How To Make Synthetic Ruby In The Workshop

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Check out ElementalMaker's channel and ruby series here: kzbin.info/door/AYa877cjNLF2PvioR15gxQ

[@ElementalMaker]

Thanks so much for the channel shout out! Beautiful work!

[@Dom-nt4gn]

Nice find!

[@IrishEagIe]

Could it be used in jewelery making?

[@OkNoBigDeal]

Kudos to you NHiL for giving ElementalMaker the recognition upfront. Subbed.

[@dwietr]

Nice results! I was wondering if similar results might be achievable by using inductive heating. While not sure if it would be possible with the raw materials or even with a premade ruby using an arc. But if possible, you might be able to get a more pure result, assuming this causes less carbon to leach into the ruby. Alternatively, would this method work, you might be able to draw a crystal from the molten puddle using a small slice of premade ruby. All aside, since this is based on a lot of assumptions and only a few reasonable concepts, this will probably fail miserably.

[@thethoughtemporium]

Dude you beat me to it! Been working on synthetic ruby for months now. Been working on replicating the verneuil process to make large boules, but this looks way easiesr. Still gonna keep working on it, but now I've got to try this method. Great job though, the ruby looks awesome. I've got a lapidary friend who I'll be having cut the rubies I make since as you found out trying to just sand it is a no go. Needs diamond disks to really do anything. I may try this with a tig torch and argon as there would be far less contamination and give a cleaner ruby that might even be laser worthy

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Ah sorry! Hate when that happens with what I'm working on. If it helps, these rubies are probably full of bubbles, and definitely nothing close to being a single crystal. If you can make them of a better quality that would definitely be worth while! Or just make sapphire of a different color and that's novel enough

[@thethoughtemporium]

@@Nighthawkinlight No worries it was a great video! Honestly, this mostly confirms some of what I'd been planning and tinkering with. I think I can still make a video which will add to the collection of knowledge rather than just being the same thing and build on it. Partly waiting for my friend to be out of an NDA so we can use a plasma torch to do this, beyond just using flames for the classic process, and we were going for as perfect ruby of a ruby as possible. Currently our issue was our torch was actually too good and liquefied large chunks of the kiln (which was made of proper fire brick). I think melting a fire brick is a solid achievement XD. So we're scaling that down and tightening it up the system. Also ya we've got all the stuff for doing a variety of colors, and were going to start on sapphires as soon as we got the base process working. I have a whole box of different oxides to try. Can do blue sapphire for sure and was also looking into some of the more exotic colors. We actually made some using a laser cutter to start with which I thought was neat.

[@gabrielschoene5725]

@@thethoughtemporium can we expect a deathstar Laser? Huge fan of your hardcore scienceing! Keep up the great work man!

[@jesusdanielhernandez6304]

Just subbed to you, I definitely want to see your version of making rubies

[@Nemozoli]

@@Nighthawkinlight Could the bubbles be eliminated / a consistent crystal be created with a hydraulic press while heating the mixture?

[@deborahstein]

Worked at a Company for 31 years that grew Large optical grade Sapphire,Ruby,Yag and others. The main process was the CZ method using an Iridium crucible and RF induction, the temperatures involved were in excess of 2100C Ruby Boules averaged 14 lbs, took about 14 days to produce and were fabricated into Lasers Yag temperatures were approximately 1960C and weighed about 5 lbs, took about 45 days on average, also for lasers Sapphire also 2100+C weighed as much as 60 lbs, had many uses including microchip substrate wafers It was a great job Jim

[@Carlos-mt8jh]

I didnt understand a word in that so its kinda obvious im not smart enough to be here

[@nathangek]

@@Carlos-mt8jh it's not that you're not smart enough, it's that you don't have the necessary knowledge to decipher what you're reading :)

[@Carlos-mt8jh]

@@nathangek thats kinda what i said but smart mode

[@unavailablenull2346]

Shrek Wazoski not at all man, intelligence =/= knowledge! I’m sure if you spent time you could learn all of this

[@purduephotog]

@@Carlos-mt8jh Give yourself more credit- most people don't come across those word in technical books, much less conversation. I only knew boules were from a gemstone book I got when I was a kid, and from that only a very rough illustration of a chunk of something round on a stick.

[@Halloween111]

This is technically "Ruby Glass". It fluoresces, but its crystal structure is nearly non existent...the same as glass. This happens because it cools wayyyyy too fast like this. You need to melt the components then add a seed at just under it's melting point and seal the whole thing an insulated, pressurized, chamber so it will cool over months. The ruby and sapphire made by flame fusion are still pretty cool and still have some fun properties anyway. Good show!

