sford13
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 119 
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Post by sford13 on Mar 16, 2010 6:30:43 GMT -5
So somewhere and it might have even been on here I had seen a tip of adding I believe it was a Tbsp of sugar to the polish stage to enhance the shine. Figure if it is done and works that the good folks here would know about it and be able to talk about the results of having tried. So have any of you tried and what were the results? And does it make everything sticky?
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Post by Toad on Mar 16, 2010 7:23:33 GMT -5
I've heard of it, but never done it. Believe the amount would depend on the size of the tumbler. Think it is to thicken the slurry to avoid damage to the stone's finish.
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Post by snowdog on Mar 16, 2010 8:48:20 GMT -5
;D it usually just makes a "gooooey" mess ;D but they do taste sweeter when you lick them !----------I've heard of alot of things being added to try to thicken up the slurry, but if they are organic they usually just make gas and the barrels expand/explode and the people say " I won't try that again!" ;D ;D --------- a simpler way would be to mix the polish before putting it in the tumbler so you could add a little less water and make it thicker to start with
------- the guy I learned from always used a cup of corn cob ( ground up) to cushion/ keep the water in -- but this was in a "vibe" and you could leave the lid off , so no gas build up
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 16, 2010 10:22:18 GMT -5
for a while i used Corn sryup . to thicken the water . it did not hurt ,though it did cost alot.
i do not think it helped at all , though i did at the time . patience is the key.
i do use plastic pellets in 1000 & polish stages to pad rocks . you can use it for a long time. as long use you use it , in the same grit .
when i decide that it has been used to long in polish stages i then use it for 1000grit , then 500 if you choose . 3lbs could easily last 2 years for me .
--paul
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revco
starting to spend too much on rocks
Another Victim Of The Rockcycle
Member since February 2010
Posts: 162
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Post by revco on Mar 16, 2010 13:53:31 GMT -5
I haven't tried it myself, but have seen the same information. I read somewhere on here about a guy who tried it and ended up with a fermented, nasty contamination in his tumbler barrel. That was enough for me to write the idea off.
I just use a bunch of plastic pellets in prepolish and polish (separate pellets for each stage) - it's inorganic and generally gets good results. Occasionally, something will go awry...but it's usually just a matter of taking the offender(s) out and sending it back a stage or two.
For a long time, I used the Lortone's recommendation of 6Tbsp of polish in a 3lb barrel. When I started getting on here, I saw people were using a lot less with 2Tbsp for each 3lbs. I thought "great - less money" but quickly learned that I needed more pellets to make up for the less viscous polish. I also try to get 'em in all the crevices throughout the barrel, rather than just dumping them on top.
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Mar 16, 2010 18:07:02 GMT -5
I only tried it once, and it made the slurry set up like epoxy almost...it was a nasty mess...
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sford13
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 119
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Post by sford13 on Mar 17, 2010 6:34:52 GMT -5
Thanks all for you input. Looks like I am going to keep doing what I am currently. I have the plastic pellets in there now and other than rocks I have rush along (which is my fault) I am getting pretty satisfied with the shine. Just had seen that tidbit and was wondering it it would really make a difference.
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