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1MileCrash
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Casting A Fire Ant Colony With Molten Aluminum
http://vitaminl.tv/video/1599
http://vitaminl.tv/video/1599
fluidistic said:Wow impressive. I'm actually impressed by at least 2 things:
1)I would have thought that the aluminium wouldn't go that deep without solidifying. It must have been extremely hot, significantly hotter than the melting point?
2)The ant nest is surprisingly small to me... with a single entrance?!
The melting point is: 1,221°F (660.3°C) and the boiling point is: 4,566°F (2,519°C), so there seems to be a lot of room for pouring it well above the melting point. How hot an amateur can get it is probably most dependent on what kind of crucible they have available.1MileCrash said:From what I've read, it's at around 1200* F.
I would imagine it's trial and error. If it cools too fast one time, keep it in the furnace longer before the next pour. That sort of thing.1MileCrash said:Well in the videos I've heard them say "pouring 1200* F into an ant hill" but I suppose it is likely that they just looked up the melting point and put that number.
It seems like if it was near the actual melting point, most of it would be starting to solidify by the time they were pouring, and whatever came out would be 'blobby.'
With all this in mind, casting ant nests is much less demanding than it looks, despite the complexity of the nest.AlephZero said:Earth is a fairly good insulator, so it doesn't take the heat out of the aluminum too fast. The traditional way to make metal castings was using sand moulds. The main difference is that Earth probably has a higher water content that industrial molding sand.
You don't need exotic crucible materials to cast aluminum. Iron doesn't melt until about 2700F (1500C). You should be able to get aluminum up to about 1600F with a simple gas furnace. Casting aluminum barely get the iron glowing red hot.
OmCheeto said:I probably should have, and did, google what I remembered, before I posted; "10 tons of molten aluminum??!?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFg21x2sj-M
Ants are cool.
ps. I concur with Student100; "Someone call PETA."
Student100 said:Someone call PETA.
Are you kidding me? :rofl:consciousness said:Killing ants to remove pests is acceptable, but to create "Art"... that cannot be justified in any way.
art 1 (ärt)
n.
1. Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
consciousness said:Killing ants to remove pests is acceptable, but to create "Art"... that cannot be justified in any way.
I think that is "art" as a synonym for "craft" - or the section in Patent applications that used to be called "Prior Art", i.e. what other people had already done.art 1 (ärt)
n.
1. Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
1MileCrash said:I think this was originally done to study the form of the nest. In any case, if killing them just to kill them is acceptable, then killing them with the added benefit of creating art is acceptable.
And then, there's also the fact that they are just ants.
Brilliant! We should show this video to all the exterminators in the south. Not only would we be rid of a hideous invasive species, we'd have tens of thousands of pieces of art for sale. I think they'd make great x-mas presents.consciousness said:This guy is selling the casts. He is killing ants to make money. For all we know he could be searching for large ant hills with a bucketful of aluminium in his hand, thinking about his next sale.
...
Are you serious about "Just ants"? If all ants were to somehow vanish...
A couple of things we know and some speculation:1MileCrash said:Well in the videos I've heard them say "pouring 1200* F into an ant hill" but I suppose it is likely that they just looked up the melting point and put that number.
It seems like if it was near the actual melting point, most of it would be starting to solidify by the time they were pouring, and whatever came out would be 'blobby.'
OmCheeto said:Strawman. You lose.
russ_watters said:A couple of things we know and some speculation:
1. We know the aluminum is near its melting temp because as it pours, it is forming a solidified, thin foil skin.
2. Heat of fusion for most materials is very large, so even as it starts to solidify, it takes a large energy outflow to solidify a little bit.
3. It is therefore likely that as the aluminum flows into the anthill, it coats the walls of the tunnels with a thin layer of solid aluminum, which helps stabilize the tunnels while providing pipes for the transfer of more molen aluminum.
Remember, though, as nugatory pointed out:consciousness said:This guy is selling the casts. He is killing ants to make money. For all we know he could be searching for large ant hills with a bucketful of aluminium in his hand, thinking about his next sale. It is morally questionable so yeah, I was being serious.
Are you serious about "Just ants"? If all ants were to somehow vanish then the whole ecosystem would probably break down. And not to mention, ants are awesome
Nugatory said:These ants are solenopsis invicta, a non-native invasive species that is destructive to native flora and fauna and a very unpleasant neighbor.
Nugatory said:You may get a different reaction from people who live in fire-ant country in North America... These ants are solenopsis invicta, a non-native invasive species that is destructive to native flora and fauna and a very unpleasant neighbor.
Student100 said:Yeah I know that, I've been bitten by them. I was trying to be funny, and failed.
Some places there doesn't need to be a crime.chuffmonkey said:Be very careful though, as crimes against the monarchy still carry the death sentence here in the U.K
chuffmonkey said:Kidnap the Queen, as without a Queen, the ant empire would fall, like the Romans... Be very careful though, as crimes against the monarchy still carry the death sentence here in the U.K
There are several signs that indicate the presence of an ant colony, including seeing a large number of ants in a particular area, finding ant trails, and noticing ant hills or mounds in your yard. You may also see discarded ant wings or notice damage to wooden structures caused by carpenter ants.
The most effective way to remove an ant colony is by using bait traps or ant baits. These traps contain a substance that the ants will bring back to their colony, ultimately killing off the entire colony. It is important to follow the instructions on the trap and be patient, as it may take a few days for the bait to work.
Yes, there are several natural methods for removing an ant colony. These include using a mixture of vinegar and water to disrupt the ants' scent trails, sprinkling diatomaceous earth around the colony to dehydrate and kill the ants, or pouring boiling water directly into the colony to kill the ants.
The time it takes to remove an ant colony depends on the size of the colony and the method used. Using bait traps can take a few days to a week, while natural methods may take longer. It is important to continue monitoring the area and using the chosen method until all signs of the colony are gone.
To prevent future ant colonies, it is important to keep your home and yard clean and free of food sources that may attract ants. This includes sealing any cracks or openings where ants can enter, regularly cleaning up spills and crumbs, and keeping food stored in airtight containers. You may also consider using ant repellents or natural deterrents such as peppermint oil to keep ants away.