Non-Chemical ball machine?

[Barren Realms 007]

We can't discourage all options even if we know they will not work properly. You can tell them it won't work and they will still try it to prove you wrong. The option is there it is the users idea to determine if they can put it to use.

If we "can't discourage all options", then our purpose in being here is lost. I have no intentions of encouraging a concept that is moronic----which this clearly is.

I have a reputation to uphold. It's one of dispensing helpful insight, solving problems with which I am familiar, and, hopefully, keeping people that don't have enough sense to come in out of a bad storm, out of trouble.

If readers here are looking for validation of stupid concepts, they've come to the wrong place. (Or could it be I have?)

On this forum, you can learn to process just about anything you may encounter in the way of precious metals. Between a handful of individuals, it's pretty safe to say we've seen it all. Unless readers wish to lose that opportunity, it's a good idea for those that have no clue to pay attention to what they're told, not to endlessly second guess someone because they don't like the message they receive. There are times when someone has to tell you that you're simply wrong.

Harold

That is the path I shall follow then Harold. Thanks for you guidence.

 

[Anonymous]

I have not tried anything yet, I am still gathering information. I did find information requiring the concentrate to be ground to 800 or 1000 mesh, 1 pound of balls should equal 1 pound of concentrate, and the diameter of the balls should not exceed 1 1/4 inches. Please correct me if this is not valid information.

haroldg

 

[WIZZARD]

I'll jump in as this is my second posting and I know a little about ball mills. I have designed and made several over the years.

You need to be specific in your goal. Taking boulders to pebbles to powder or circuit boards to a fine MESS may be several sizing steps. I've even use commercial garbage disposals hooked to a vacuum to reduce the right pre-sized product, dry, reduced to 1/8 x1/8 minus. You need to take safety to the maximum for this. This is another matter.

I'm guessing the dryer size is what you had in mind? A cement mixer can be modified to do the trick. I use different sizes to reduce product to powder to digesting product in leach solutions. A 5 to 20 gallon plastic bucket can be centered using a fixture insert or off set to give more agitation, however plastic is only good for reducing P-gravel size to powder, or chemical digestion. By inserting a plastic bucket, steel drum, ceramic crock pot, properly, you can have different inserts and fixtures for different jobs. Cement mixers can run for hours, be modified for many tasks, however they have their limits. Remember the medium, the product and container must be compatible, as canon balls will make a mess out of your crock pot. Be warned, a ball mill running is very very LOUD!! Allow for fumes and use lids with vents.

The medium can range from ball bearings to river rocks to marbles. Know the crushing medium used will break down and add to your product. Commercial ceramic medium are very hard (expensive) however contamination is kept to a minimum.

FNG.........Forum New Guy!
WIZZARD