RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Aug 19, 2023 11:00:12 GMT -5
Am using the Ray-Tech 10 for all stages after Stage 1 and am doing Borax rinses between stages and for the final burnish and cleanup.
The question is ... when using the Borax as a cleaning agent, what is the right amount of water to use.
I have been filling the tub with water to get lots of movement and "action" but am clueless as to whether this is the correct way to go. Things seem to be working the way I am doing it but that may just be beginner's luck.
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skmcconnell361
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2023
Posts: 125
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Post by skmcconnell361 on Aug 19, 2023 11:24:18 GMT -5
I am new to rock tumbling also, first rocks are in step 4 and I need to check the progress this evening. I'm also using borax to wash in between steps. I read in "Modern Rock Tumbling" by Steve Hart that you want just enough water to about the bottom of the top layer of rocks. Or I have also read here just cover the rocks with water, that is what I have been doing. I really don't think too much water is that big of a deal in the wash cycle here though.
Or may be as a new bee myself I should just Shut Up, I am sure if I am wrong someone here will correct me. just trying to share what I have learned so far.
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Aug 19, 2023 11:56:38 GMT -5
I am new to rock tumbling also, first rocks are in step 4 and I need to check the progress this evening. I'm also using borax to wash in between steps. I read in "Modern Rock Tumbling" by Steve Hart that you want just enough water to about the bottom of the top layer of rocks. Or I have also read here just cover the rocks with water, that is what I have been doing. I really don't think too much water is that big of a deal in the wash cycle here though. Or may be as a new bee myself I should just Shut Up, I am sure if I am wrong someone here will correct me. just trying to share what I have learned so far.That's why we are here after all, eh ? I looked for the Steve Hart book at the local library but no luck ! It is for sale on line for $25 .. even used ! The water to the bottom of the top layer of rocks is for for the barrel tumblers .... am using a vibratory machine and having to start over from scratch recipe-wise. Being a re-newbie and having to ask questions is not all the fun it is cracked up to be !
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Aug 19, 2023 12:18:01 GMT -5
Am using the Ray-Tech 10 for all stages after Stage 1 and am doing Borax rinses between stages and for the final burnish and cleanup. The question is ... when using the Borax as a cleaning agent, what is the right amount of water to use. I have been filling the tub with water to get lots of movement and "action" but am clueless as to whether this is the correct way to go. Things seem to be working the way I am doing it but that may just be beginner's luck. Just located some of the answers to some of my questions here .... forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/post/337618/thread
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skmcconnell361
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2023
Posts: 125
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Post by skmcconnell361 on Aug 19, 2023 13:51:45 GMT -5
I am new to rock tumbling also, first rocks are in step 4 and I need to check the progress this evening. I'm also using borax to wash in between steps. I read in "Modern Rock Tumbling" by Steve Hart that you want just enough water to about the bottom of the top layer of rocks. Or I have also read here just cover the rocks with water, that is what I have been doing. I really don't think too much water is that big of a deal in the wash cycle here though. Or may be as a new bee myself I should just Shut Up, I am sure if I am wrong someone here will correct me. just trying to share what I have learned so far.That's why we are here after all, eh ? I looked for the Steve Hart book at the local library but no luck ! It is for sale on line for $25 .. even used ! The water to the bottom of the top layer of rocks is for for the barrel tumblers .... am using a vibratory machine and having to start over from scratch recipe-wise. Being a re-newbie and having to ask questions is not all the fun it is cracked up to be ! Okay he does have a section on Vibratory Tumblers also but I don't have one yet so I did not pay much attention to that chapter. Yes online was the only way I could find the book also. Barn's and Nobel could not even find the book I always said the only dumb question is the one not asked.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,071
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Post by dshanpnw on Aug 20, 2023 10:05:22 GMT -5
Ha, you guys have great questions. I would have to agree with skmcconnell361 that it doesn't matter too much about how much water you use when doing the clean-outs, but I kind of go with the minimum amount and I still get a good soapy milky slurry going. When doing the burnish with the Thumbler's UV-10 vibe (10 pound), I use two tablespoons of Borax with the rocks just wet, works great.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,071
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Post by dshanpnw on Aug 20, 2023 10:13:18 GMT -5
I am new to rock tumbling also, first rocks are in step 4 and I need to check the progress this evening. I'm also using borax to wash in between steps. I read in "Modern Rock Tumbling" by Steve Hart that you want just enough water to about the bottom of the top layer of rocks. Or I have also read here just cover the rocks with water, that is what I have been doing. I really don't think too much water is that big of a deal in the wash cycle here though. Or may be as a new bee myself I should just Shut Up, I am sure if I am wrong someone here will correct me. just trying to share what I have learned so far. I abide pretty much by what Steve Hart says in his book and I have learned to understand what he means only through experience and trial and error. When I do clean-outs for the rotary I fill the barrel with the same amount of water as I do when doing the stages, just below the top layer of rocks. The same applies when using the vibe, I drain the bowl of all the water leaving the rocks just wet enough even when doing clean-outs and the burnishing stage. I do check the soapy slurry though after about 30 minutes and add water if there is not enough action or movement. Sometimes if there is too much water there is little to no action. Hope this helps.
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Aug 20, 2023 10:46:16 GMT -5
... When I do clean-outs for the rotary I fill the barrel with the same amount of water as I do when doing the stages, just below the top layer of rocks. The same applies when using the vibe, I drain the bowl of all the water leaving the rocks just wet enough even when doing clean-outs and the burnishing stage. I do check the soapy slurry though after about 30 minutes and add water if there is not enough action or movement. Sometimes if there is too much water there is little to no action. Hope this helps. Yep ..it does. !!! Thanks !
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