[@justinw1765]

So it is far too amorphous to call a true ruby, which is far more crystalline in nature?

[@nills2gills811]

When you drop aluminum oxide powder thru vernieul thing and get micro rubies can you throw those micro rubies in the flux pressure temp chamber thing? Like a mix of the two different styles

[@kevinklatt7756]

Hey why don't you try using water when grinding your "Ruby" like lapidary uses. Sul. carbide is harder than corrundum and has been used for years to shape Ruby.

[@judahelisha6637]

Wait till u find out they grew as trees

[@dtiydr]

But not really any economical values for those who think they now will make a huge amount of money on this.

[@NARWALINVASION]

My God he's done it. He's made The Philospher's Stone

[@evice]

I guess he kept the human sacrifices out of the video to make it youtube friendly.

[@kayragur3542]

N- Wait that the alchemical rule for philosopher stone First metaks then white black red HE MADE İT!!!!

[@zeta970]

The first stage. It still has to go through a liquid stage and change colors a few times, then be recrystallized. Still pretty impressive, not many alchemists get this far

[@davidtreywq]

The “philosophers” stone is really just gold ultra purified (usually a finite powder like flour) and was cooked into bread and other foods for the rich. It’s not actually a stone like the one seen in Harry Potter and because of that movie people believe it’s a stone. But the philosophers stone was gold itself. Just gold. Nothing else. In order to get NOTHING but gold it’s gotta damn near be a powder

[@dw4353]

Full metal alchemist joke Me likey

[@GamiWorks69]

God, I look at things like this, and I'm just left in wonder. It's like magic. Could you imagine showing this to early Alchemists?

[@ryans3074]

Early alchemists laid the groundwork for a lot of chemistry.and yes they'd be very impressed

[@anonymousandy2789]

i wish to focus my intent into a sythethic stone and use it for spellcraft

[@ElectricalExistence]

they would have tortured you trying to get you to give up the info on turning lead into gold. lol.

[@guyfawkes3240]

When i told my friend i was going to try this he looked at me dead in the face and said " your a hairy wizard.

[@justinw1765]

@@guyfawkes3240 Is that a play on, "you're a wizard, Harry!"?

[@KingJellyfishII]

Next up: how to travel to mars with a pencil sharpener and some hot glue

[@RGABodyBag]

With special guest Mcgyver.

[@PilkScientist]

that may be a bit much, but I mean... a commodore 64 would probably be able to get you there though

[@KingJellyfishII]

@@PilkScientist funnily enough, I've been working on a z80 emulator and although it's a bit more versatile than the 6502 in the c64 I might have a go at writing some basic mars landing software for it. Always up for an unrealistically hard challenge!

[@PilkScientist]

@@KingJellyfishII it's apparently about the power NASA landed with, so hey you can't go too wrong. The lunar lander's code and sequence is out there and slightly documented for your use, as well, though of course it's all proprietary to AGC systems.

[@aserta]

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to use a pencil sharpener, a potato, and two hairs from the back of a cat that walks on two legs.

[@flweeptwo]

How to make the perfect mother's day gift Step 1: aquire an arc welder...

[@butterflyspinart]

I believe Grant made one from a microwave several years back

[@nerd_world8919]

flweep 1 Step 1/2: Ask my mom for her credit card so I can buy an arc welder

[@abstracttechnician2750]

Ugh...chained fetch quests.

[@rareram]

King of Random: Two microwave transformers = ArcWelder ElementAL Maker: ArcWelder + Gemstone ingredients = Gemstone You: Use Nobel Gas to make it more pure... Me: Where is the DIY nobel gas arcwelder video?

[@horstwinterscheid4927]

"Oh dang. What is it dawg? I forgot it's Mothers Day. Didn't get a gift for her. Other plans got in the way. She'll be so disappointed. Damn I forgot it too. This could have been avoided. What the hell are we gonna do?"

[@Thunder0136]

Takes me back to high school close to 20 years ago. Made my own Ruby for a Ruby laser. Didn't use the arc welder though. Essentially made a small fire brick size electric furnace. The longer heat time allowed the impurities to separate a bit leaving almost crystal clear Ruby near the center.

[@alexandrevaliquette1941]

Impressive Bryan! How long roughly did it take to "bake" the powder into a ruby with your furnace?

[@Survivalist-of-war]

I have a devil-forge furnace and crucibles wonder if this would be possible to do in larger ammounts.

[@kimmy9695]

What temperature did you use?

[@Thunder0136]

@@kimmy9695 I don't have an exact temp. It was before temperature guns. I had used a coil type heating element the kind used in ceramics kilns. Had the entire thing buried in a pile of sand to further insulate. And since I powered the element by plugging it directly into 220 power. With no thermostatic control. It went until the element failed. Guessing about 10 hours. I left it sit untouched for a couple days as I didn't want any thermal shock to destroy any crystals if any were to form.

