Mudshark
fully equipped rock polisher
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,083
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Post by Mudshark on Feb 3, 2009 14:02:56 GMT -5
Last winter after standing outside in freezing weather cleaning barrels and rocks I decided there had to be a better way.I bought a laundry sink at Lowes and added a cheap sump pump with a float switch that sits in a plastic trash can under the sink.This is located in the basement shower stall which hardly ever got used.The black plastic hose is twenty feet long and came with the pump along with the float switch.The hose goes up to the ceiling and outside thru a hole I drilled in the wall.I removed the shower head and installed a coiled garden hose for a water source.The drain has a rubber plug stuffed in it in case it overflows ,we all know what grit can do to a drain.Total cost was about $150.00  I would show a pic of the pump but there is too many rocks in the sink!!!!  Mike |
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Post by frane on Feb 3, 2009 19:28:19 GMT -5
Now that is an ingenious remedy to a common problem. Looks like it works perfectly for you!
Fran
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Feb 3, 2009 21:56:14 GMT -5
Hey Mike, that's a great idea. Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try that, looks like it will save lots of bucket hauling.
Don
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Feb 3, 2009 23:05:43 GMT -5
Great idea, I already have a sump pump in my basement, I just keep a bucket under table, I have a hole in table where slurry and stuff goes down and into bucket, I just dump that into sump pump hole and it pumps it outside.
Terry
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pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
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Post by pebblepup on Feb 4, 2009 14:36:46 GMT -5
Great idea. Now you have me thinking of how to set up something similar in my garage.
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Feb 4, 2009 18:25:57 GMT -5
Wow. As someone who began this hobby in the middle of winter and thus has already battled the cold weather washing problems, this is ingenious! Now for a basement or extra bathroom to build one of these..  |
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Post by connrock on Feb 5, 2009 4:23:11 GMT -5
Where there's a will there's a way!! Nice job! One point,,,, If you keep pumping the water with slurry sediment it will shorten the life of the pump. I would suggest a few settling buckets before the final pump out. Her is a photo of my set-up and a link to more photo's which will explain how the whole thing works,,,,,  imageevent.com/tcknkk/rocktumblingslurrywaterI don't even bother to wash my rocks out doors in the summer anymore after using this set-up. connrock |
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Mudshark
fully equipped rock polisher
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,083
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Post by Mudshark on Feb 6, 2009 18:05:48 GMT -5
Connrock,thats quite a system you have there.If I had a little more room I would try to copy it.But your right,I do need some sort of settling tank.What I'll do for now is move the pump to the left of the sink and put a barrel under the sink with a drain at the top of the barrel so as I rinse a batch of rocks the first barrel will fill,when the water reaches the top of that barrel it will flow into the barrel with the pump.The first barrel will have to be larger than the one with the pump.
So far the only problem I've had is the hose outside the house dumps into a larger pipe which is aimed downhill,if we get some snow the pipe clogs and the water freezes.I just go outside and yank the hose out of the pipe and all is well again.Thanks for the advise,I really appreciate it.
Mike
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Feb 7, 2009 19:30:53 GMT -5
Alright, someone has to say it:
Suck it up you wimps and rinse those rocks outdoors! Even in the winter! The other day I rinsed my rocks despite it being 6F outside. Don't be such a wuss! True, you'll be in a serious hurry, and yeah, some of your equipment may freeze to the cellar storm door when you set it down, and maybe you'll get just a tad of frostbite (it's good for you! it'll toughen you up!) and slipping and falling and cracking your head looms large as a possibility at any moment - but COME ON! You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 7, 2009 20:05:04 GMT -5
Ahem... don't forget freezing your wet hand to the metal door handle when you try to get back inside the house again, while balancing barrel, lid and a colander full of rocks.
Yeah, I did that...
Jo
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Feb 11, 2009 11:18:53 GMT -5
Alright, someone has to say it: Suck it up you wimps and rinse those rocks outdoors! Even in the winter! The other day I rinsed my rocks despite it being 6F outside. Don't be such a wuss! True, you'll be in a serious hurry, and yeah, some of your equipment may freeze to the cellar storm door when you set it down, and maybe you'll get just a tad of frostbite (it's good for you! it'll toughen you up!) and slipping and falling and cracking your head looms large as a possibility at any moment - but COME ON! You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs. ;D well maybe, but at least if I'm making a omelet I have something called "fire" which translates to "heat". The only place I'll be at 6F is inside counting the days 'til spring. and enjoying all the stories of those of you who are diehards braving the elements. |
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Feb 11, 2009 11:20:10 GMT -5
Ahem... don't forget freezing your wet hand to the metal door handle when you try to get back inside the house again, while balancing barrel, lid and a colander full of rocks. Yeah, I did that... Jo Oh, OUCH!  Stick to the omelets Jo, it's so much safer.  Bonnie |
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Stick to the omelets Jo, it's so much safer. 
