Dan Saultman on sat 9 aug 97
I'm interested in making my own ball mill. I was thinking of buying
the ball mill jar but noticed that they are rather expensive. Can I
make a jar myself? what makes them so special? Also I would like to
use the flint pebbles rather than the porcelain ones but can't find a
source.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Dan Saultman in Sunny Colorado
David Hendley on sat 9 aug 97
Sure Dan, you can make your own ball mill jar. I've wasted many hours
doing it. The first one was ever so slightly too large to fit in the
cradle. The second one was a hair too tall to fit. Finally got a good size
and started ball-milling. The lid broke after about 20 hours. New lid, and
back in business.
I thought my glazes were technically good, but you should see the inside
of that jar after a hundred hours of ball-milling! There are tiny pieces of
that glaze in whatever I was milling. Well, not to worry, because the whole
jar is now broken...
Another problem: How do you attatch the lid to the jar? I had the
mechanism from the broken jar I was replacing. Starting from scratch you'll
have to fabricate something (no problem for Dan).
If you have the type of ball mill mech. where the jar just sits on the
rollers you won't have the precise sizing problems, but size is still very
important to ensure proper grinding speed.
Best regards,
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
Pierre Brayford on sat 9 aug 97
Dan Saultman wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm interested in making my own ball mill. I was thinking of buying
> the ball mill jar but noticed that they are rather expensive. Can I
> make a jar myself? what makes them so special? Also I would like to
> use the flint pebbles rather than the porcelain ones but can't find a
> source.
> Thanks in advance for any info.
> Dan Saultman in Sunny Colorado
At Aberystwyth David Frith was marketing a ball mill designed by him.
The jars, about 2 gallons each, seemed to be made of his white stoneware
body glazed on the outside and I think unglazed on the inside. Each jar
had a groove around the center line which matched a ring of rubber(?) on
the roller, to provide lateral stability. The problem of sealing the jar
opening was solved by having two jars with the openings facing one
another - cunningly arranged so that a childrens plastic ball about 5"
diameter was a tight fit in both openings.
Had I realised that I was going to be examined on the subject I would
have found out more!
David Frith has a website - but can't see a picture of this ball mill!
http://www.pottery.demon.co.uk/index.htm
Tony Hansen on mon 11 aug 97
The tricky part of making a ball mill jar is to get a thick
porcelain jar that does not crack, not an easy thing. Second
it has to be a relatively perfect perpendicular cylinder on the
outside or it will jump and chatter while turning in the stand.
--
T o n y H a n s e n, I M C thansen@digitalfire.com
=========================================================
INSIGHT5/Magic of Fire II demos at http://digitalfire.com
John Harlow on mon 11 aug 97
> I'm interested in making my own ball mill. I was thinking of buying
> the ball mill jar but noticed that they are rather expensive. Can I
> make a jar myself? what makes them so special? Also I would like to
> use the flint pebbles rather than the porcelain ones but can't find a
> source.
> Thanks in advance for any info.
> Dan Saultman in Sunny Colorado
I have been using a ball mill (I built back in 1974) regularly
that uses a 5 gallon plastic drum and flint pebbles. The drum
is STILL the ORIGINAL! I'm busy today but will happily make details
available as soon as I can eg drum diameters, pebble size,
rotation speed etc.
John
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| JOHN HARLOW | DIRECTOR |
| Tel: 01225 826972 | Computing Service (BUCS) |
| Mobile: 0410 163067 | University of Bath |
| Email: ccsjrh@bath.ac.uk | Bath |
| J.R.Harlow@bath.ac.uk | BA2 7AY |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Dedicated fax 01225 323202 Alternative fax 01225 826176 |
| WWW http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsjrh/home.htm |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
John Harlow on tue 12 aug 97
> I have been using a ball mill (I built back in 1974) regularly
> that uses a 5 gallon plastic drum and flint pebbles. The drum
> is STILL the ORIGINAL! I'm busy today but will happily make details
> available as soon as I can eg drum diameters, pebble size,
> rotation speed etc.
> John
Basic info on http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsjrh/ballmill.htm
Not the most fantastic page but it should be reasonably
clear.
