ragtimeman
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2008
Posts: 6
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Post by ragtimeman on Jun 11, 2008 12:23:10 GMT -5
Hello all;
I've tumbled a number of batches of agate and jasper, and have always had good results with my Lortone tumbler. I've carefully followed the steps with the instructions found either on this site or other locations.
But - my question is - How much cleaning do most of you do between grit stages? How thoroughly do you clean?
After rinsing the stones, I've been using a toothbrush, and brushing individual stones, which can take quite some time to do. Is it necessary to clean to that extent after 7 or more days with a grade of grit?
Thanks,
John
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stoneme
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2008
Posts: 17
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Post by stoneme on Jun 11, 2008 18:48:25 GMT -5
Hi John,
I thoroughly rinse the barrel, lid and stones with water, then put stones back in barrel with some Borax and tumble for a couple hours, rinse again then continue on to next step. I used to scrub each stone too, but this seems to work just as well with much less effort.
-Mike-
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Jun 11, 2008 18:52:21 GMT -5
I used to do that. Now I rinse really well and run them in 2 TBS borax (3# Barrel) for about 8-12 hours. Pellet too if they are in there. Longer does not do any damage if you get busy. Works for me.
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JEFFD
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 242
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Post by JEFFD on Jun 11, 2008 19:02:40 GMT -5
I don't think the tooth brush is needed. Rinse well and tumble an hour or so then re-rinse.
Inspect the rocks for pits or cracks that may hold grit.
Just pulled a load from polish only to find one pitted rock that i had missed and one softer rock that was not what I had thought it was. Results looks like a couplle more days in the tumbler for this load.
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ragtimeman
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2008
Posts: 6
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Post by ragtimeman on Jun 12, 2008 4:36:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. I had read about using Borax, but wasn't sure what that was for. Sounds much easier.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 12, 2008 14:23:08 GMT -5
The best thing you can do is not move the rocks to step two until all cracks/defects are ground away. This might require doing quite a few step one batches to make a step two batch. A faster way is to cut or grind away the bigger flaws or not tumbling the really flawed rocks at all. If there re no pits/cracks to trap grit there isn't much chance of cross contamination. This rquires patience but results in good rocks not polished rocks with cracks/pits. If you're tumbling high dollar rock like ocean jasper that has crystal vugs you will have to do the wash steps. I run a wash step before and after polishing but only rinse out between 200 and 400 or 120/200 and 500F since the git breaks down anyway.
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Jun 12, 2008 19:05:21 GMT -5
Another aspect to consider, if you are using 3 grades of SiC like some of us do, (in my case 60-90, then 120-200, followed by 500) cleaning between those steps is not quite so critical as it gets after that, especially if you are running considerably longer than 7 days, since 7 days with most hard rocks seems to break down the grit to about half the size it started at, so a small bit of carryover between these stages is not usually too destructive.
Oh I just looked up to see that John basically said the same thing! sorry for the redundant info-
I usually still run for a couple hours in Borax even between these, but I've also had good results with just a quick rinse and recharge with the next grade grit after 10-14 days.
But when it comes to the final pre-polish and polish stages I've found it pays to be obsessive about cleaning.
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Post by rocklicker on Jun 13, 2008 16:24:52 GMT -5
Good point Pete and John. Now I don't feel bad when I skip the good cleaning. I do it if the stones have lots of places for grit to get caught. I think when it comes to the 600 to prepolish to polish stages it's a little more important to run a cleaning cycle.
Steve
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Post by rocklicker on Jun 13, 2008 16:26:29 GMT -5
Oh gosh, now I just repeated what Pete said. Sorry bout that.
Steve
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Jun 29, 2008 17:12:37 GMT -5
There is fine advice here,but I want to add that if you have pits or cracks that have collected "cement", but you don't want to re-tumble,you can blast it out with an ultrasonic cl
eaner-sometimes a bit of mechanical assist is useful[used dental picks,diamond riffler files etc.].Just never let this gunk get dry!Mike.
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