Blue Tigereye
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2005
Posts: 118
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Post by Blue Tigereye on Jan 29, 2005 17:35:22 GMT -5
What do you use to clean out your barrels, and how long do you run it before you consider it clean? You all have such different ways of doing things, I figured I'd pick your brains before trying it on my own. Thanks!!
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Post by connrock on Jan 29, 2005 17:50:13 GMT -5
If you bought your tumbler new it should have something in the instructions telling you what to use and what not to use. If you only have 1 barrel and not a separate one just for polishing then you have to be VERY caeful in the pre-polish and polishing stages.Just 1 tiny,tiny piece of grit will ruin your polishing cycle. Most tumbler manufacturers tell you not to use dish soap or strong laundry soaps.The reason for this is they contain phosphates and other harsh chemicals that will ruin your rubber barrel. I use Simple Green because it contains no phosphates and is enviornmetly safe. Another choice could be powdered laundry soap used for diapers or other sensitive materials. Another point is to rinse the barrels with as hard of a spray as you can. I think it's Krazydiamond who takes hers to the car wash!! Tom
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 29, 2005 18:20:22 GMT -5
i use borax to clean the rocks and barrel - i use 3 15 minute cycles.
kim
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Blue Tigereye
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2005
Posts: 118
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Post by Blue Tigereye on Jan 29, 2005 20:23:06 GMT -5
Why 3 cycles?
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 29, 2005 20:34:19 GMT -5
well actually i think i do 3 cycles because that's what james said he does - but in doing that i have found that cycles 1 & 2 still aren't quite clean enough but 3 is.
kim
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Post by connrock on Jan 29, 2005 21:32:46 GMT -5
If you add some plastic pellets to your cleaning cycles they will help to scour (spelling) your barrel. Tom
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Jan 29, 2005 22:20:07 GMT -5
I found a wheel cleaning brush at an auto parts store that works well. It is designed to get into small cracks and clean corners.
I also use three cleaning cycles to make sure the barrel is clean.
To make things even more complicated, I use four barrels. Two for the different grits. One just for prepolish and one just for polish.
I use ceramic pellets for all stages except polish. I only use plastic pellets for the polish stage and only use the plastic pellets once.
Seems to work well for us.
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Post by creativeminded on Jan 31, 2005 18:42:09 GMT -5
Between each stage I do I clean the rocks, barrel, and plastic pellets with borax and water for 1 hour, and they come out squeaky clean. Tami
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 31, 2005 19:05:16 GMT -5
nope, that is Cookie that power washes her barrels in the car wash.
i just try and be meticulous, but now that i have a barrel (s) for every cycle, i don't have to do much cleaning in extreme.
KD
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jan 31, 2005 19:08:40 GMT -5
I used to take the plastic vibe bowls to the car was and pressure wash the, then I started using borax for 12 hours w/rocks, 3 w/out. Now I have a rotary with a rubber barrel I will use for the first 2 coarse stages and i'm gonna take it to the car wash too ;D
cookie
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Post by Cher on Feb 1, 2005 14:07:26 GMT -5
Images of Cookie chasing this barrel around ... ;D ;D Cookie, don't you have an outside hose? A good nozzle will provide a strong enough spray to wash your barrel out.
Tom, you said you use Simple Green, you don't find that it bubbles and foams too much?
Cher
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Post by connrock on Feb 2, 2005 11:23:04 GMT -5
Cher, I buy Simple Green by the gallon and use some of it cut 1/2-1/2 with water and sometimes cut it even more.It's very strong uncut and will foam up. I don't know of any other liquid cleaner that is as safe for the enviornment as Simple Green yet does such a good job.They have a new lemon scented version out that my wife likes a lot better. Tom
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joanna
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 385
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Post by joanna on Feb 2, 2005 17:11:39 GMT -5
I just tried out a different way of cleaning out a barrel today. I've trying the old scrubbing method and each time I'd get done and the barrel would dry I'd see at least a few grit particles So when the barrel was completely dry, I took it to the air compressor and with the pressure up high and a spray attachment I blasted it out. I'm still searching and so far I can't see any grit. Anyone try this? Of course this is only handy if you have an air compressor and the right nozzle attachment.
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Post by Noosh9057 on Feb 2, 2005 17:22:21 GMT -5
I have not tryed this but it sound like a good idea.
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Blue Tigereye
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2005
Posts: 118
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Post by Blue Tigereye on Feb 2, 2005 22:04:53 GMT -5
Thanks for all the ideas.
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Blue Tigereye
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2005
Posts: 118
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Post by Blue Tigereye on Feb 4, 2005 22:42:27 GMT -5
How much soap do you use? I found some Ivory Snow or something like that with no phosphates in it, but how much soap do I want to use?
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Feb 7, 2005 16:46:13 GMT -5
Make life simpler:
Buy a barrel for each grit.
Easy peasy!
SirRoxalot
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Post by creativeminded on Feb 8, 2005 8:52:14 GMT -5
I use 2 TBSP of borax in my 2.5 # barrels. Borax doesn't foam. Tami
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