peterpyro Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) Im an amateur an trying to make rockets and I need a good bunch of clay for bulkheads and such. Ive already made some ok-ish Tooling, and have not quite managed to make my first with wetted cornstarch (Course it didnt do very well)Anyway does someone know where to get the stuff? Un scented kitty litter? -Pete Edit: would this do? https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Controls-Naturally-Special-Kitty/dp/B01MQ3XY6J/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=unscented+clay+cat+litter&qid=1589657438&sr=8-15 Edited May 16, 2020 by peterpyro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortoise Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 A dollar store or wallmart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumbles Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 That stuff will work fine. Many people have used that brand of kitty litter with success. If you're ordering something, you might want to think about getting something from a ceramics supplier or Dr. Elsey's which is also highly regarded kitty litter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WSM Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 That stuff will work fine. Many people have used that brand of kitty litter with success. If you're ordering something, you might want to think about getting something from a ceramics supplier or Dr. Elsey's which is also highly regarded kitty litter. If looking at a ceramics supplier, I'm told Hawthorne Bond fireclay is excellent. They also will likely have bentonite clay and several other powdered clay materials. A trusted friend always suggests using the cheapest generic kitty litter available to avoid unnecessary perfumes and fillers. The better ones have uniform sized particles and flow characteristics. Good hunting! WSM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidh Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Don't mail order it! The shipping spikes the price. That stuff is cheap in every place that sells pet supplies. Simply buy the cheapest kitty litter. The cheaper the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpyro Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 I was actually at the dollar store yesterday and I thought to look in the pet isle and saw kitty litter, but I was a bit unsure, and I dont think I could have stuffed it in a backpack since I was in my bike. Now I know that any will do, I might go back and get it then... The stuff on amazon had free shipping, and at the moment I somehow dont have $12, so the dollar store should work great. I dont know if I could afford something from a ceramic supplier, though it does sound like a great idea. I think Ill just pop into dollar tree tomorrow and that should do it Thanks everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Simply finding the local suppliers for all sorts of things that may help pyro is a very worthwhile task. Pottery/ceramics people have all sorts of chemicals -some useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidh Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 (edited) Bentonite is a good multipurpose beginner clay. The nozzles erode a bit, and long storage can be an issue, so at some point you can move to fireclay, which doesn't have the sodium like Bentonite. But if you make it and shoot in in a couple weeks, and aren't building motors on the edge of blowing up, Bentonite works fine. An added note. I always like my bentonite at least a bit granular. I will run it through my mill for a few minutes, and screen to get cuts that work well (nozzles, bulkheads, shortening lance tubes, etc.). You can mill longer and get dust if you want (not sure why you would want fines; I normally toss the fines). Toss the first batch out of your mill. It will clean your mill and be somewhat contaminated. Edited May 18, 2020 by davidh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpyro Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share Posted May 18, 2020 Alright cool! Sounds like Ill be riding my bike down to dollar tree today and throwing kitty litter into my coffee mill Thanks everyone! -Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Really good nozzles can be machined from solid graphite and epoxie'd in place.after ramming the grain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpyro Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 The deed has been done! It was super cheap and looks just as I had expected! Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 Milling kitty litter is a good way to "clean" a ball mill to prevent cross contamination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidh Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 BTW, if you mill with a coffee mill, then just mill for a couple of seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpyro Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 I think that would make sense! Things you learn everyday -Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shockie Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 https://www.axner.com/bentonite-325mesh.aspx newer kitty litter has silica gels and other stuff in them to combat and lock in oders.. get the real stuff..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetICouldMake1 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Just don't buy "fancy" litter. The cheap stuff is just clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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