>
> +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | JOHN HARLOW | DIRECTOR |
> | Tel: 01225 826972 | Computing Service (BUCS) |
> | Mobile: 0410 163067 | University of Bath |
> | Email: ccsjrh@bath.ac.uk | Bath |
> | J.R.Harlow@bath.ac.uk | BA2 7AY |
> +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | Dedicated fax 01225 323202 Alternative fax 01225 826176 |
> | WWW http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsjrh/home.htm |
> +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
John Rodgers on sat 13 mar 10
Can anyone give me a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is good. I
could use a couple in the near future.
Thanks.
--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
phil on sun 14 mar 10
No reason a Potter could not make very good Ball Mill Jars for themselves.
More or less a straight walled Crock, unglazed, and on the open end,
outside, have an incised groove a little down from the end, for tieing on a
thin Rubber Sheet.
Porcelain...and, fire to a high Cone.
Make the 'Balls' also...of course.
Hank Murrow on sun 14 mar 10
On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
> Can anyone give me a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is
> good. I
> could use a couple in the near future.
Dear John;
I got mine from Seattle Pottery Supply and they were around $90 ten
years ago. I made a special drive system which you can see here:
http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm scroll down to the
mill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also a Ceramics equipment
firm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mills, used and new.
Pacific Machinery, or something.
Cheers, Hank
Hank Murrow on sun 14 mar 10
On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
> Can anyone give me a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is
> good. I
> could use a couple in the near future.
Dear John;
I got mine from Seattle Pottery Supply and they were around $90 ten
years ago. I made a special drive system which you can see here:
http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm scroll down to the
mill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also a Ceramics equipment
firm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mills, used and new.
Pacific Machinery, or something.
Cheers, Hank
FLASH! Georgies in Portland OR lists a three gallon jar for $175.
Steve Mills on sun 14 mar 10
John,
These guys are in the UK and deal in chemicals & associated equipment .
http://www.inoxia.co.uk/rw/product/product.aspx?ID=3D148
I'll bet there is someone like them in the US
I have one of their 6 litre screw-on lid Polypropylene jars (approx $24)
which I use on my home-made Ball mill rack to grind ash. it is a bit staine=
d
by the ash, but they are so cheap it's worth having more than one for
different materials.
Over here, 2nd hand ceramic ones cost a bomb!
Good hunting!
Steve M
On 14 March 2010 05:48, John Rodgers wrote:
> Can anyone give me a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is good. I
> could use a couple in the near future.
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
--
Steve
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Carol Casey on sun 14 mar 10
Do a lot of potters use ball mill jars? They seem very expensive; are they
worth it?
Carol
Canary Court
On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Hank Murrow wrote:
> On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
>
> Can anyone give me a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is
>> good. I
>> could use a couple in the near future.
>>
>
> Dear John;
>
> I got mine from Seattle Pottery Supply and they were around $90 ten
> years ago. I made a special drive system which you can see here:
>
> http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm scroll down to the
> mill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also a Ceramics equipment
> firm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mills, used and new.
> Pacific Machinery, or something.
>
> Cheers, Hank
>
> FLASH! Georgies in Portland OR lists a three gallon jar for $175.
