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Post by Alice on Mar 9, 2005 17:13:40 GMT -5
Pup, you mentioned that you got yourself an extra fine stainer. I don't have one of those and have no idea where to get one, other then in my 1 cup coffee machine (I have a reuseable filter).
Do you think a regular paper coffee filter sitting inside a regular strainer would do the trick?
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Post by americanbulldogsnj on Mar 9, 2005 17:26:03 GMT -5
Try your local dollar store. I have fine plastic mesh ones that came in a 3 pack , and dispite their appearance they are quite durable! Marian
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Post by Alice on Mar 9, 2005 17:36:27 GMT -5
I've checked our dollar stores for a regular plastic strainer at the time I got a new tumbler. All they seem to carry is stainless steel (plastic seems to be out of style ). I did end up buying a stainless steel one, but only to replace my plastic colander (which I used to use for food). I'm sure some store out there has them. It's just a question of getting off my butt and go for another hunt around town (I hit about 15+ stores last week looking for Borax). So of course I'm looking for an easy way out... paper coffee filter in a regular strainer But then again it won't be for a while until I do any straining. I just might come across one.
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Post by puppie96 on Mar 9, 2005 21:11:19 GMT -5
I believe I found ones like Marian's, as they came in a 3-pack and were on clearance. They were at our local supermarket marked down to something insane like 10% of original price. Unfortunately, I only bought 2 sets. They are actually kitchen useful, too.
Yes, I think the nylon filter in a coffeemaker would be an idea and I've thought of it also, but it might be a little too fine. Same for paper filters. Remember, you're cleaning these puppies, you need for the waste to be able to drain through the sieve.
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Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 10, 2005 0:57:08 GMT -5
OK, you guys perked my interested. I ordered 2 lbs from verzazio too... ;D ;D
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Mar 10, 2005 2:11:06 GMT -5
Plastic strainers -- hmm, I recall having a hard time finding them last year when I decided I should probably use a different strainer for each grinding stage. I looked in a lot of dollar stores, kitchen stores, kitchen departments of grocery stores, and stores like the Bay, etc. I can't quite recall where I finally found them... possibly it was a dollar store, but I'm getting flashes of "Zellers" in my head, and I think it's most likely it was at Zellers. These are the ones with the fine plastic mesh, with holes the same size as in windowscreens. Surprisingly durable, and dirt cheap. So don't give up, they are still around.
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Post by puppie96 on Mar 10, 2005 4:26:47 GMT -5
With things like the nylon sifters, my best finds have come from just looking in the kitchen gadget areas in whatever store I happen to be in if I've got a few minutes. The finds like these sets of sifters that nobody wanted, are targets of opportunity. Luckily, when they popped up in front of me I thought of their usefulness for tumbling. I've noticed that many of the online stores carry strainers or screens, I forget what they call them, but they have things for sorting the stuff -- maybe that would help?
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Post by Alice on Mar 10, 2005 8:39:10 GMT -5
Voodoo let us know when you start them. It would be interesting to compare notes seeing that we're both newbie's at tumbling emeralds
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 10, 2005 9:30:57 GMT -5
I found the wire mesh strainer for my nephew at Wal-Mart in the Kitchen utensil section. I got him a big hand held one, I also found a smaller one that works great to scoop out the plastic pellets. Tami
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Post by Alice on Mar 10, 2005 9:36:25 GMT -5
Tami, the stainless steel ones are very easy to find here. It's the plastic ones that aren't so easy.
I'm going to try zellers as rollingstone had suggested over the weekend. Seems as though Zellers carries a lot of discontinued items. It is a liquidation center after all... probably all the stuff the Bay no longer carries... like a giant junk wagon.
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Post by Alice on Mar 10, 2005 10:16:22 GMT -5
Just keeping everyone posted -
Some of the emeralds have been tumbling in coarse grit for 7 days. Some have been tumbling only for a few days (my son and I have picked through the barrel and took some out, and put in a few new ones along with some rubies and sapphires). So we have a mix of emeralds. Some from Verzazio (from a Brazil mine) and some from Mine Run Gems (I have no idea what mine they came from) in the barrel.
I'd recharge today, but my grit hasn't arrived in the mail yet, so I have no choice at this point but to let the batch tumble until the grit gets here.
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Post by Alice on Mar 11, 2005 9:09:30 GMT -5
The grit didn't come yesterday, So I went over to our local hobby shop and got some lastnight. The slurry, currently is the consistency of really heavy cream, so I recharged with 3 tablespoons of coarse grit instead of 4 tablespoons. I don't want it to get too too thick (like foil wrapped cream cheese), so I'll be keeping an eye on the barrel over the next few days. Making sure the rocks are tumbling freely. I pulled out 3 or 4 rocks just to examine them. There's still quite a bit of matrix, but it'll eventually come off (so I've been told). I threw them back in the barrel and put the barrel back on the unit. I'm going to try not to open the barrel for at least 7 days (providing everying is sounding good). Wish me and my son luck Must - have - WILL POWER! ;D
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 11, 2005 10:08:33 GMT -5
NEVER happen- 7 days- ha I give you3 max- Hey lets start a pool- I say 3 day 4 hours- ;D
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Post by Alice on Mar 11, 2005 10:14:01 GMT -5
LOL How much grit are we wagering here?
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 11, 2005 10:19:36 GMT -5
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH this is getting interesting!! ;D
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Post by Alice on Mar 12, 2005 18:49:52 GMT -5
LOL, I didn't make it past 2 days! The emeralds haven't changed much in 2 days But my slurry is really thick.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 13, 2005 12:57:00 GMT -5
HOW THICK hmmm if it get to thick (like molasses thick) might want to add a bit of water- Oh and I recharged my barrel on tuesday and have not peeked! that makes hmmm lets see add one carry the 3 - 5DAYS a new personal record!
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Post by Alice on Mar 13, 2005 15:16:54 GMT -5
It got real thick Stefan. Thick like whipped cream (it even held peaks... and it wasn't foam). I took Docones advise and took out some grit, and added a little water last night (just the water that was dripping off the rocks). I did take some pictures of the emeralds, they're posted up in the members photo's pages. I guess I'm going to have to restart that count again... So far it's been about 18? hours since I've opened the barrel. ... I will TRY again for 7 days Congrats on your record Stefan.... is that the same barrel your little guy squeezed?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 14, 2005 10:13:38 GMT -5
Yes it is- Oh and the little guy- is 17 yrs old 5ft9" AND goes 250 Lbs. (not so little!) Well today is day 6!
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Post by Alice on Mar 14, 2005 12:07:47 GMT -5
Wow, you're right. He's not so little Day 6. Wow, you must be a pro at this when are you going to open the barrel? on day 7? What are you tumbling in there anyway?
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