blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 23, 2023 14:53:27 GMT -5
I'm using a 3lb CE rotary tumbler. I'm using psyllium and add more filler each Stage:
120/220: small and medium polished Quartz
500 & 1000: s/m Quartz, small/large ceramic media
Polish: mini ceramic balls, s/m Quartz, small/large media
My concern is for my soft rocks during burnish. Without the psyllium, how can I get the same cushion?
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 23, 2023 21:06:22 GMT -5
Blackgirlrocks, this is not my area of tumbling but you might check out corn cob mix, sugar and kaolin clay.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Nov 24, 2023 7:26:17 GMT -5
I use plastic pellets. I add rocks and water to top of rocks. I use borax (about a tablespoon per 3 lbs of rock) Then fill the rest of the barrel with plastic pellets (I use polyfill beads I get from Walmart as they float making separation after the run very easy)Run for 12 to 24 hours. I save and reuse the plastic and have some that is over 20 years old and still working just fine. DO NOT mix plastics in different grit. use separate ones for each stage. The plastic will get embedded with grit and cross contamination is a very real concern. I store mine in plastic yogurt containers with lids (I get the Walmart yogurt and save the containers).
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Nov 24, 2023 14:09:32 GMT -5
When I burnish in a rotary I do cleanout after the polish stage then add all the same rock and media that were in the polish stage back into the barrel - next I add 3 tablespoons of borax and fill the barrel with water just below the level of the rocks. I let it run for 2-3 hours then rinse with hot water. Not saying this is the best/preferred method, but it is what I do in a rotary.
In the vibe I add a drop of dawn and 4-5 sprays of water into the vibe at the end of the polish stage, then rinse with hot water. I don't do a separate burnish stage with the vibe.
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Post by rmf on Nov 24, 2023 16:53:42 GMT -5
First I have to say I would not use psyllium unless I knew for sure my tumbler was constipated. But that is just me.  I have used plastic pellets (get the floaters they are easier to remove), wood pegs, indoor/outdoor carpet pieces and higher percent of smalls as cushioning. They work fine depending on material being tumbled |
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Nov 24, 2023 22:22:49 GMT -5
I prefer pieces of leather, for a 3lb. tumbler probably in ~1/4-3/8" roughly square pieces; 1/4 to 1/3 of the load. Any kind of leather, garage and estate sale stuff is great, but not split leathers as it wears out too fast. It does get a little slimey, some don't like that.
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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 Nov 26, 2023 8:04:34 GMT -5
I've never used any media for Burnish Cushioning.
Just filled the barrel full with as much water as possible, No Air, and let it all fall through the water for about an hour.
As a matter of fact, I don't use any cushioning at all in any of the stages of tumbling , it's all about how much you fill the barrel with stones and water , different in each stage.
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