brizzonator
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2020
Posts: 23
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Post by brizzonator on Jul 4, 2021 11:04:05 GMT -5
I was wondering why many of the tumbling articles I have read advise you to keep the stones wet between cycles and not dry them out. This isn't a problem for me, as I normally just go from barrel to barrel with them anyway, but anyone have an answer for why that advice is given? Thanks.
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allyegrl
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2020
Posts: 5
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Post by allyegrl on Jul 4, 2021 11:38:46 GMT -5
I've read that also, the reasons I've seen are to prevent any leftover grit that may be on the rocks or in crevices from hardening.
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Post by greig on Jul 4, 2021 11:47:52 GMT -5
Probably more important is don't leave them in the slurry too long after tumbling as the slurry will settle and harden. I have had no issue letting my rocks dry between tumbles. I like to do it to better see the progress (for video).
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brizzonator
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2020
Posts: 23
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Post by brizzonator on Jul 4, 2021 12:00:14 GMT -5
Thanks all!
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Post by manofglass on Jul 4, 2021 17:23:09 GMT -5
Probably more important is don't leave them in the slurry too long after tumbling as the slurry will settle and harden. I have had no issue letting my rocks dry between tumbles. I like to do it to better see the progress (for video). Won’t hurt to let them set a few days turned my rotary off this morning
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Post by greig on Jul 5, 2021 13:00:46 GMT -5
Probably more important is don't leave them in the slurry too long after tumbling as the slurry will settle and harden. I have had no issue letting my rocks dry between tumbles. I like to do it to better see the progress (for video). Won’t hurt to let them set a few days turned my rotary off this morning I'd recommend to do a clean out before letting things set. Very difficult to clean afterwards. However, if that happens run the tumble overnight with as much of the the old slurry removed, new water and perhaps some soap loosen the dirt up again.
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Post by manofglass on Jul 5, 2021 13:33:37 GMT -5
It gets cleaned once a month I did clean out last week I never clean the barrels just load and go
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Post by pauls on Jul 5, 2021 17:32:14 GMT -5
I have had a barrel full of stones sitting untouched for six months, the start of the heat in our Aussie summer around Christmas I turned it off and then I have been away to Agate Creek for two months, finally got it going a couple of days ago, It took maybe ten minutes rolling to get back to a normal sound, opened it up late yesterday and there was no sign of it having been sitting. I have trays of stones that need treatment sitting for months at a time, any holes or cracks get removed so I don't care if sludge sets hard in them. My rule is anything with a crack or hole never makes it to polish, the hole gets removed or the stone gets tossed.
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rrod
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 72
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Post by rrod on Jul 11, 2021 13:25:29 GMT -5
On the flip side of grit drying in cracks is that water is great at hiding cracks. Feldspars especially will look awesome wet but once dry will reveal more scars than a Lion King convention. I like to put the stones in a bucket, give em a good hand shaking, then use a toothbrush on anything holding grit, then leave to dry for subsequent inspection.
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