ArkieRockhound
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 870
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Post by ArkieRockhound on Feb 27, 2005 13:33:09 GMT -5
;D I finially loaded my first batch in Pre-polish. Two more weeks and I may have some results. My mixture of rocks ran two weeks in rough, one week in fine and with a lot of sorting, I got enough out of a 12 Lb and 6 lb to fill a 6 lb with nice round, smooth rocks. They really shine now when wet, so hope they will polish. I scrubbed the barrel and each rock with a toothbrush. I need at least one more barrel and I will have one for each step. Just two more weeks til Christmas! Trish
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 27, 2005 13:37:50 GMT -5
I scrubbed the barrel and each rock with a toothbrush. I need at least one more barrel and I will have one for each step. Just two more weeks til Christmas! Trish Hey Trish, if you only have two barrels, keep one for polish only and one for all silicon carbide grit. The worst case is to get grit into your polish cycle. Grit breaks down as you tumble so it isn't near the poblem between grit stages. Ron
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Post by Alice on Feb 28, 2005 1:29:22 GMT -5
That's a great idea Ron... But now I have a question...
I have just one rubber barrel which I have not used yet. (I've upgraded from a plastic barrel and now I am waiting for my rocks to come in the mail to start with the rubber barrel)... when the time comes, is there a way to completely clean out the grit before polish? Something tells me that with a rubber barrel, fragments of grit will embed itself in the pores of the rubber.
Alice
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 28, 2005 7:57:31 GMT -5
Hey Alice, yes they will embed in the rubber, but you can get it clean. I would clean it with a brush and soapy water first. Then put some plain untumbled rocks in it with some borax (20 Mule Team) and let it run for a couple of days. The barrel should be pretty clean. Remember that the silicon carbide grit breaks down and is not permanent. Once you've got a barrel clean enough to polish with, don't ever put grit back in it.
Ron
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Post by Alice on Feb 28, 2005 10:44:45 GMT -5
Looks like I should call the company and order a 2nd barrel. Makes sense to have 2 barrels.
dumb question... would pre-polish be considered ad grit or polish? I'm assuming it's polish, but I thought I'd ask and be on the safe side.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Feb 28, 2005 11:03:06 GMT -5
I guess I'd have the same question as I have a 33B (two #3 barrels) and I have one for the grit and I've kept the second one for pre-polish & polish - can I just do a load with ivory soap between pre-polish & polish? Is this really necessary to do the ivory soap wash between?
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Post by Alice on Feb 28, 2005 16:11:37 GMT -5
tweetypie As far as I know the soap is there just to give your stones that extra glossy shine. I don't think it's necessary to put it in, but your stones won't have that deep shine.
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Post by Cher on Feb 28, 2005 16:26:56 GMT -5
When I had just two barrels, I used one for 60/90 and 120/200 grit. The second barrel was for 500 and polish. Borax washing in between the last two stages (tried Ivory, can't stand the smell). Sometimes there seems to be a film left on the rocks after polishing so washing with soap just cleans the rocks, it's not going to give them any extra shine. Want a better shine, leave them in polish longer, at least 2 weeks (if patience allows).
Cher ;D
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