>
steve graber on sun 14 mar 10
ok - stupid question time.=3DA0 can i use the rock tumbler i have as a=3DA0=
ball=3D
mill?=3DA0 just curious.=3DA0 i've used=3DA0it to tumble rocks.=3DA0 and i=
t was=3DA0=3D
sold to clean shot gun shells.=3DA0 can these be used for such=3DA0double d=
uty?=3D
=3DA0 the price from a thrift store was some $4.=3DA0 =3D0A=3DA0Steve Grabe=
r, Grabe=3D
r's Pottery, Inc=3D0AClaremont, California USA=3D0AThe Steve Tool - for awe=
some=3D
texture on pots! =3D0Awww.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com =3D0=
A=3D0A=3D
=3D0AOn Laguna Clay's website=3D0Ahttp://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/ =3D0A=3D=
0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D
----- Original Message ----=3D0A> From: Hank Murrow =3D0A>=
To:=3D
Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0A> Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 10:09:31 AM=3D0A>=
Sub=3D
ject: Re: Ball Mill Jars=3D0A> =3D0A> On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rod=
gers=3D
wrote:=3D0A=3D0A> Can anyone give me =3D0A> a good reference to Ball Mill =
Jars. =3D
Used is=3D0A> good.=3DA0 I=3D0A> could =3D0A> use a couple in the near futu=
re.=3D0A=3D
=3D0ADear John;=3D0A=3D0AI got mine from =3D0A> Seattle Pottery Supply and =
they wer=3D
e around $90 ten=3D0Ayears ago. I made a =3D0A> special drive system which =
you =3D
can see here:=3D0A=3D0A> href=3D3D"http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tool=
s.htm"=3D
target=3D3D_blank =3D0A> >http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm=3D=
A0 scr=3D
oll down to =3D0A> the=3D0Amill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also=
a C=3D
eramics =3D0A> equipment=3D0Afirm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mi=
lls,=3D
used and =3D0A> new.=3D0APacific Machinery, or something.=3D0A=3D0ACheers,=
Hank=3D0A=3D
=3D0A=3D0A
Bryan Johnson on sun 14 mar 10
steve graber wrote:
> ok - stupid question time. can i use the rock tumbler i have as a ball m=
ill? just curious. i've used it to tumble rocks. and it was sold to clea=
n shot gun shells. can these be used for such double duty? the price from=
a thrift store was some $4.
>
I use mine for my ball mill. It seems to work ok. I only use it make
sure that pigments are very fine. The porcelain jars and pebbles are
ones that I made.
Bryan Johnson
Steve Mills on mon 15 mar 10
Steve, the answer is YES!
I do all my test milling in a Rock Tumbler, I do however use proper Ball
Mill porcelain balls in it to insure no contamination.........works a treat=
!
Steve M
On 15 March 2010 00:41, steve graber wrote:
> ok - stupid question time. can i use the rock tumbler i have as a ball
> mill? just curious. i've used it to tumble rocks. and it was sold to
> clean shot gun shells. can these be used for such double duty? the pric=
e
> from a thrift store was some $4.
> Steve Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc
> Claremont, California USA
> The Steve Tool - for awesome texture on pots!
> www.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com
>
>
> On Laguna Clay's website
> http://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Hank Murrow
> > To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> > Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 10:09:31 AM
> > Subject: Re: Ball Mill Jars
> >
> > On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
>
> > Can anyone give me
> > a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is
> > good. I
> > could
> > use a couple in the near future.
>
> Dear John;
>
> I got mine from
> > Seattle Pottery Supply and they were around $90 ten
> years ago. I made a
> > special drive system which you can see here:
>
> > href=3D"http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm" target=3D_blank
> > >http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm scroll down to
> > the
> mill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also a Ceramics
> > equipment
> firm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mills, used and
> > new.
> Pacific Machinery, or something.
>
> Cheers, Hank
>
>
>
>
--
Steve
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Roland Beevor on mon 15 mar 10
> steve graber wrote:
>> ok - stupid question time. can i use the rock tumbler i have as a
>> ball mill? just curious. i've used it to tumble rocks. and it was
>> sold to clean shot gun shells. can these be used for such double
>> duty? the price from a thrift store was some $4.
>
To get the best out of your tumbler you should consider the principles
it works on. At different speeds and levels of fill you get different
effects, ideally you want the top layer of balls cascading down the face
of the bulk as far as possible, unless you are talking about a high
speed or planetary mill where the objective is high energy impact. The
action you get may not be ideal but may nevertheless be perfectly good
for your purposes. The other question is whether you mind getting the
material from the jar wall into your product, if it is steel you will
get some iron, but probably not enough to affect a glaze.
Roly
--
Roland Beevor
Christison Particle Technologies Ltd
Albany Road
Gateshead
NE8 3AT
UK
+44 191 478 8120
Eric Hansen on mon 15 mar 10
I have heard that the $30 rock tumbler from Harbor Freight will work as a
small ball mill. You have to tumble a few rocks first tho.
h a n s e n
On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 7:25 PM, Carol Casey wrote:
> Do a lot of potters use ball mill jars? They seem very expensive; are the=
y
> worth it?
>
> Carol
> Canary Court
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Hank Murrow wrote:
>
> > On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
> >
> > Can anyone give me a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is
> >> good. I
> >> could use a couple in the near future.
