zekester55
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 111
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Post by zekester55 on May 3, 2017 4:57:59 GMT -5
The instructions that came with my AR-2 said to never let the stones dry our between stages. There was no real explanation for this. My process initially was to run one stage, and move right into the next, but I've found over time that there are soigné stones, maybe not the whole batch, that I'd like to run through the same stage again before preceding. Don't really have a space where I want to keep a series of buckets of wet stones around. I'm curious to know what the more experienced folks here do.
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 3, 2017 5:24:02 GMT -5
The reason that it's a good idea to keep your rocks wet between stages is so that slurry or polish doesn't dry out in the cracks and holes. If it does dry out, it hardens like cement and won't come out later. In finished rocks, this results in white residue in the cracks that just highlight those flaws.
The only stage that I ever run over again is the first stage. I clean my barrels weekly and run them for several weeks to several months. Each week I remove only rocks that are free of flaws such at holes and cracks. The rest go back in until they're as close to perfect as I think they'll ever get. When I remove stones from the first stage, I do not store them wet. They get thoroughly dried and stored in Tupperware type containers.
After the first stage, I never rerun a stage. I run each stage for a set number of days and then they go directly to the next stage before they dry out. There's no reason to rerun them at this point and no reason not to go to the next stage immediately. What I do to avoid having slurry stuck in the cracks is run the rocks again between stages with soap or borax. This applies to both rotary and vibratory tumblers. Vibe tumblers do everything faster, so the stages run for a shorter time (two days for me) and the wash cycle between stages runs shorter (15 minutes to an hour). Sometimes I run the wash stage twice between stages, but it's probably unnecessary.
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Post by morerockspleaz on May 3, 2017 8:03:50 GMT -5
I have 4 tumblers going, i do the same weekly clean out and remove what is ready for the next stage. If I am going to store them for either not enough for a load or to busy I do store them in plastic containers wet. Once they are past 220 and they need to sit awhile I do a double wash and store damp. If they are shaped and no holes or cracks a good washing should be enough to let them sit dry. Borax and soap run just to make sure they are free of grit. Everyone has their own system. You have to find what works for you. Good luck with your tumbles. Oh and good plastic bags work well too for storage. Dollar store has inexpressive containers. I like Dollar tree. Everything is s buck.
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 879
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Post by cardiobill on May 3, 2017 11:45:34 GMT -5
I always keep mine wet
Bill
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Post by parfive on May 3, 2017 12:37:19 GMT -5
When I’m done with 60/90 there ain’t no nooks and crannies, ipso facto, no need to keep ‘em wet.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on May 3, 2017 12:41:30 GMT -5
When I’m done with 60/90 there ain’t no nooks and crannies, ipso facto, no need to keep ‘em wet. This is my answer also. I used to keep them wet, but got tired of draining the water when it started to smell. I like to roll my rocks until they are very smooth. If you like a more natural look, keeping them wet might help stop things from drying.
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Post by morerockspleaz on May 3, 2017 12:48:43 GMT -5
Okay so minimal space. Small plastic tote, contains any leaks- good sturdy ziplock bags with enough water to keep them damp. Use a sharpie to mark what stage it needs to go to. i use cheap plastic bowls with a piece of painters tape on the lid to tell me what stage that group of rocks go to next. Same with ziplock bags. I write goes to 60/90 or whatever they need to go to next. I rarely let them dry out unless they need to go way back to course. I am OCD and am forgetful. This is how I do it.
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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 May 3, 2017 14:16:12 GMT -5
keeping them wet might help stop things from drying. oh yeah . . . so true . . .
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nileriver
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2016
Posts: 22
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Post by nileriver on May 3, 2017 14:53:59 GMT -5
I think that, if your rocks are good and clean after each stage, it is not a problem to store them dry. I make sure mine are really clean anyway, to avoid cross contamination (coarser grit from previous stage making it into the next stage). I use a toothbrush because I frequently allow less than perfect rocks to proceed. I'm all for perfection, but some rocks have such an awesome pattern or color or shape, and you can tell that continued grinding will grind away pits/creases/cracks to just reveal more underneath, that you either accept them with flaws or chuck them entirely. You just have to make really sure that these voids are cleaned really well. And as others have noted, if the slurry dries in there, especially the white AO, it highlights every pit and crack. Some of which you might not even notice without the white AO "cement" glaring out at you. A flawless rock is easy to clean. And it may be overkill to use the toothbrush, as it is quite tedious. I am just paranoid of cross contamination. I use 3 lb tumblers. Those with a much higher volume of rocks, brushing is probably not practical. Jugglerguy, how long do you tumble in soap or borax between stages? And do you find that it cleans out pits/cracks thoroughly? Someone else mentioned two cleaning tumbles between each stage? I really would like to retire the toothbrush if it isn't really necessary...
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 3, 2017 17:07:40 GMT -5
. Jugglerguy, how long do you tumble in soap or borax between stages? And do you find that it cleans out pits/cracks thoroughly? Someone else mentioned two cleaning tumbles between each stage? I really would like to retire the toothbrush if it isn't really necessary... I do most of my finish tumbling in a Lot-O. I run them between 15 minutes and 1 hour. I rarely move rocks past the first stage with flaws, so I don't know how well it cleans them. They're pretty clean to begin with. I just like to be thorough. I do not do a cleaning stage after 46/70, they just go into dry storage at that point until I had enough set aside for the next stage.
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Post by aDave on May 3, 2017 18:14:52 GMT -5
Count me in the dry storage camp. So far, the only times rocks are sitting is between the first and second stage. My first coarse is pretty aggressive in that I try to remove as many flaws as possible. I am finding, however, that with some rocks, there is often a balance of grinding away too much material and not enough. Some rocks, like bots, may have some of the distinct banding removed if I try to take them too far. I still haven't found that "sweet spot" yet.
In order to facilitate cleaning of some of the finer grits, I clean with a Borax stage prior to, and after, polish.
Dave
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