[@goshohgosh4568]

Was that what highschool was like back when I eas 2 my highschool didn't even get past titrations😊

[@kieranodea771]

If you have a metal foundry you can melt the rubies with the arc welder then place them in the foundry to cool down very slowly. This helps a lot for getting clearer rubies. They still won't be totally transparent but they look much much better !

[@NecrosVideos]

Why does that ruby look so tasty

[@pigbenis2812]

When I was 3 I chomped down on a shiny red glass thing. It looked really good, but tasted like blood.

[@shaddayseraphim]

I believe it would be more brilliant once it's cut

[@jkr3008]

you're probably hungry

[@beccareed5051]

Fun fact: If you add sugar it makes ruby candy, as opposed of rock candy. I am not responsible for your health.

[@GarryAndrews_]

Because it’s so tasty

[@Spirit532]

Sadly these rubies are completely amorphous - a mush of Al2O3:Cr crystals. To make single crystals, you need to implement the Czochralski process, and that is a LOT more complicated than just blasting a crucible with an arc welder. Alternatively the Verneuil method, but that's even more complicated to get right than Czochralski with modern hardware.

[@Spirit532]

@@Baitrix1 Bigger, but still amorphous.

[@RobertSzasz]

Really need vacuum to manage the temperatures involved. I wonder if you started with a rod you could use a moving melt zone to create a monocrystal instead of pulling a boule from a melt pool.

[@mordoc333]

Oh hey there!

[@geeko321]

So what you’re saying then is they made ruby glass?

[@nicholasfotou2980]

Been interested in the Verneuil method since I was a little kid, and learned that this french chemist found a way to make rubies.

[@johnnyj540]

I can't wait for the video where you spin yarn into gold.

[@crackedemerald4930]

Element maker is kinda like the brainchild of AvE and NileRed

[@crackedemerald4930]

*elemental

[@The_Hell_Lord]

true but he's not as good as either one imo

[@JuryDutySummons]

Your name is almost very appropriate for this video.

[@danbhakta]

You forgot ThisOldTony.

[@darrentoh9976]

That is not the correct usage of brainchild, but I get what u mean fam

[@freedom_aint_free]

So you've made roughly what is called a "cabochon" in precious stone cutting! It would be nice to see it professionally cut and polished.

[@dtiydr]

It will not look especially good since its not a crystal but glass.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

The main problem is that's quite evidently full of gas inclusions, that's the main problem of those DIY methods. To heat the crucible from the external was the correct method, but you have to do that for hours, and at the same time make it vibrating, to get rid of the inclusions.

[@paulburgess8033]

Around where I live ,there is something I think called green stone. It's is a settlement ,very brittle. I melted it with a torch. It looked like black glass mostly with other colors like blue, red , gold . It looks very cool. Thanks for the video.

[@hopps118]

Such a good KZbinr, he doesn’t care about like or subs all he care about is his viewers enjoyment 👍 keep it up

[@Advoko]

What's next? Making diamonds from coal?! :-0 )))

[@josephwillis1581]

I seen Jimmy Neutron do it, so I'm sure it's possible. 😆 I mean he's a boy genius..

[@thecoolguy1233]

Use peanut butter

[@CatChase957]

Hia Max)))))))))))

[@awg7956]

@@thecoolguy1233 i see you are a can of multure

[@3OHT.]

people have already been making synthetic diamonds for years they are more pure than mined diamonds as well

[@electronicsNmore]

I have all the equipment, so I'm definitely going to try this. Thanks for another great video!

[@masterk5372]

So did it work did you get your ruby

[@JeremiahKaneGame]

I haven't watched a video of yours in about 10 years, due to a new Google account, and I swear you have not aged.

[@andremoore810]

Watched this video for the first time aaaaaaand i've bought half of what I need already. KZbin algorithm took me for a wild ride that time.

[@Lele422]

I think a tig welder would be even better for this because you have way more control over the arc and the tungsten electrode won't erode away. Plus maybe the argon gas shielding will provide a shinier surface on the ruby

[@jeremymcadam7400]

We need a mig that uses SiO2 wire

[@austinwolfe7295]

Literally the reason I came to the comments was to see if anyone had suggested this!

[@garethbaus5471]

Tig sounds like the best process that dousnt require making specialized equipment.

[@chrisyu98]

the tungsten does melt and would contaminate the mix

[@harleybenton2374]

Exactly what i was thinking exept in a argon filled presure chamber

[@Liam40]

I'm a simple man. I see NightHawkInLight making synthetic rubies, I click.

