LazerFlash
Cave Dweller 
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Oct 17, 2023 16:21:36 GMT -5
I find myself moving up to Michigan in the next few weeks, where it gets and stays below freezing a fair amount during the Winter months.
Unfortunately, I will not have a place to tumble until at least the Spring, and need to put it all into a storage unit. The problem is that I'm not able to find a climate-controlled unit that I can afford. I don't really have a problem with this, except for the in-progress stones that I leave in water to avoid any left-behind grit from hardening.
I had thought to use a dilute solution of automobile antifreeze to keep the water from freezing. Any thoughts on this? Or, perhaps another answer to the problem of keeping things from freezing up?
Thanks, gang!
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 479
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Post by hypodactylus on Oct 17, 2023 17:25:48 GMT -5
I wouldn't use antifreeze, but I don't have any great suggestions on how to keep the water from freezing.
I personally would just make sure the rocks are rinsed well enough and let them dry out.
The only stage that seems to cause me problems with hardening into cracks/pits is the polish stage.
Other stages seem to rinse out fine, or have larger grit 'crystals' simply stuck in the crevices (keeping them wet won't help with that).
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Post by southernlakehuronguy on Oct 17, 2023 17:57:22 GMT -5
You might try windshield solvent, though it may stain.
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Post by chris1956 on Oct 17, 2023 18:04:29 GMT -5
I haven't ever done this but how about alcohol? In the right concentration it would keep it from freezing. Might get kind of expensive and I think you would want to use something like vodka. How about finding someone that can keep them for you until you are ready?  |
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Oct 17, 2023 19:01:07 GMT -5
I'd like to think that even if the water freezes the grit won't embed itself into the rocks. If you don't have any other option I would let them freeze and thaw them out in spring. I would not put any type of chemicals near my rocks. Maybe just wrap them up with insulation.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Oct 17, 2023 20:20:22 GMT -5
I haven't ever done this but how about alcohol? In the right concentration it would keep it from freezing. Might get kind of expensive and I think you would want to use something like vodka. You may be on to something. We keep a bottle of rum in the freezer, which we have set to -3F. Over the years, they tend to 'gel up', but never quite freeze.
How about finding someone that can keep them for you until you are ready?  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 17, 2023 20:42:56 GMT -5
I've never heard of anyone needing to store their rocks in anti-freeze...but I know it's not uncommon for some people to tumble using antifreeze...for what that's worth...
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Post by chris1956 on Oct 17, 2023 20:49:07 GMT -5
I've never heard of anyone needing to store their rocks in anti-freeze...but I know it's not uncommon for some people to tumble using antifreeze...for what that's worth... Ok, what does tumbling with antifreeze do for the rocks? |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 17, 2023 20:53:00 GMT -5
I've never heard of anyone needing to store their rocks in anti-freeze...but I know it's not uncommon for some people to tumble using antifreeze...for what that's worth... Ok, what does tumbling with antifreeze do for the rocks? Nothing...just keeps the liquid in the tumbler from freezing solid. I know there are Canadian members who talked about adding antifreeze as they tumbled in unheated environments during the winter. I used to tumble through the winter in my unheated garage...but I just put a cardboard box over the tumblers. The heat from the motors kept the temps under the box above freezing...not by much...but enough to not allow freezing. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 17, 2023 22:05:41 GMT -5
There are winterizing concentrates for RV water holding tanks, completely non toxic and good for -50 degrees f.
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Post by rmf on Oct 18, 2023 14:31:16 GMT -5
Back in the old days they used alcohol to keep water from freezing. In the summer it would boil off so they had to add more in the winter. That is before antifreeze aka ethylene glycol-based and propylene glycol-based solutions
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
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Post by rockbrain on Oct 18, 2023 14:38:22 GMT -5
If you're going to use alcohol don't waste perfectly good vodka! Rubbing alcohol is much cheaper and you can get 92% which would be 184 proof. Cost less for the bottle and don't need as much. Personally I'd just clean and store the rocks or finish tumbling them.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 19, 2023 7:01:53 GMT -5
If you're going to use alcohol don't waste perfectly good vodka! Rubbing alcohol is much cheaper and you can get 92% which would be 184 proof. Cost less for the bottle and don't need as much. Personally I'd just clean and store the rocks or finish tumbling them.  |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,633 
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Post by RWA3006 on Oct 19, 2023 7:17:03 GMT -5
There are winterizing concentrates for RV water holding tanks, completely non toxic and good for -50 degrees f. This right here is the answer. As an alternative you can add denatured alcohol to your tumbles. In winter time if I want to get stubborn ice off my windshield in a hurry I use a spray bottle of denatured alcohol and water mixed 50/50 and it works like a charm. |
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Oct 20, 2023 6:23:34 GMT -5
Put the tumbler in a box to keep then heat of the motor from escaping.
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carnivore870
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 15
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Post by carnivore870 on Oct 21, 2023 8:05:44 GMT -5
Maybe an oddball idea, but what if you added like icemelt? Sidewalk salt? I am not sure how the chemicals and harshness of the alcohol or antifreeze would effect the barrel or the lid. I live in MN, new to tumbling, and my setup is in my unheated, uninsulated garage, so I plan on doing some experimenting. Was also thinking if maybe you took a Styrofoam cooler or something like that to cover the tumbler of the motor would kick out enough heat to keep things warm enough.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 21, 2023 14:34:44 GMT -5
Just wash them well and dry them then store them.. I find it unnecessary to keep the rocks wet between stages. Been doing it for almost 21 years and never kept them wet between stages. I am assuming your tumbling area is in an unheated structure, hence the reason you want to shut down for the winter. You would be surprised what an insulated cooler and a running motor will do to prevent freeze up. Unless you expect temps in the single digits, you should be ok to run in the cold with the tumbler in an insulated box.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Oct 22, 2023 18:20:37 GMT -5
Put the tumbler in a box to keep then heat of the motor from escaping. Was also thinking if maybe you took a Styrofoam cooler or something like that to cover the tumbler of the motor would kick out enough heat to keep things warm enough.
As it turns out, I will be able to stick it in a box in a closet.
Thanks to all for the good advice and commentary! |
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Oct 22, 2023 18:31:04 GMT -5
I am assuming your tumbling area is in an unheated structure, hence the reason you want to shut down for the winter. Actually, I need to suspend my tumbling because the place that I'm moving to not only doesn't really have a place to do it, and the noise the tumblers make would bother my neighbors too much.
The freezing issue is that the storage facility that I'm putting most of my things into isn't climate-controlled. The place in Michigan that I'm moving to gets and stays below freezing often for days at a time. |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Oct 22, 2023 18:41:06 GMT -5
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