[sudoroom] Ferro Fluids Sudo Project group

Wed Jul 18 07:59:27 CEST 2012

I've seen that FeCl3 based recipe in a few other places. This may be the
original source: http://www.sci-spot.com/Chemistry/liqimag.htm

You definitely don't need all the fancy lab equipment, just some measuring
cups and an old pot to boil the stuff in. You do need to boil off a lot of
ammonia - probably not something you'd want to do indoors.

Electromagnets are everywhere - any electrical motor has electromagnets
inside, and you can always wind one yourself with some copper wire around
an iron core, like a nail. I've got some small DC motors in the Sudoroom
locker at TechLiminal that we can scavenge for small magnets and
electromagnets.

Patrik

On Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 9:57 PM, Tracy Jacobs <kinetical at comcast.net> wrote:

> http://www.gdiy.com/projects/liquid-magnets-ferrofluid/index.php
>
> This looks like a good recipe.  It uses steel wool for the metal.  I do
> have some Ferric Chloride from etching pcbs in my garage.  I can get
> kerosene and ammonia, and you found a source for Oleic Acid.  It doesn't
> sound like we would need very much 10ml.
>
> Do you have some of the lab equipment it calls for?
>
> Are you working from a  recipe?  Do you want to try both?
>
> I have a dogwalking business and a full schedule tomorrow., so I don't
> know that I'll be ready by tomorrow. I won't have a chance to run to
> Berkeley and get Oleic acid anyway.  Maybe Friday or the weekend would be
> better.   I think I have a couple old hard drives if I can find them in
> this mess.  They are supposed to have good magnets.
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUz1ZI-w6LQ&feature=BFa&list=PLD113CD853249B687
>
> How could they do this do you think?  All the movement is interesting to
> be sure. They are talking about using fluxes too, but it is not clear to
> me.  Do you know what they are talking about?  It almost looks like they
> pump the fluid up from the center.
>
>  Do you have a link for the electromagnets you are talking about or did
> you make them?  I can't wait to try this!
>
> Thanks for your help.  Let's talk tomorrow, I don't get home till about 5.
>
> Tracy
>
> On Jul 17, 2012, at 1:38 PM, Patrik D'haeseleer wrote:
>
> I was thinking that some non-magnetic material would make it easier to
> manipulate the overall magnetic field using some low-powered
> electromagnets. Hence Alu foil instead of cast iron.
>
> Actually, we could just start from a cheap plastic skull ($17.27 on Amazon<http://www.amazon.com/Anatomical-Chart-Company-CS20-Life-Size/dp/B000VKSDYE>,
> or dig through your Halloween closet), and implant some magnets to get the
> ferrofluid to stick.
>
> Patrik
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 9:24 AM, Tracy Jacobs <kinetical at comcast.net>wrote:
>
>> Patrick,
>>
>> I love your idea !  Cast iron would be better than foil to be sure.
>>  Maybe greenman would be a fitting subject.
>>
>> I'm ok with Wed or Fri, maybe Friday if I have to run around and get
>> supplies too.
>>
>> Tracy
>>
>> On Jul 17, 2012, at 1:12 AM, Patrik D'haeseleer wrote:
>>
>> I could do Wednesday or Friday - prefer Wednesday. I can bring my small
>> sample of cemmercial ferrofluid for comparison with the DIY versions.
>>
>> Does anyone have access to oleic acid to use as a surfactant? That should
>> keep the ferrite particles from clumping together, and make for a much
>> smoother ferrofluid. Supposed to be around 5% magnetite (3-15% by volume),
>> 10% surfactant (6-30%), and 85% oil (55-91%).
>>
>> Someone on Instructables mentioned you can also get ferrite at a pottery
>> supply store for $2-$5 a pound. Know anyone into pottery? Anyone want to
>> check out Leslie Ceramic Supply, 1212 San Pablo in Berkeley, just North of
>> Gilman?
>>
>> In terms of art pieces, I think it would be really cool to do an animated
>> sculpture covered in ferrofluid, with electromagnets hidden inside so you
>> can change the texture of the ferrofluid. The simplest version could just
>> be a face molded out of aluminum foil, with small magnets embedded to get
>> the ferrofluid to cover the surface. Then put some electromagnets behind
>> the face, so you can change its expression by manipulating the ferrofluid.
>>
>> Patrik
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 10:11 PM, Tracy Jacobs <kinetical at comcast.net>wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> Thanks for expressing interest in doing a Ferrofluid experiment
>>> together.  I'd love to make our project the centerpiece of our Art Murmur
>>> show.  Art Murmur is in two weeks.  I asked Jake to share his experiment
>>> during Art Murmur.  He made his in like a day, and it turned out really
>>> well.  He mixed MICR with cooking oil and put it between two slides with a
>>> magnetized paper clip.  That was projected on a wall for a really
>>> interesting painterly effect.  Very small scale and inexpensive, too.
>>>
>>> So, we need Ferrofluid.   I know Patrick ordered some iron oxide, and he
