extremely fine grit sandpaper or using some kind of hydrocarbon solvent and then theres a chance you could dissolve your jar and again theres the risk the stuff you clean it with my contaminate your next batch

The containers I use cost ?2.98 each, cheap at twice the price so I just buy new ones when needed

[Frozentech]

I have the same sort of milling jars, Thumlers brand. I ended up getting extra 3 lb jars for pure chems. As far as contamination working with chlorates, I keep separate screens, containers, and scoops for chlorate comps, as well as separate coffee grinders for oxidizers and fuels. I don't think you can get enough of the sulfur out of that rubber wall to make it safe. I do like the idea of running some soap & water in the mill with the media to clean up though ! I'll have to try that.