> >>
> >
> > Dear John;
> >
> > I got mine from Seattle Pottery Supply and they were around $90 ten
> > years ago. I made a special drive system which you can see here:
> >
> > http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm scroll down to the
> > mill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also a Ceramics equipment
> > firm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mills, used and new.
> > Pacific Machinery, or something.
> >
> > Cheers, Hank
> >
> > FLASH! Georgies in Portland OR lists a three gallon jar for $175.
> >
>
Eric Hansen on mon 15 mar 10
If you plan on doing slip trail or burnished pit fire you will want to make
nice slips and terra sigs, a ball mill really helps. Also helps a lot on as=
h
glazes, whcih tend to have "clinkers" sometimes. You can grind non-plastic
clays in to plastic ones also. Lots of uses! Sometimes levigating and/or
straining will do these things but a ball mill can be very convienient. Lik=
e
I said the 30$ rock tumble form Harbor Freight works as a ball mill, but yo=
u
can spend more on a professional quality manufactured ball mill or even mak=
e
you own ball mill.
h a n s e n
On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 7:25 PM, Carol Casey wrote:
> Do a lot of potters use ball mill jars? They seem very expensive; are the=
y
> worth it?
>
> Carol
> Canary Court
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Hank Murrow wrote:
>
> > On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
> >
> > Can anyone give me a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is
> >> good. I
> >> could use a couple in the near future.
> >>
> >
> > Dear John;
> >
> > I got mine from Seattle Pottery Supply and they were around $90 ten
> > years ago. I made a special drive system which you can see here:
> >
> > http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm scroll down to the
> > mill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also a Ceramics equipment
> > firm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mills, used and new.
> > Pacific Machinery, or something.
> >
> > Cheers, Hank
> >
> > FLASH! Georgies in Portland OR lists a three gallon jar for $175.
> >
>
Paul Herman on mon 15 mar 10
Carol,
Yes, potters do use ball mills quite a bit. If you want to process
locally obtained materials, it's an essential tool.
Like Phil recommended, I made my own jar, and the roller set up too.
best wishes,
Paul Herman
Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
www.greatbasinpottery.com/
On Mar 14, 2010, at 4:25 PM, Carol Casey wrote:
> Do a lot of potters use ball mill jars? They seem very expensive;
> are they
> worth it?
>
> Carol
> Canary Court
Steve Irvine on mon 15 mar 10
The book, "Glazes from Natural Sources" 2nd ed. by Brian Sutherland has =3D
detailed instructions on how to make a ball mill, how to calculate =3D
pulley size, drive speeds etc.=3D20
I've used my ball mill for grinding local materials =3D97 beach pebbles, =
=3D
even window glass =3D97 to experiment with new glaze ingredients.
Steve Irvine
www.steveirvine.com
Carol Casey on mon 15 mar 10
Thank you all for this information. In the past I have used locally obtaine=
d
clay and this summer hope to work with terra sigillata, so this thread is
very useful.
Carol
Canary Court
On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 11:19 AM, Paul Herman w=
rote:
> Carol,
>
> Yes, potters do use ball mills quite a bit. If you want to process locall=
y
> obtained materials, it's an essential tool.
>
> Like Phil recommended, I made my own jar, and the roller set up too.
>
> best wishes,
>
> Paul Herman
>
> Great Basin Pottery
> Doyle, California US
> www.greatbasinpottery.com/
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mar 14, 2010, at 4:25 PM, Carol Casey wrote:
>
> Do a lot of potters use ball mill jars? They seem very expensive; are th=
ey
>> worth it?
>>
>> Carol
>> Canary Court
>>
>
>
Steve Slatin on mon 15 mar 10
I've used mine for this purpose. It's a slow
process, and it only processes a small amount
compared to what you can do with a commercial
ball mill, but it does work. In fact, if you
let it go too long you get some undesirable
results ... or, at any rate, results that
I found undesirable (crawling).
As with so many things, a little testing goes
a long way.