[@odw32]

I think that makes you advanced, rather than simple 🤷 The simple man would watch an interview with a celebrity about their relationships or something.

[@lyes6033]

@@odw32 whooooosh

[@mangokraken]

ive been coming back to this channel for almost a decade and i always assumed nighthawkinlight was like a 60 yr old man with a hunger for knowledge and driven by curiosity. this is the first video i see your face

[@biggestnoob4704]

These homemade rubies have a sort of monochromatic opalescence to them, it’s really cool!

[@mwilson14]

Glad to see another homemade ruby maker enter the arena. I've got updated procedures that I'll be uploading videos later on this year. My videos aren't spectacular, but I began making synthetic ruby and blue sapphire at home over two years ago. I'm just happy to see more and more people get into it after so many people told me I, nor any other amateur would be able to do it.

[@wtechboy18]

"Look at me making these golf ball sized rubies it's SO EASY" *sad ElementalMaker noises*

[@awesomefacepalm]

Well this technique is easy. But finding said technique was not. ElementalMaker made a great job in finding it

[@TheWorldEnd2]

yeah, let me just get my everyday house tool, the ark welder, out for this one... i guess it's somewhere next to the CNC router and my electric whisk

[@awesomefacepalm]

@@TheWorldEnd2 everyone who has a shed with tools has an arc welder.

[@MrTarfu]

@@awesomefacepalm not even close.

[@awesomefacepalm]

@@MrTarfu every man who has a shed with tools has an arc welder* No just joking. But they're not that expensive really. A basic one goes for around 100$ which is the same as a decent screwdriver.

[@Kumquat_Lord]

You should get that synthetic Ruby cut! I'd love to see it as a gemstone!

[@heyhoe168]

If you want to see cut synthetic ruby, visit your local jewelry shop.

[@quartqwertbudisgood]

@@heyhoe168 Classic

[@Max_Le_Groom]

How much might They pay for a Ruby made this way?

[@Kumquat_Lord]

@@Max_Le_Groom not too much I'm sure. I wouldn't do it for the monetary value, but the sentimental value.

[@canislupus5025]

@@Max_Le_Groom you could probably get jack shit for it.

[@theselfshghost411]

I've been doing glassblowing as a hobby for years and feel like the powder you used could be used to coat the outside of a glass piece, like normal color powder. Although I already feel like I see many reasons why this wouldn't work it could still be interesting.

[@radadadadee]

please try

[@edwardortman2593]

Actually alumina is added to glass surfaces to make it scratch proof. It actually does work...

[@nicholashodges201]

​@@edwardortman2593it's also one of the components in low thermal expansion glass

[@subhrolonghorn9968]

You're a true scientist from bottom of your heart.. Best wishes.. Keep up the good work.

[@theharwizard8093]

You’re easily the highest quality science channel on this site, another quality video. You’ve inspired me on so many different projects, I’ll be uploading my own video soon on an air horn I made for my car based on your video!

[@rationalmartian]

Not sure about that. Have you checked out Applied Science. Tech Ingredients also does some seriously incredible shit. Those two especially must be certified geniuses. The breadth of knowledge is incredible. NileRed is good for chemistry too, I'm not even going to get into radio and electronics. Though the first two I mentioned piss around pretty much with everything. But there are just so many serious quality creators, half buried in all the mind numbing stultifying dross that is the majority. But yes, NightHawkinLight is a must sub.

[@karlsinger4760]

Don‘t forget Codys Lab! His videos aren‘t that polished up but the science is awesome! Sadly KZbin doesn’t like him because of the pipebombs, uranium and shit

[@psycronizer]

oh my god you must be the most uneducated , UN-informed, ignorant cave man who's been living in a shoe box to make a comment like that !

[@l3d-3dmaker58]

wow nice! I've been following his series for a while now, and I've always wanted someone to make a BIG ruby, I really want to try this on my own if I ever am able to, and try to cut and polish that ruby

[@buggsy5]

Keep watching videos, maybe someday someone will do so. What was produced in this video was not a ruby.

[@danbhakta]

Birds of a feather...flock together. I think like-minded people follow the same stuff. Been subbed to Elemental and have seen all his rubies...I like how all y'all work off of each other and improve. Soon enough you will be making ruby rod lasers from scratch...Which will take HTME a while to get to.

[@scottcantdance804]

Ruby Rod Lasers? Are those like... Lasers shooting out of a flamboyant hair-tunnel while Bruce Willis tears stuff up?

[@danbhakta]

@@scottcantdance804 : You almost got it! But no. Ruby rod as in a cylindrical ruby with one end silvered completely and the other end partially mirrored and excited by a xenon flash lamp to make the first laser.

