suerob
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2012
Posts: 8
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foaming
Aug 25, 2012 22:39:53 GMT -5
Post by suerob on Aug 25, 2012 22:39:53 GMT -5
Hi all. I am new to rock tumbling. My problem is that I am having foaming with all the stages. I have run one batch through all the stages, but did not get a shine at all. Now, I have started a new batch and have gone through the first few stages. I always have to scrape foam off of the top. I check it often because of the foaming. Today I started the polish stage. Something told me to check it after only about an hour. Good thing I did. It was all thick foam and the bottom of the barrel was bulging. I took the foam off and started it again. Then I checked it again about an hour later, and still the same thing. I have never had it happen this bad before. I am using a new polish that I got from The Rock Shed. What could be going wrong? I have stopped the tumbler for now. Afraid it will blow! HELP!!!
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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foaming
Aug 25, 2012 22:55:30 GMT -5
Post by jspencer on Aug 25, 2012 22:55:30 GMT -5
What the heck are you tumbling? That is not normal after a good first grind. I have never seen polish do it. How much size reduction did you get in initial stage?
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foaming
Aug 26, 2012 9:02:59 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Aug 26, 2012 9:02:59 GMT -5
New barrels can cause foaming for some reason but if you've used the barrel(s) for a while that shouldn't be the cause of it. What brand tumbler do you have? Sometimes it's the actual type of rocks your tumbling that will cause foam to occur if they have any kind of organic matter on(or in them) them but again that shouldn't be the problem if the rocks have gone through several stages. What type of rocks are you tumbling? Another thing that will cause foam is soap but that's obvious so I doubt if that's your problem either. The only other things I can think of that you normally put into the barrel are grit,water and polish and I don't think any of them will cause foam.
If the bottom of the barrel was bulging I have to think it's the rocks themselves that are causing gas to develop so I suggest 1-2 tablespoons of Baking Soda in with each load. You can also use a few Tums Antacid tablets.
connrock
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suerob
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2012
Posts: 8
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foaming
Aug 26, 2012 9:29:53 GMT -5
Post by suerob on Aug 26, 2012 9:29:53 GMT -5
Hi. I have a Chicago 3LB. rotary tumbler. I have been using it for about 6 months now. The machine works fine. The problem I have is the foaming. This last polish stage is the worst it has ever been! I am running gems that I mined. They have been washed numerous times, and I scrub them with a toothbrush in between each stage. How much polish should you put in? I have read 4Tbsp and 6Tbsp. If you put in too much polish, will that cause foam? I don't know what else it could be. I also put in plastic pellets to help fill the load.
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foaming
Aug 26, 2012 10:43:22 GMT -5
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 26, 2012 10:43:22 GMT -5
I have never used more then 3tbs of rock shed A/O polish in my 3lb barrels and there is very minimal foaming and always nice shiny rocks after 7-10 days.
You mention they are gems you mined but did not mention what type they are? A little more info might help someone here in figuring out if its a chemical reaction.
Chuck
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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foaming
Aug 26, 2012 12:02:43 GMT -5
Post by peachfront on Aug 26, 2012 12:02:43 GMT -5
I have the same tumbler and it does foam if I use glass marbles etc for a carrier. Burp it every couple days and it should be fine? OK, you say you are using plastic carrier so I dunno...unless your gems are glass such as obsidian.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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foaming
Aug 26, 2012 22:48:47 GMT -5
Post by Minnesota Daniel on Aug 26, 2012 22:48:47 GMT -5
Tap water has a lot of gas dissolved in it because it's been under pressure and because it's cold. Most of it is released when you open the faucet, but not all. Have you ever seen a glass of cold tap water become lined with bubbles after it sat overnight on a nightstand? I fill my barrels with hot water because it has a lot less dissolved gas in it in the first place, and because I know it will contract as it cools. Can't remember the last time I needed to burp a barrel.
My slurry mixes always seem to foam at the beginning too, but after a few days it goes away, and I never considered it to be a problem.
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teddymadison
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2012
Posts: 9
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foaming
Aug 27, 2012 10:08:22 GMT -5
Post by teddymadison on Aug 27, 2012 10:08:22 GMT -5
Maybe you got some soapstone in there. (budum - bum - pish)
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teddymadison
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2012
Posts: 9
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foaming
Sept 15, 2012 19:28:06 GMT -5
Post by teddymadison on Sept 15, 2012 19:28:06 GMT -5
And that's what I get for posting a smart reply lol. I have shaving cream in my polish stage. There was zero foam for the first three and now the polish stage is foaming like crazy. This is the only stage I added plastic to (X shaped tile spaces) and now I am thinking that they may have some oils or something on them that is causing this.
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jukerocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 154
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foaming
Sept 15, 2012 20:00:33 GMT -5
Post by jukerocks on Sept 15, 2012 20:00:33 GMT -5
The foam is nothing to worry about. I have had it occasionally at all stages. I'm not sure what causes it but it does not affect the tumbling of your rocks. It's just a hassle having to clean it out of the barrel. I had foam in my last polish barrel; the rocks are shiny and beautiful.
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teddymadison
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2012
Posts: 9
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foaming
Sept 16, 2012 5:52:09 GMT -5
Post by teddymadison on Sept 16, 2012 5:52:09 GMT -5
The foam is nothing to worry about. I have had it occasionally at all stages. I'm not sure what causes it but it does not affect the tumbling of your rocks. It's just a hassle having to clean it out of the barrel. I had foam in my last polish barrel; the rocks are shiny and beautiful. Yeah, it sounds like they are doing fine in there so I'm not concerned. Just a mystery to solve.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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foaming
Sept 16, 2012 22:11:47 GMT -5
Post by The Dad_Ohs on Sept 16, 2012 22:11:47 GMT -5
I always get foam, cool whip consistency, in my containers when tumbling the 1st & 2nd stages... I use hot water ceramic media, Lg & Sm, and I don't have any problems... I don't get any foam later with steps 3 & 4 although I don't add as much pre-polish/polish as I do grit, 2 tbs as compared to 4 with course & med grits.
Personally I don't think the foam is a bad thing... if you are nervous about cut back a little on your grit and see if that helps. Mario
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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foaming
Sept 17, 2012 15:49:51 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2012 15:49:51 GMT -5
Maybe you got some soapstone in there. (budum - bum - pish) so that's how you type that!
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