Steve Slatin --=3D20
--- On Sun, 3/14/10, steve graber wrote:
> From: steve graber
> Subject: Re: Ball Mill Jars
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010, 5:41 PM
> ok - stupid question time.=3DA0 can i
> use the rock tumbler i have as a=3DA0ball mill?=3DA0 just
> curious.=3DA0 i've used=3DA0it to tumble rocks.=3DA0 and it was=3DA0sold
> to clean shot gun shells.=3DA0 can these be used for
> such=3DA0double duty?=3DA0 the price from a thrift store was some
> $4.=3DA0=3D20
> =3DA0Steve Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc
> Claremont, California USA
> The Steve Tool - for awesome texture on pots!=3D20
> www.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> On Laguna Clay's website
> http://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Hank Murrow
> > To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> > Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 10:09:31 AM
> > Subject: Re: Ball Mill Jars
> >=3D20
> > On Mar 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
>=3D20
> > Can anyone give me=3D20
> > a good reference to Ball Mill Jars. Used is
> > good.=3DA0 I
> > could=3D20
> > use a couple in the near future.
>=3D20
> Dear John;
>=3D20
> I got mine from=3D20
> > Seattle Pottery Supply and they were around $90 ten
> years ago. I made a=3D20
> > special drive system which you can see here:
>=3D20
> > href=3D3D"http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm"
> target=3D3D_blank=3D20
> > >http://www.murrow.biz/hank/kiln-and-tools.htm=3DA0 scroll
> down to=3D20
> > the
> mill, total parts and labor: $110. There is also a Ceramics
>=3D20
> > equipment
> firm near Fresno that carries ball jars and mills, used and
>=3D20
> > new.
> Pacific Machinery, or something.
>=3D20
> Cheers, Hank
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
ivor & olive lewis on tue 16 mar 10
Stephen Harrison wrote a short monograph, "Thoroughly Modern Milling" and
drew up plans for a studio ball mill which was published by Pottery in
Australia, Vol 15, nos 1 and 2. I am sure it would still be available. As
far as I know Stephen is still active and has made contributions to Clayart
in the past.
Be aware that tumble polishing Gemstones demands an abrasive action and
therefore a slower rotational speed. Ball Milling, reducing material to a
powder, either wet or dry, relies on the impact of free falling balls on th=
e
material being reduced.
Lost the price tag from my copy but thirty years ago it was only a couple o=
f
dollars.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis,
Redhill,
South Australia
ivor & olive lewis on tue 16 mar 10
By the way, Ball Milling with water is an accelerated form of weathering.
Some of our minerals will change their character. I suspect alkalies will b=
e
lost from the felspar group of minerals.
Ivor
Bonnie Staffel on wed 17 mar 10
I checked out Amazon.com and could not find the book Glazes from Natural
Sources by Brian Sutherland. Any clues if this is still in print?
Thanks,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
DVD=3DA0 Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD=3DA0 Introduction to Wheel Work
Charter Member Potters Council
Steve Irvine on wed 17 mar 10
Hi Bonnie,=3D20
I did a quick search on amazon.ca and they say it is "not in stock, but =3D
can send when available" =3D20
As far as I know it is still in print. You might try ordering it =3D
directly from the U. of Penn Press:
http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14254.html
Steve
www.steveirvine.com
> I checked out Amazon.com and could not find the book Glazes from =3D
Natural
> Sources by Brian Sutherland. Any clues if this is still in print?
>=3D20
> Thanks,
>=3D20
> Bonnie Staffel
Marcia Selsor on wed 17 mar 10
try Abebooks.com
http://www.abebooks.com/
Marcia
On Mar 17, 2010, at 1:08 PM, Bonnie Staffel wrote:
> I checked out Amazon.com and could not find the book Glazes from Natural
> Sources by Brian Sutherland. Any clues if this is still in print?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bonnie Staffel
>
> http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
> http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
> DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
> DVD Introduction to Wheel Work
> Charter Member Potters Council
>
Marcia Selsor
http://www.marciaselsor.com
Steve Mills on wed 17 mar 10
It is "on the shelf" at Amazon.co.uk
Steve M
On 17 March 2010 18:08, Bonnie Staffel wrote:
> I checked out Amazon.com and could not find the book Glazes from Natural
> Sources by Brian Sutherland. Any clues if this is still in print?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bonnie Staffel
>
> http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
> http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
> DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
> DVD Introduction to Wheel Work
> Charter Member Potters Council
>
--
Steve
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional!
| |
|
