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Post by rocksinmypockets on Mar 29, 2023 15:56:52 GMT -5
Hello! So I’ve been finding some decent rocks to tumble from my neighborhood park/green belt area. Trouble is, though, that I’ll run into a few every now and then with some hard to clean off imperfections. For example: This piece has some crazy hard concrete/pavement stuck to it. I’ve been making do with using warm water and random pieces of quartz/quartzite to scrape it off, but what’s left in the picture above has been pretty stubborn. Then, there’s this recent find: There’s a sort of ring of blue dye around where it was covered in the ground. I’m fairly certain it comes from whatever blue weed spray the municipalities and HOAs in the area use right after it rains. I soaked it in soapy warm water and used a toothbrush to scrub off what was originally a very vivid stain, but it’s still visible. My question is, would cleaning these off before tumbling them be beneficial? And if so, are there better ways of accomplishing that over what I’ve been doing so far?
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,258
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Post by chris1956 on Mar 29, 2023 16:17:10 GMT -5
That is a good question. I usually clean mine in a bowl with some dish detergent. But it is mainly to get rid of the sand, dirt and organics. Beyond that, I don't worry about it, just let them tumble and see what happens. A lot of them have an algae film on them and it all comes off in the tumble. It would be interesting to see if that first one loses whatever is concreted on there.
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Post by manofglass on Mar 29, 2023 16:40:26 GMT -5
I stick them in the rotary for a couple hours to clean stone
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 915
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Post by ashley on Mar 29, 2023 16:41:06 GMT -5
I never clean rocks before tumbling unless they are really muddy. The 60/90 cycle will take care of that stuff for you and the little bit of dirt and muck helps create slurry faster.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Mar 29, 2023 16:54:04 GMT -5
The extra crust should be softer and wear away faster in stage 1
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Post by mohs on Mar 29, 2023 16:59:30 GMT -5
Many times I get fooled by spray the city uses on rocks Not much experience with tumbling Butte from your thorough cleaning I would say - good enough now To just let those rocks roll do you have a good supply of world wide tumble ready type of rocks to roll ? if needed I'm sure we could landslide a Ladmo Bag barrel full if interested... mohs
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 29, 2023 18:29:17 GMT -5
Personally, I don't clean off the rocks before the go in the tumbler. I figure the tumbler is going to be grinding "layers" off the rock...so why would I need to clean it prior to going in...whatever is on the surface of the rock is likely softer than the rock itself. I figure mud and organic material just creates a thicker slurry!
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 915
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Post by ashley on Mar 29, 2023 20:46:10 GMT -5
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,599
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Post by Mark K on Mar 29, 2023 21:10:14 GMT -5
I try to get the organics off because they decompose. Tumbling produces heat. Heat assists decomposition. Decomposition produces gasses. Gasses blow the lid off of the barrel. Blown off lids produce messes. Messes get in the bearings. Grit in the bearings destroys them. Destroyed bearings put stress on the rest of the machine. Further stress causes faster wear. Further wear means sooner repairs or re3placement. Sooner replacement means you spend less on the good part of the hobby. Spending less on the good part makes for less enjoyment. Less enjoyment means less enthusiasm for the hobby. Less enthusiasm makes for a better chance of putting the stuff away. Putting the stuff away leads to less to do. Less to do means you get bored. Getting bored increases the chances of getting in trouble. Getting in trouble causes emotional stress. Emotional stress causes ulcers. Ulcers cause you to have to go to the doctor. Doctors cause you to have to give them your money. Giving them your money means you end up in the poor house.
All because you couldn't scrub the algae off of your rocks.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Mar 29, 2023 22:41:56 GMT -5
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Post by HankRocks on Mar 30, 2023 5:31:52 GMT -5
Agree with Mark, I do not care to put any tag along organics into the tumbler. That and I like to know what I am tumbling. No heavily pitted or badly fractured rocks are invited along for the trip. Cleaning is defined as a quick rinse with water and if saw scraps a soap rinse to remove most residual oil.
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Post by amygdule on Mar 30, 2023 7:50:34 GMT -5
Now I need to grease my BearingsI try to get the organics off because they decompose. Tumbling produces heat. Heat assists decomposition. Decomposition produces gasses. Gasses blow the lid off of the barrel. Blown off lids produce messes. Messes get in the bearings. Grit in the bearings destroys them. Destroyed bearings put stress on the rest of the machine. Further stress causes faster wear. Further wear means sooner repairs or re3placement. Sooner replacement means you spend less on the good part of the hobby. Spending less on the good part makes for less enjoyment. Less enjoyment means less enthusiasm for the hobby. Less enthusiasm makes for a better chance of putting the stuff away. Putting the stuff away leads to less to do. Less to do means you get bored. Getting bored increases the chances of getting in trouble. Getting in trouble causes emotional stress. Emotional stress causes ulcers. Ulcers cause you to have to go to the doctor. Doctors cause you to have to give them your money. Giving them your money means you end up in the poor house. All because you couldn't scrub the algae off of your rocks. Thank You !
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Mar 30, 2023 9:43:30 GMT -5
Dang Mark, I always thought rocktumbling was relaxing, it’s already got me broke from rough, grit and electricity!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 30, 2023 10:43:23 GMT -5
I try to get the organics off because they decompose. Tumbling produces heat. Heat assists decomposition. Decomposition produces gasses. Gasses blow the lid off of the barrel. Blown off lids produce messes. Messes get in the bearings. Grit in the bearings destroys them. Destroyed bearings put stress on the rest of the machine. Further stress causes faster wear. Further wear means sooner repairs or re3placement. Sooner replacement means you spend less on the good part of the hobby. Spending less on the good part makes for less enjoyment. Less enjoyment means less enthusiasm for the hobby. Less enthusiasm makes for a better chance of putting the stuff away. Putting the stuff away leads to less to do. Less to do means you get bored. Getting bored increases the chances of getting in trouble. Getting in trouble causes emotional stress. Emotional stress causes ulcers. Ulcers cause you to have to go to the doctor. Doctors cause you to have to give them your money. Giving them your money means you end up in the poor house. All because you couldn't scrub the algae off of your rocks. Mark that was epic! Bravo!
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Mar 30, 2023 10:55:45 GMT -5
When I first started tumbling, I would always clean the rock by tumbling in plain water for less than an hour. I called it "Stage Zero".
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Post by amygdule on Mar 30, 2023 12:05:37 GMT -5
Is that w/o Borax ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Mar 30, 2023 13:18:10 GMT -5
No need for 20 mules in stage 0 or 1
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Post by mohs on Mar 30, 2023 15:46:20 GMT -5
stronger than dirt !
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