When was the last time you cleaned your darts? Maybe: "Never"?

Accumulated dirt, skin acid, chalk dust, pretzel salt, hand lotion, (beer), etc. can build up on your dart barrels. This corrosive mixture is what actually eats away that original pretty finish.

Skin acid is pretty potent stuff. As example, just look at how quickly a new penny, or polished silverware, tarnishes after being handled.

That acid, along with salty residue from snacks, is very effective at corroding away the nickel matrix that is the binding material in nickel/tungsten darts.

When someone's dart start to show wear, with knurling smoothing down, & the sharp edges of grooves becoming rounded, it is not usually just due to hitting other darts. The majority of such wear is simply corrosion.

To greatly extend the useful life of your darts, clean them regularly, and especially after eating any salty or greasy snacks. Any mild cleaner that can remove oil will do: hand soap, household ammoniated cleaners. At tournaments or league, small alcohol swab packets are handy.

Removing all of that crud from your darts will not only make them last longer, but will also restore much of the grip by removing both the slippery feeling and the particles filling-in the hollows of the knurling.

Just about any sport equipment needs to be cleaned regularly to remove sweat, dirt, etc., yet it never occurs to most people that their darts also need cleaning.

Not to mention. Isn't it a bit gross to be handling those grubby darts that have been on the floor, bars, tables, many hands, etc.?

So, to make your darts last longer & throw better... keep darts clean!

Anyway, if you are not fond of washing your darts, tungsten dart would be your best choice, as it is acid resistant, salt resistance, it is very easy to maintain. Also it is convenient to be carry as its high density but with a smaller capacity having the same unit weight as other material.

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Properties of tungsten mine waste geopolymeric binder

Mix proportion and strength testing

In this investigation the mortar was a mixture of aggregates, waste mud, calcium hydroxide, alkaline silicate solution and water. The mass ratio of mine waste mud: activator was 1:1. Calcium hydroxide was used with a percentage substitution of 10%, because it was found that percentage lead to the highest compressive strengths. An activator with sodium hydroxide (24 M) and sodium silicate solution (Na₂O = 8.6%, SiO₂ = 27.8%, Al₂O₃ = 0.4% and water = 63.2%) was used with a mass ratio of 1:2.5. Previous investigations showed that this ratio lead to the highest compressive strength results in alkali-activated mine waste mud mortars. Distilled water was used to dissolve the sodium hydroxide flakes to avoid the effect of unknown contaminants in the mixing water. The alkaline activator was prepared prior to use. The sand, mine waste mud and calcium hydroxide were dry mixed before added to the activator, which according to Pinto et al. is the mixing option that leads to the best results. To produce a workable mix extra water has been added as stated by Jahanian and Rostami. The mass ratio of water/ dry solid binder content was 3.6% in most of the samples, except for samples with an aggregate/binder mass ratio of 1.5 or 1.7. In those cases, the extra water percentages were respectively 7 and 10% . TMWM binders using schist (SC) fine aggregates with an aggregate/binder ratio of 1.5 were named SC – AG/B 1.5. Similarly when limestone (LS) or granite (GR) aggregates were used were named respectively LS – AG/B 1.5 and GR – AG/B 1.5. TMWM mixtures made with 2% superplasticizer by mass of binder lime and mine waste mud, were named respectively SC/SP, GR/SP and LS/SP.

Compressive strength data was obtained using 50x50x50 mm3 cubic specimens according to ASTM C109 . The fresh mortar was cast and allowed to set at room temperature for 24 h before being removed from the moulds and kept at room temperature until tested in compression. Compressive strength for each mixture was obtained from an average of three specimens.

 

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How to run tungsten darts league? Some do it all at the beginning, while others put off parts of the process until forced to. Over a period of years, all of these topics will eventually have to be addressed, one way or another.

(This article is based on the Editor's more than 39 years of experience with tungsten dart leagues in the USA. Most of the topics will apply anywhere, but some details may vary in other countries.)