[@scottcantdance804]

@@danbhakta yeah, I prefer my Fifth Element reference to your explanation.

[@ProlificInvention]

Theodore Maiman's early laser used a powerful energy source (xenon lamp) to excite atoms in a synthetic ruby to higher energy levels. At a specific energy level, some atoms emitted particles of light called photons. These newly created photons struck other atoms, rapidly stimulating the emission of more identical photons and amplifying the light intensity. Maiman was able to continue this process of stimulated emission and amplification by placing a completely reflecting silver mirror on one end of the model and a partially reflecting silver mirror on the other. This setup enabled photons to bounce back and forth between the mirrors until they gained enough intensity to burst through the partially silvered end as a powerful, coherent, beam of light--the first working laser prototype.

[@jcims]

Isn't it funny. You'll go to some channel you think is obscure and you'll see familiar names in the comments.

[@christiantough5]

Something I use as a machinist sometimes is a ruby deburr stick. Keeps a sharp edge on the part but removes any burr. I didnt want to buy my own cause they are like $800 per, if I can make one that's worth a try

[@jhaley3138]

Wow. Your viedo is absolutely creative and helpful. Your pronunciation is easy to listen. Respect From South Korea.

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

"Now there's rubies all over my workbench :-|" - Gotta get the vacuum cleaner… 😀

[@audreyholmes9751]

*Poltergust G-00 intensifies*

[@funforall9741]

I know, precious gems all over the place what a mess

[@armusx]

How awesome would it be to have synthetic ruby lenses for sunglasses, probably wouldn't give you any uv protection but it'd look awesome

[@canaan5337]

Cyclops from the X-Men would approve.

[@SToNeOwNz]

Well ruby shades would glow in UV so it would defeat the reason for having them. If you're cool enough to wear them indoors they might be useful.

[@blahblahblahblah2837]

You'd see the world through rose-tinted glasses

[@jasonmajere2165]

Wonder if I could plasma sputter ruby to the outside of the glasses.

[@garymingy8671]

I wear my sunglasses at night...

[@Shanjaq]

please try this with a ZVS induction brazing setup! as soon as the powder melts its conductivity goes up, which will turn it into a susceptor to the oscillating magnetic field thus heating it internally with no electrode required! just touch-off the top of the pile with anything hot enough until there's a glowing/molten spot, then let the process of induction take over :)

[@johnkkkj]

Your idea of making a file with ruby and oxide stuck on the other side, just brilliant!

[@vsssa1845]

hey is it possible to use wire coil wound around the crucible and use it as an induction heater, since graphite a conductor. maybe this way you can conrol temperature and also not contaminate the ruby with carbon from electrode.

[@untitled2792]

i saw another comment that mentioned this, probably does work

[@ryPish]

Okay, that's how rubees are born, but how do they get into bunches of grass and pots all the time!?

[@jmyyer]

Wondering the same

[@caodesignworks2407]

You're thinking of Rupees.

[@ivansadovenko2279]

NHIL makes rubies and they go everywhere while he's making them, and eventually get into the pots.

[@kaylor87]

Uhhh.... Rupees?

[@Nextrom]

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

[@kethwintham344]

I would love an advanced tutorial on how to make these, from the equipment, to element ratios, to the process, as well as an experiment using other processes and welders and more experiments on cutting, grinding, and polishing

[@excitedbox5705]

You should build up a small puddle of melted rubby and then slowly drizzle more powder on top while heating it. That is how ruby is made in the lab.

[@k192447]

this is the best and most elaborate garage project i have ever seen.

[@badgererd]

Thx you, I found your voice clear and your instructions easy to follow. You didn’t go too fast or loose my attention, good video 👍👍

[@professionalidiots101]

I would like to see that Ruby put through a jewelry tumbler, 👏

[@graysonsmith7031]

I wonder if letting it cool down slowly like glass would affect it in any way. My hope would be that it becomes clear, but I doubt that will happen.

[@SToNeOwNz]

I think the powder has too much air left in it also residual AlO Is gonna be troublesome, I would guess a pulse laser may be useful to make a clear sample as imperfections would be heated but the transparent crystal won't be affected as much.

[@buggsy5]

Nothing could be done to turn that mass into a pure ruby, crystal or otherwise. Primarily because the chromium in a ruby is there is trace amounts, not the massive 1%. It is unclear how much of the chromium oxide would be reduced to pure chromium that could migrate, under the right conditions, into a ruby crystal. Probably not much, since the only reducing agent present is the carbon crucible. I suspect the atmospheric exposure would tend to oxidize any chromium reduced by the carbon immediately back into chromium oxide. So maybe minute crystals of ruby will form, but most of the mass will remain a mixture of alumina and chromium oxide. Further, if you melt and cool a natural ruby crystal under those conditions, you will not end up with a ruby crystal. You will end up with a mixture similar to granite in structure. That is easy enough to verify. Just buy a cheap synthetic ruby (make sure it is not an imitation ruby), then melt and cool it in that graphite crucible. You will see the resulting mass is opaque and does not resemble a ruby in the least - except possibly for color.

