jamijr
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 59
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Post by jamijr on May 17, 2021 14:52:20 GMT -5
And if so what kind(s) do you use?
I can't remember if it was here or on the reddit rock tumbling forum, but I saw someone mention they put borax powder in every tumbling cycle because it makes washing off the grit/slurry easier. And I see a lot of rock tumbling websites recommend burnishing after the polish stage using shavings of Ivory bar soap. So what I've been doing is doing a mix of borax and Ivory in tumbling stages 1-3 and that's when I finally started having success with polishing. I don't even feel they need a burnishing stage as they come out pretty shiny and become even more so if I buff them a bit with a clean rag. (And yes, the grit slurry does wash off a LOT easier/quicker.)
I've been talking a bit with the author of Modern Rock Tumbling Steve Hart via e-mail and he suggested I might want to move on from borax and Ivory. I noticed in his book he mentions using Dreft and liquid Dawn dish soap. But other websites I've read said to never use dish soap because any additives in them to help clean your dishes might interfere with polishing.
So I don't waste money I'm going to use up what I have but I was wondering what others use and how well it works. I suppose I could always get trial sizes of recommended products to try to see if it works as well/better than my current borax & Ivory combo.
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Post by Peruano on May 17, 2021 16:11:42 GMT -5
I use Dawn liquid in all vibe loads. I feel it helps carry the grit up in contact with the stones as they circulate and as it builds a dense foam it also cushions the material (less rough rattling). But I should warn you there are many views on tumbling formulas and you will hear a lot of them.
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jamijr
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 59
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Post by jamijr on May 17, 2021 18:49:35 GMT -5
I use Dawn liquid in all vibe loads. I feel it helps carry the grit up in contact with the stones as they circulate and as it builds a dense foam it also cushions the material (less rough rattling). But I should warn you there are many views on tumbling formulas and you will hear a lot of them. I hope I do. I'm new to this, after all, and currently no clubs are meeting due to the plague. So I'm having to learn everything online and from the one book I mentioned. Everything else is just me experimenting and learning by doing.
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Post by paulshiroma on May 18, 2021 9:56:20 GMT -5
But I should warn you there are many views on tumbling formulas and you will hear a lot of them. x2 on this ... LOL I use some detergent at the end of each stage so that it's easier to clean. So, now you've got two opinions ... slightly different At the end of the day, do what YOU find works best for you. I suspect most of us use a variation on what we've learned and picked up along they way.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 19, 2021 8:12:27 GMT -5
I only use borax and/or dawn on last polish stage. Easier final cleanup. I noticed no added benefit in earlier stages. That said I normally look and scrub each rock with a nail brush and rinse before moving on. While it might help not have to brush them I am looking at each one to determine whether to promote to next grade or make them go back again until they learn their lesson.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,507
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Post by Brian on May 19, 2021 8:24:23 GMT -5
I don’t use any soap/borax in the rotary but I do add a little Ivory in the Lot-O. I don’t know if it makes much of a difference because I’ve done that from the first load and haven’t tried it without, but I do know the kids absolutely love grating the bars of soap, so it’s worth it just for that. For the vibe, I do add a couple squirts of Dawn dish soap about 5-10 minutes before cleaning it out based on Jugglerguy’s recommendation in his videos. That does seem to make a difference because those cleanouts are much easier than ones where I don’t add the liquid dish soap at the end. I have stayed away from borax simply because I like having the option of dumping in/near the grass once I let the slurry settle a bit. I use the dried out slurry in the rotary.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on May 19, 2021 9:03:38 GMT -5
I use a small drizzle in my Vib. before adding the grit because it helps the grit stick to the rock !
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 19, 2021 11:53:59 GMT -5
I have much more experience with a vibe that a rotary for all stages after the first stage. I don't put any thing except rocks, grit and water in the 220 stage in the vibe. For the 500 aluminum oxide and polish stages, I add one tablespoon of borax to the Lot-O barrel. and as Brian said, I put in a squirt of dish detergent and some extra water just before cleaning out the barrel. I used to use Dreft, but one time my slurry turned very black in a rotary barrel if I remember correctly. There wasn't anything in the barrel that seemed like it should turn the water black, so I suspected the Dreft of breaking down the rubber. I have no idea if that was actually what was happening, but I stopped using Dreft at that point and never had that happen again. I have always thought that the borax or other soap just thickened up the slurry a little and helped the grit stick to the rocks better. I have had very good luck with my tumbling, so I have never seen a reason to change what I'm doing.
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jamijr
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 59
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Post by jamijr on May 19, 2021 13:00:18 GMT -5
See, I just have the rotary types. I have a Chicago Electric and just bought a Lortone, both are double barrels so I can run four loads at once.
I seem to be, so far, having the best luck with the borax/Ivory shavings combo. My rocks just weren't polishing no matter what kind of polish I used until I started doing that. And like I said, the grit/slurry washes off a lot easier. I just want to see what others use in case I want to try something else.
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LadyBlair
off to a rocking start
Living the rock life
Member since October 2020
Posts: 6
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Post by LadyBlair on Feb 2, 2022 1:00:26 GMT -5
Yes, I’ve been running some test batches with dreft in place of water. In a mini-sonic vibratory 4 lb barrel (med-high speed) with 3-4 lbs beach rounded untumbled rock , I add 3 tbsp dreft at the start then 4 tsp 400 sic and run for 1-2 days with press and seal cover under the lid. No ceramics. Adding a few squirts of water as needed to thin the slurry but very minimal. No bubbles. So far, so good. Grit is sticking and rounding stones to my satisfaction quickly and keeps the barrel from embedded grit in the bottom. Easy cleanup rinse. Grit doesn’t stick in pits. The key is to start with well rounded/shaped beach rocks without issues that would ordinarily need a rotary tumble to shape. The dreft doesn’t evaporate as quickly as water. If I don’t check the barrel as often, the dreft keeps the stones moving and offers some cushion as well.
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 2, 2022 2:34:05 GMT -5
I shave some Zote soap (white) thehomestead.guru/zote-soap/ in the tumbler barrel to help clean the rocks up when I am done, then rinse them off. With cabs I swish them around with water containing a little dawn to clean off any mineral dust that may remain.
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Feb 2, 2022 10:20:03 GMT -5
I use Borax, usually between stage 3 and 4 for about 4 hours(unless I forget it until the next day!), and then as a burnishing last stage, usually overnight.
I also tried shaved Ivory soap, and didn't notice any difference with Borax. I only stick with Borax because I have a big box of it and it's convenient :-)
I use a Rotary Lortone 33B with small 1.5lb barrels.
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