Name the Organization. This may include a designation such as League, Club, Association, Organization, Federation, etc. It should be unique, not the same or similar enough to confuse with any other entity. Make it short enough to say easily aloud, and to fit a letterhead. It won't hurt if abbreviations and the initials are catchy and don't make any obscene acronym. Think about how the name will look as a domain name, and check on whether that domain name might be available.

Type of League. Will this be a "Trophy" tungsten darts league, or a "Money" tungsten darts league? In the USA, many or most soft-tip leagues seem to play for monetary prizes, while the majority of steel-tip leagues appear to play for trophies. Keep in mind that whenever money becomes involved in competition, the likelihood of arguments is greatly increased. As with marriages, arguing over money is one of the chief causes of failed leagues.

Organizational structure. If money is going to be collected for dues or awards, it is a very good idea to formalize a legal structure for the group. This may be setup as a business, a partnership, corporation, or non-profit entity. Different states & countries will have different options available, as well as legal requirements to meet. In the USA, many leagues organize as Not-For Profit Corporations, to reduce both personal and tax liability. Elect officers as needed to run the league, and as may be required by law for the type of organization.

Officers. How many will be needed, and their positions. This can be a complex issue, as personalities often come into play. A new group will nearly always underestimate the amount of work needed to run a tungsten dart league. And, no matter how many officers are elected, it is simple fact that just 3 or 4 people will probably end up doing at least 80% of the work. The legal status of the league may dictate a certain minimum number of officers, as well as their responsibilities. Keep in mind that the in the eyes of the law, the President and Treasurer of an Incorporated tungsten darts organization may be legally quite similar, for example, to the corporate officers of Enron Corporation. Take the legal responsibilities seriously!

Attorney. This is one of the most commonly skipped steps. Unfortunately, not getting legal guidance at the beginning can lead to incredibly messy problems in the future. Ask around among the darts players. Many organizations have a member in the legal profession, who will volunteer services, or at least offer a discount. Lawyers are constantly called on to help setup new businesses and organizations, and will greatly ease the process of starting up the new league.

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Properties of tungsten mine waste geopolymeric binder

Experimental work

Materials

Mine waste Blaine fineness is low but is in the range of the most used slag based alkaline binders. Despite the fact that increase fineness led to increase reactivity that can be overcome by using higly alkaline-silicate activators.

Table 2 shows gradation and physical characteristics of aggregates. Limestone and granitic coarse aggregates have the same Faury maximum dimension (9.52) and similar fineness modulus respectively 5.5 and 5.2. Schist sand has a lower maximum dimension (2.78) and a fineness modulus of 2.38.

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Accounting. Consult an Accountant! This step is also commonly skipped, and is a leading cause of small organizations failing. The accountant, or CPA (Certified Public Accountant) , can provide a list of the steps needed to deal with banks and tax authorities. The CPA will also help the organization setup a proper bookkeeping system. This can greatly reduce the ulcer rate among officers who might eventually find themselves opening extremely intimidating letters from the tax man.

Rules. Will the league write its own rules, or follow the rules of another league or sanctioning body?

Business licenses. Most of these may, or may not, have been taken care of when the legal structure of the organization was setup. Assumed Name Permit, Tax Permit or Tax Exempt Certification, Business Operation Permit, etc. Check at the local courthouse to determine what is needed.

Bank Account. To get a checking account, the new tungsten darts association or league will have to provide certain documentation to the bank. This generally includes proof that the organization is legally registered in one form or another, and may also require proof of registration with the appropriate tax authorities. A minimum starting deposit is usually required, in the USA that often is in the range of $100 to $500. It is important that bank accounts be setup so that two officer's signatures are required to write checks or make withdrawals. While everyone may start out as bosom buddies, nothing can sour friendships and destroy a league as quickly as money going missing. In some cases, malfeasance can (and has) led to lawsuits, or even arrests of league officers. Having two signatures on every check is simply good policy.

Printing. Checks and deposit slips have to be ordered. Membership applications and advertising brochures, flyers, posters, business cards, etc. all need to be designed and printed. Score sheets or match report forms will be needed, and maybe envelopes or postcards for notices. Large envelopes or binders will be needed for team captains to carry their paperwork.