[@doppelhelixes]

@@SToNeOwNz combine that laser and make a 3D printer that creates statues out of ruby

[@vizanonn1728]

It would be kind of interesting to see if you could make a ruby ingot large enough, and flat enough to be used as a sharpening stone, or a tool like a file

[@Haze-Haze]

This is basically like making a human and creating a clone knowing all the elements and molecular structures to make a precious stone that looks just like the natural thing that took thousands to millions of years to make. So beautiful, and true to not only ourselves now we are all different, but just as beautiful

[@shabbirakhtar8092]

Son, u done very intelligent job to find out a useful game stone RUBY, very very informative video I have ever seen particularly on ruby which is out of our range. Thanks.

[@thomaskovacs5094]

This is really impressive man. I really want to know what your polarity was. I'd be interested to see if you'd have cleaner results if you used some kind of flux or inert gas covering to clean the molten ruby and maybe even use a tungsten electrode so you don't contaminate with carbon.

[@kenwatanabe2599]

so when and what are you going to do to make gem, optically clear quality rubies, how about adding trace materiel like iron or titanium to make sapphires

[@prinzeugenvansovoyen732]

This is quite good for dressing the grinding wheel on my bench grinder also tried welding the blobs together in a huge chunk - it broke from heat stress- id like to try this in a heat treatment oven

[@kroscuro]

Find someone who does lapidary work, and have them make that into a cabochon. They can cut all the gunk away, shape it, and polish it.

[@javashorace3519]

AMIGO, THIS IS AN AMAZING VIDEO!!! Simply I get so surprised that what you do. Your channel is so interesting and cool for all the knowledge that you share with us. Thank you and greetings from Argentina.

[@nugenki]

3:18 I wonder if aluminum oxide is pretty brittle like glass and would fracture when using a pestle and mortar, especially since the aluminum oxide would really be grinding against other aluminum oxide chunks more than the pestle and mortar

[@TheDuckofDoom.]

Nope, it is actually used as an abrasive in part because it is relatively tough and fracture resistant.

[@allangibson8494]

It is brittle but the forces required are pretty extreme - that’s why high end watches use them for the watch glass. Apple was going to use sapphire for phones but it cost twice as much as the glass.

[@RN-du8wr]

those oxides are used to color glass. UV has a similar effect to the finished glassware too. always found it fascinating.

[@adamrak7560]

Uranium oxide is also beautiful if you put it into the glass.

[@Blu3Jao]

Wow, that's astoundingly simple! I wonder if you could make optical quality rubies with this method for lasers. Maybe a slower cool down process like with glass would do the trick. Great video, thank you for sharing Elementalmaker.

[@buggsy5]

It can be done from a melt - by pulling a boule. But not under the given primitive conditions. It cannot even get close.

[@noahw4623]

I used to melt down aluminum cans in a home built foundry (nasty stuff, would not recommend even outdoors). It is not difficult to build a blast foundry, I made mine out of a plastic bucket, dirt, stove pipe, and an old hair dryer. I was making aluminum-bronzes, brass, all kinds of fun stuff. I don't see why this wouldn't work for making rubies as well, it certainly would be more economical than trying to make them in such a small crucible, and if you had an electric furnace instead you could probably grow a single crystal. It's my understanding the way this was done for silicon chips in the 70s was with a leaky bucket that slowly emptied allowing a weight to pull a seed crystal out of the molten materials. That'd get you much better clarity in your rubies The other thing to look into is a rock tumbler, just to get a nice finish on them and remove the roughness

[@mihaz100]

Try the same procedure, but with a tig welder. I think that argon might help insolate the molten ruby from atmosphere and prevent carbon buildup :)

[@connecticutaggie]

I would love to see a cross-section to see how solid the inside of the ruby ingot is.

[@buggsy5]

It isn't, since it isn't really a ruby. At best it has some microscopic ruby crystals mixed in the amorphous mass, but nothing more.

[@quartqwertbudisgood]

Yeah, rubies made in this way don’t exhibit the same large lattice structure so the cut face would look pretty flat and dull. When these are faceted and polished they look pretty darn good though

[@thewolf8660]

If you could make some Rubies large enough, you should totally make Copper ingots and have someone make them into a Skyrim Circlet.