>>> has sent us some good links.  There are different methods we can try for
>>> making the fluid ourselves, because it can be expensive to buy.  I want to
>>> try a couple different recipes.  Patrick can you get back to me with your
>>> reccomendations for what we should try and what we still need to buy for
>>> that?
>>>
>>> I am interested in magnetizing a couple of iron sculptures that I made a
>>> long time ago.  From what I understand this involves wrapping them in
>>> coated copper wire and charging them.  If you find any interesting steel or
>>> iron objects, these would be good to play with.
>>>
>>> We also need magnets.  Powerful magnets can be taken from old hard
>>> drives, so if you have any old hard drives bring them.  I will bring tools.
>>> Or if you have any magnets, bring those.
>>>
>>> We should meet up soon.  Could you let me know your availability?   I
>>> have Weds night, Fri night, or the weekend anytime.
>>>
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>> www.funkyautomata.com
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jul 16, 2012, at 12:36 PM, Jehan Tremback wrote:
>>>
>>> Wow, imagine making a batch with a 44 lb bag, using a gigantic
>>> electromagnet, and creating the hugest ferrofluid sculpture known to man.
>>> Might be messy if the power cut out though.
>>>
>>> -Jehan
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 9:12 AM, Anca | Tech Liminal <
>>> anca at techliminal.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The rust lady said she got all her supplies at Michael's - but that
>>>> they weren't well-labeled.  Look in the patina isle (yes, there is a patina
>>>> isle!)
>>>>
>>>> Anca.
>>>>
>>>>  -=-=-=-=-
>>>> *Anca Mosoiu  | Tech Liminal*
>>>> anca at techliminal.com
>>>> M: (510) 220-6660
>>>> W: http://techliminal.com  | T: @techliminal | F:
>>>> facebook.com/techliminal
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 12, 2012, at 6:14 PM, Patrik D'haeseleer wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I got some ferrofluid from Inventables a while back - wasn't too
>>>> expensive: $13.60 for a fluid ounce. Haven't tried mixing it with any water
>>>> colors yet though.
>>>>
>>>> https://www.inventables.com/technologies/magnetic-fluid
>>>>
>>>> I also noticed that the person teaching the "Create Real Rust" class at
>>>> Workshop Weekend had a jar of atomized iron powder that I was thinking
>>>> would probably work fairly well to make ferrofluid. May be worth checking
>>>> some art stores with a magnet - or just ask that teacher where she got hers.
>>>>
>>>> I think the Exploratorium or another similar booth had a nice
>>>> ferrofluid demo at Maker Faire one or two years ago. Just a big glob of
>>>> ferrofluid in a glass jar, and some powerful magnets that people could move
>>>> by turning a wheel.
>>>>
>>>> Patrik
>>>>
>>>> PS: Doesn't quite classify as a ferro"fluid", but check out the video
>>>> about this guy's work:
>>>>
>>>> http://jolanvanderwiel.nl/?p=272
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 5:32 PM, Tracy Jacobs <kinetical at comcast.net>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.thecreatorsproject.com/blog/ferrofluids-go-next-level-technicolor-in-fabian-oefners-amazing-images
>>>>>
>>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>>
>>>>> *From: *Tracy Jacobs <kinetical at comcast.net>
>>>>> *Date: *July 12, 2012 5:29:10 PM PDT
>>>>> *To: *SUDOroom list <sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org>
>>>>> *Subject: **[sudoroom] Ferro Fluids?*
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing some
>>>>> experimentation with Ferro fluids as a group project?  If we get nice
>>>>> results we could put them in the box office next Art Murmur.  I've been
>>>>> wanting to try that for a long time, and there are some methods that are
>>>>> free or under ten dollars cheap.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-ferrofluid-in-5-minutes/
>>>>>
>>>>> A nicer example:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/photo.php?fbid=503571739658618&set=a.133255743356888.23929.115384328477363&type=1&theater
>>>>>
>>>>> Tracy
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> sudoroom mailing list
>>>>> sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/sudoroom
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> sudoroom mailing list
>>>>> sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/sudoroom
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> sudoroom mailing list
>>>> sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/sudoroom
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> sudoroom mailing list
>>>> sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/sudoroom
>>>>
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> sudoroom mailing list
>>> sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/sudoroom
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.hackerspaces.org/pipermail/sudoroom/attachments/20120717/a129c502/attachment.html>