Awards. While trophies and certificates may not be needed until the first season ends in a few months, a quote on the cost of producing the awards is needed immediately, so that a budget can be setup. Decisions will have to be made as to the type of awards, and how many people or teams will receive them.

Budget. Following the Awards topic above, a budget must be setup, and quotes for all expenses are needed in order to do that. Once all expenses have been added up, the tungsten dart league can determine how much income must be generated each season & year. From there, calculate how much to charge for dues, team fees, bar fees, etc.

Bonding. This should probably be fit in somewhere among topics of Officers, Legal, and Accounting. "Bonding" means purchasing a type of insurance call a Bond, which insures against malfeasance or legal charges against key officers. If, for instance, the Treasurer suddenly relocates out-of-town, and the bank account seems much smaller that it should be, this insurance might cover the missing funds. Officers must generally pass a background check for criminal history, which is not a bad idea for people who will be handling a lot of money belonging to someone else. After all, how well do you really know that nice fellow you met in a bar a couple of weeks ago, and who recently volunteered to take care of the checkbook for you?
 

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Liability Insurance. The league itself should have some sort of Liability Insurance, and certainly the officers should be covered by such an insurance policy. Face it, Darts is mostly played in bars by competitive people who may become drunk in the course of a league match. Bars are generally the first target of lawsuits involving drunks, bar fights, etc., but it is very true in any kind of damage lawsuit, lawyers may sue everyone in sight, including the tungsten darts league. In volunteering to serve as a tungsten darts league officer, do you really want to expose yourself to potential legal action due to the actions of other members or officers? An insurance policy will do wonders for your peace of mind, the first time a bar fight occurs, or funds, equipment, etc. disappear.

Computer & Software. Officers may use their own computers at first, but sometimes a dedicated laptop is convenient, as all of the league stats, membership data, etc. can stay on one computer that can be taken to league meetings. League software, accounting software, and spreadsheet or database software may be needed. Virtual or "cloud computing" can now take the place of much of this. (That is, if you trust remote servers with information that several people might have an opportunity to access, change, or delete.)

Organize the League. Finally! After all of the drudgery of legal, accounting, etc., it is time to sit down with a group of experienced tungsten dart league players and design a match format for the new organization. How many players per team. Singles, doubles, or team matches? Games to play? An evening's match should be designed to give every team member a chance to play, yet still allow the darters to leave early enough to drive home and get some sleep before dawn comes around the next morning. Once a format has been decided on, appropriate score sheets, match reports, and notices must be designed and printed. Someone may volunteer their own printer at home or work, but eventually printing expense can add up to a sizable budget item.

Internet. A web site can go a long way toward reducing printing & postage costs, especially if match reports and stats are posted on the site. Internet web sites and social media are also some of the least expensive ways to reach a large number of prospective new members. Setting up a web site will usually cost from $75 to $200 per year, for ISP site hosting. The site will need to be designed and maintained, which may be another expense if the league has to pay someone.

Note - Domain Names: It is very important to make certain that the league's domain name is registered in the name of the organization, not the web master. It happens all the time: a web designer is hired to setup a web site, but registers it in his/her own name. At any time, that person can just walk away, taking ownership of the web site with him. It is a major hassle to get the name back, if it can be done at all

The items above cover many, but by no means all, of the steps involved in forming and operating a new tungsten darting organization or league.

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Properties of tungsten mine waste geopolymeric binder

Experimental work

Materials

The chemical composition and specific surface of the calcined mine waste mud is shown in Table 1. The figures clearly show that mine waste mud consists essentially of silica and alumina, contaminated with arsenic and sulphur and with a high content of iron and potassium oxide. Although it’s known that iron oxide contributes to the strength of Portland cement it is still and open question if iron also contributes to geopolymerization. The SiO2/ Al2O3 atomic ratio is 5.5 higher than the one suggested by Davidovits of about 2 for making cement and concrete however, the final SiO2/Al2O3 atomic ratio in the hardened binder depends mainly on the reactivity of Al–Si because not all the silica and alumina are reactive so one can not expect the same Si/Al ratio in the final hydration product as the one present in the original precursor material. Indeed most of the Al–Si materials cannot even supply suf- ficient Si in alkaline solution to start geopolymerization, this explains why they need extra silica provided in solution by waterglass, which influences the Si/Al ratio of the hardened binder. 