[@locouk]

I know glass is microwaveable when it’s red hot, dose ruby have similar properties? It’d be a much purer way of producing a final product if this was the case.

[@SToNeOwNz]

The graphite crucible may not like the microwave but it may gain a diamond like coating on the other hand!

[@deaultusername]

silicon carbide crucible can be microwaved or heated by induction heater.

[@cozakaxo]

literally welding rocks together. Excellent.

[@MightyElemental]

I love the way the light passes through the Ruby.

[@Periwinkle0666]

Really want to try this now. I just wonder if you could produce sapphires with the same process but using a different contaminant?

[@timlehmann9067]

Slap some iron or titanium oxide (for blue) in there instead of the chromium stuff and you should be good to go. Or at least I think it should work like that.

[@Periwinkle0666]

@@timlehmann9067 Been reading up on it, and I think you could be onto something.

[@bearcatben4762]

Yeah I wonder what things you could add to make it different cool colors

[@Leadvest]

Beyond that and the known aluminium gems, there could be exotic contaminants that create colors not found in nature.

[@bearcatben4762]

@@Leadvest Cadmium maybe?

[@trulyinfamous]

It seems that to make good clear rubies you need to keep it melted for a while. I'd imagine the bubbles trapped in it make it opaque or translucent.

[@eulemitbeule5426]

No, you need a uniform crystal to get a clear ruby. The product is just a bunch of microscopic crystals clumped together

[@trulyinfamous]

@@eulemitbeule5426 Wouldn't you get a uniform crystal from making it slowly? I thought bubbles would cause the opaqueness because my only experience is with glassmaking.

[@ShrKhAan]

I would buy the purest reactants lab level, at smallest grain size, mix well, put in centrifugal pot, shoot a big laser while spinning (mirror at spin point) , high 'g', high temp, no impurities... equals optical quality ruby ? just kidding

[@_kostoberina_]

This is a great experiment, nicely explained as well. I am happy to have discovered your channel. Great content! Regarding this experiment, it might be interesting to have a go at it by heating the graphite crucible as a susceptor in an induction furnace. Temperature wise, it seems feasible.

[@KarlMiller]

What can these be used for? Could they be used for CNC router probe ends? Are mono type rubies electrically the same as these? @NightHawkinLight?

[@CaskStrength777]

I will throw this out there. It is now possible to machine solid ruby and Sapphire on normal cnc machines. A couple companies now, 6c and Zecha both make laser sharpened PCD (polycrystaline diamond) endmills that are hundreds of dollars for a single tool, but can actually mill solid ruby and Sapphire. If you had some serious money and somebody crazy enough to sacrifice the coolant filter on their machine, you could convince them to machine one of these into something for you. As a machinist I now find what is available to me in tooling absolutely crazy.

[@supergeek1418]

The content was great. I just missed Moses. Also, I wonder what would happen if you used a chromium electrode instead of carbon.

[@charleslambert3368]

You probably end up breathing in a load of carcinogenic chromium(VI) compounds.

[@WhyDoBabiesStareAtMe]

@@charleslambert3368 Time to grab the ventilator.

[@magicponyrides]

Chromium melts at ​3465 °F. Your electrode would be gone in an instant.

[@alexqueipo5070]

I haven’t seen anyone attempt this in a metal foundry. It seems like you could reach the temperature needed. What are your thoughts?

[@anotherperson9646]

I would love to see someone facet the gem once covid is over

[@michellebrowne9100]

I would 100% buy a pendant with one of these!

[@ScienceNotFaith]

I have a number of rubies from old jewelry which are clear. They are beautiful. How clear are these shop made ones?

[@GRBtutorials]

Destroy sanding belts, you say? That could be interesting to test- *Project Farm has joined the chat*

[@untitled2792]

👏 yes

[@edi9892]

Those tiny christals in that amorphous mess make it look beautiful.

[@kodizzie3827]

I wonder if it's possible to do this with a TIG welder - you might be able to avoid the carbon contamination issue.

[@blackflycanada4943]

I was thinking the same thing. Might have to give this a go... Hmmm...

[@kellyvcraig]

Just a reminder, wood and lapidary shops all across the land play with diamond wheels and stones to sharpen, grind and polish. You can get really cheap diamond wheels that can be mounted in a drill or drill press to rough in and even move toward a polish on the stones. With a bit of playing, you could even use use diamond polishing pads intended for granite work and that are intended for use on angle grinders. I use a variable speed angle grinder so I can slow the grinder down. For the grinder, I rigged up a 1/8" inch hose, which connects to a regular law hose via a valve, which allows me to control the water flow. The water greatly extends the life of the diamond plates and pads. You could always buy a pad or three to dedicate to different compounds picked up from sites that sell rock polishing supplies.

