Make German Dark Aluminum Powder in Bulk

Step 4 Grinding Process

• Now seal the barrel and set it on the Rock Tumbler. Turn it on.
• Within an hour, the confetti will have been smushed into a mess of aluminum grains. Top off the barrel with more aluminum confetti and continue running the tumbler.
• Keep grinding and adding more aluminum until the barrel has been filled slightly over half-full with aluminum.
• Now let the powder grind for 6-7 days undisturbed.

Comments

[hahaloll13]

Can i use a coffe grinder  instead of a ball mill?

[MasterMind555]

Well I tried with mine, all what is does is making small folded aluminium balls, it don't make powder, but maybe it's because it's not enough powerful...( The coffee grinder was smelling like burn O.O )

[Berkin]

The fastest way is not always the best way. Grinding it will give you either crappy-grade powder, or a coffee grinder that has aluminum strips tangled in the motor axle.

[olao99]

I have tried this way, but when i finally open the ball mil, it is all rusty, the grinding media, the barrel, how can i avoid this?

[Berkin]

I've never heard of that happening before, but it sounds like you got water vapor in your mill drum.

[joeismydad]

Wait, so for every handful of aluminum you add, do you have to add a tablespoon of charcoal or do you just add one table spoon of charcoal and the rest is aluminum?

[Berkin]

The first one you said is right.

[Diclonius]

 will this work with ceramic media instead of steel balls? or are the steel balls just because theyre easy to remove with a magnet ?

[Berkin]

You need heavy media, that's why I went for steel. Otherwise, it won't grind.

[dachemist]

Actually it will. I made some with very light-weight glass marbles. It just takes longer to do with lighter media

[Berkin]

I'd imagine you'll have tiny fragments of glass in your product then. NOT good if you're aiming for good-purity powder.

[dachemist]

 I have carbon steel balls now. They do work better

[Berkin]

Nice!

[dachemist]

 you get 50 3/4 inch carbon steel balls for $14.00 at www.mcmaster.com