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6-14 is a fun game to play and great practice for x01. It has a fixed number of rounds and moves very quickly. It may be played by any number of players or teams.

The Object: The object of the game is to score the most points in a fixed number of rounds.

The Scoring: The numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are written down the center of the score board with the players names written in order across the top. Playing order is determined by a throw at bulls - eye, closest dart plays first.

The Play: Players take turns aiming at the thin outer "doubles" ring of the number of the round they are in. In the first round, play is for the double-6, in the second round play is for the double-7, etc. Only the double of the current number counts for any score.

Each dart that lands in the proper double scores that player 50 points. For example, in the first round a player shoots a single-5, double-6 and double-6, the players score would be 100 points.

If a player shoots at least one dart into the double of the target number, that player gets an additional throw of three darts at the 20. The total of the 20's is added up in the usual way, the thin outer "doubles" ring counting as two 20's (40 points). The thin inner "triples" ring counting as three 20's (60 points). The rest of the 20 counts as one 20 (20 points). If none of the target doubles are hit, the player is not allowed a throw at the 20's.

The sum of 50 points for each of the target number double is added to the sum of the 20's and the score is written in the player's column next to the target number.

Play continues alternating players/teams until the "14" round is complete. The scores are totalled and the higher scoring player/team wins.

Strategy: Try to score a lot of points.

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Phil 'The Power' Taylor is regarded by most as Darts' greatest ever player. There is no right or wrong way to throw a tungsten dart; however the 15 world titles achieved by Taylor along with his overall dominance of the sport have led to much analysis and imitation of his throwing style. As Taylor's throwing technique is fairly advanced, it along with most styles requires a fair amount of practice in order to improve accuracy.The instructions of how to throw tungsten darts like Phil Taylor are as followed:

Position yourself at the center of the toe line. Align your dominant foot so that it is level with the throwing line. Lean your body slightly forward, with the majority of your body weight resting on your front foot; this brings you closer to the board and maintains balance.

Place the tungsten dart in your open palm; balance it and find the center of gravity. Now roll the tungsten dart to your finger tips using your thumb. This should become an automatic movement in between throws and your eyes should remain focused on the target.

Rest your thumb against the stem of the tungsten dart, keeping two fingers in contact with the barrel (see resources). Phil Taylor is seen to use a 'pencil grip', this is a common method of holding the tungsten dart and usually requires a thin cylindrical barrel, like those used by Phil.

Bring the tungsten dart slowly back towards your right eye, keeping your arm at a 90 degree angle and the point of the dart pointing up. Your eyes should be focused on the specific area of the board you are aiming for. Release the dart at a medium pace. Ensure your throwing arm remains straight at a 180 degree angle on the follow-through. Like Phil, point your index finger towards the board, not the floor.

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Properties of tungsten mine waste geopolymeric binder

Experimental work

Materials

TMWM used in this study was subject to a thermal treatment at 950 C during 2 h, in order to achieve the dehydroxylated state. Mineralogical composition and thermal conditions were described elsewhere.The XRD patterns indicated that mine waste mud consists mainly of muscovite and quartz which were identified by their characteristic patterns as follows: muscovite (card 46 – 1409) and quartz (card 46 – 1045). For those thermal conditions XRD patterns indicated that dehydroxylation did not result in a complete collapse of muscovite structure. Calcination leads to formation of an amorphous phase, causing an increase in the general background (BG) of XRD patterns and dominantly taking place in the calcinations interval from 850 to 950 C, with a thermal behaviour similar to other phyllosilicate clay minerals. The main muscovite peak (2h = 8.8) persisted even after the sample had been heated at 950 C although it decreased considerably. Peak area measurements revealed that about 12% of muscovite survived calcination at 950 C. Molecular changes during dehydroxylation were also examined with infrared emission spectra (FTIR), confirming decrease in the absorption peaks at 3600-3700 (OH stretch), however peak did not disappear totally indicating only a partial transformation. 

 

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