[@neilbarnett3046]

Brilliant, it's our 40th anniversary in December, so I can make the princess a nice pendant or something. Just pick up an arc welder, a few bolts, a length of light anchor chain and a couple of chunks of steel and she'll be sorted.

[@crackedemerald4930]

Well, time to dope it with other stuff! I'm curious about iron.

[@timlehmann9067]

That would make a sapphire I think.

[@sirnukesalot24]

I actually want to see this done with a bar-type ingot mold now.

[@vincentnguyen3068]

"...this is chromium oxide." Me, an intellectual: "Baby guac?"

[@krom5851]

I really want to see this done with a TIG welder, I wonder if the shielding gas could make the ruby cleaner.

[@pseudonym8082]

I'd like to know how the inside looks, could you maybe break one apart or shatter it?

[@JosephCenter]

What will a ruby like that look like after cut and polished like a gem?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

It's pretty milky, not gem quality. That would take a little more care in making them I think

[@Elric509]

@@Nighthawkinlight you would probably have to incrementally cool over an extended period of time, so the crystals form slowly and clearly

[@JosephCenter]

@@Nighthawkinlight, thanks! Really cool process. Thanks for sharing.

[@zumbazumba1]

@@Nighthawkinlight Now you can buy a diamond plate of a ebay for like 5$ mount it on a bench grinder and grind that beauty to make a giant ring :) Well ruby is used as a bearing in precision watchmaking -maybe try making a bearing out of it?

[@jkenny1]

@@zumbazumba1 Seconded, I think the industrial uses of not-very-pretty rubies is way more interesting. Super durable tools too perhaps.

[@brfisher1123]

Out of all of the synthetic ruby videos that I've seen yours is by far the coolest one due to the large size of one of your rubies! It sucks that"ElementMaker" (who indeed does make pretty cool videos) was unsuccessful of creating rubies straight from metallic aluminum, that would've been cool! :(

[@Scrogan]

I smell someone trying to make a laser!

[@mduckernz]

Won't work, you need a single crystal for that. This is amorphous ruby

[@GodGladiator1]

Great video. I really enjoyed the whole thing.

[@youretheai7586]

This is awesome!!! Thanks for your time and knowledge making this video for us! :-)

[@Interventionroblox]

0:02 I thought that was your finger 😂

[@fortunateson6070]

My guy over here making the Philosopher's stone in his garage.

[@faraelwilldabeast9951]

We will know he made it when he shows up missing a leg and arm.

[@GEDEntertainment2012]

@@faraelwilldabeast9951 The philosophers stone.... Go look up Ormus minerals :P Ever think gold could be in a silicate state before its actually gold.... ;P

[@StormTheSquid]

I wanna figure out how to make specific shapes of rubies like this. I'll make and sell solid ruby dice sets. It'll be amazing.

[@SeanFKennedy]

If you make it big enough you can cut it to the right shape but that would take a lot of time and expense. I was thinking about a knife made this way as well.

[@geraldfrost4710]

You could cut the cubes with a diamond wire saw. You might be able to cut them with a water jet cutter.

[@serkanozkani]

Thank you for sharing. I have tried to same way you have done. However I have also tried tungsten electrode. All melted very fast. It became strange strong alloy. even the 200 amps, I could not get good solid result.

[@claudehebert3131]

If you want to smooth or cut the ruby, buy some chinese diamond wheels. They're relatively cheap, can be used on a grinder (probably some models will fit a bench grinder too), and you might find you have a talent for stone cutting... Note: I bought some that came with a circular saw sharpener. They can sharpen tungsten carbide, so they should be ok for gemstone.

[@idontwantachannelimjustcom7745]

The bench isn't covered in ruby... It's bedazzled...

[@Senseless_ColorZ]

We're out here buying gold medallions and pendants with rubys in them for hundreds and thousands of doll hairs. Meanwhile this man has rubys just layin around...

[@Joltning]

It’s the market of them costing more cause they’re naturally made, or whatever

[@steamedyam]

nice i use doll hairs all the time.

[@Senseless_ColorZ]

@@steamedyam Right on! High five 🖐🏻✌🏻

[@danielthemangrande]

the catch is that unlike diamonds, rubies are actually rare.

[@tttriple]

Wow you really tried to sound smart. A natural refined diamond the size of the ruby in this thumbnail would be exceedingly rare.

[@paulchilders9969]

I wonder if you could use a spray arc welder with that powder to build up a ruby coating on things.

[@vasabi5135]

i want to know wich tipe of welder are u using? is specific welder needed? also awesome video!