|
Post by aliengreensoul on Oct 3, 2018 10:49:23 GMT -5
Can I run Borax and plastic pellets on every stage of tumbling? will Borax have any adverse effects if I run it on certain stages? also, can I run ivory on every stage and would it adversely affect stones thanks in advance take care
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 3, 2018 11:24:49 GMT -5
Can I run Borax and plastic pellets on every stage of tumbling? will Borax have any adverse effects if I run it on certain stages? also, can I run ivory on every stage and would it adversely affect stones thanks in advance take care Vibe tumbler or rotary? In a vibe tumbler I use borax for my 500, 1000 and polish stages. Adding borax in the 120/220 stage would thicken it too much in a vibe tumbler. Stage one for me (46/70) is done in rotaries without borax also. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Oct 3, 2018 11:28:15 GMT -5
aliengreensoulIn a rotary tumbler... I presume? I add Borax only to the final polish and burnishing stages. It seems to make the polish more lustrous. I only use Ivory soap flakes to the burnishing stage. During the burnishing stage the Ivory soap and Borax helps clean out polish from a lot of the cracks that a normal garden hose wash will not get into (toothbrush bristles are also too large to get into some those narrow spots... A dental water-pic helps for the deep pits). I can't think of any reason that Borax is bad during any rotary stage (let's see what other replies say). Plastic pellets act as a cushioning media and I have only used them during the polish stage... but I have discontinued using them because of the mess during clean outs.. ceramic media is easier to handle
|
|
|
Post by aliengreensoul on Oct 3, 2018 11:29:22 GMT -5
As of right now I am using a thumler model T 3-pound rotary as a starter this is my first tumbler I do plan to upgrade to a thumler vibrator-type eventually thansk for answering
|
|
|
Post by aliengreensoul on Oct 3, 2018 11:30:56 GMT -5
aliengreensoul In a rotary tumbler... I presume? I add Borax only to the final polish and burnishing stages. It seems to make the polish more lustrous. I only use Ivory soap flakes to the burnishing stage. During the burnishing stage the Ivory soap and Borax helps clean out polish from a lot of the cracks that a normal garden hose wash will not get into (toothbrush bristles are also too large to get into some those narrow spots... A dental water-pic helps for the deep pits). I can't think of any reason that Borax is bad during any rotary stage (let's see what other replies say). Plastic pellets act as a cushioning media and I have only used them during the polish stage... but I have discontinued using them because of the mess during clean outs.. ceramic media is easier to handle
|
|
|
Post by aliengreensoul on Oct 3, 2018 11:32:02 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the detailed post and yes it is a rotary sorry for leaving that out
|
|
goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368
|
Post by goatgrinder on Oct 3, 2018 16:48:10 GMT -5
Welcome to the RTH from sunny Atlanta. Best of luck.
|
|
rads
spending too much on rocks
Making clay each day!
Member since April 2018
Posts: 318
|
Post by rads on Oct 4, 2018 8:57:45 GMT -5
I tumble a great deal and use borax after the 500 stage (for deep cleaning) before going to polish stage. I also burnish at the end of polish with borax and ivory flakes. As others have said, it adds gloss to the polish stage. Good luck to you.
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by tkvancil on Oct 4, 2018 9:57:52 GMT -5
aliengreensoul My experiences adding borax to a rotary during coarse grind were all negative. It can thicken the slurry to the point of being over thick which can damage your rocks. Many people do use it saying it mitigates gas build up which I have found to be a non-issue with everything except man made glass. As to adding soap to a coarse tumble, been there done that too. For me it created a large volume of foam. The foam trapped and suspended most of the grit keeping the grit off the rocks and not letting it do its job. Plastic pellets can be used with any stage but you really don't want them in the first, coarse grit step. They are meant to slow down the action and provide cushion for the rocks. In first stage you want the most action you can get. When I used to do all stages rotary I used them from 220 to polish but gave up on them. I could get the same cushioning effect by filling the barrel to about 80/85% therefore finishing more per batch. I would suggest as a new tumbler you stick to the basics. Water and grit per instructions with no additives. Keep notes and adjust from there. Once you have a handle on what works for you then it's time to experiment with other things.
|
|
|
Post by TheRock on Oct 4, 2018 16:22:51 GMT -5
Like everyone said use Boarax in 500 thru final stages. Don't use any filler media plastic in the first stages of tumbling. Only use filler Ceramics in the polish stages.
|
|
victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,982
|
Post by victor1941 on Oct 4, 2018 17:06:55 GMT -5
I do vibe tumbling with a UV-18 Thumbler and use borax in all stages. I tumble only preforms and/or flat shapes(test pieces) to get an idea on how well they will finish before shaping. The use of borax in the first stage does require constant checking for proper motion to get maximum abrasive action. My 18 pound mix is about 7-8 pounds cabs direct from the 60 or 80 grit flat disc and 10 pounds of small aluminum oxide pellets from the Rock Shed.
|
|
|
Post by TheRock on Oct 4, 2018 19:13:58 GMT -5
Oh I almost forgot to RTH Forum aliengreensoul from ~Duke in S/W Michigan
|
|
|
Post by aliengreensoul on Oct 5, 2018 6:29:15 GMT -5
thank-you everybody for being so welcoming and understanding usually when you join a new hobby forum people are not as welcoming thanks again and above all take care
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 5, 2018 9:49:23 GMT -5
thank-you everybody for being so welcoming and understanding usually when you join a new hobby forum people are not as welcoming thanks again and above all take care Stick around awhile, and you will see we are not like other people. Welcome to the forum.
|
|