llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
|
Post by llanago on Jun 12, 2004 21:46:28 GMT -5
KD, I have both vibe and rotary tumblers. A Raytech vibe, a Lortone QT66, a Lortone 33B and I just won 2 used Lortone 33B's and three 3 lb. barrels on an eBay auction. Still can't put a dent in all the rocks I have to tumble! I have started washing my rocks before I start them in the coarse grind. I wash the rocks between each stage until the water is clear. I have used Cascade, Ivory shavings off a bar, Palmolive liquid, and liquid hand soap. I charge with soap and run for an hour or so, then rinse and recharge with soap, rinse, recharge with soap, etc. until the rinse water is clear. I always wash the pellets with the rocks. Even though I have separate barrels for each stage, I don't want to take a chance of cross contamination. Takes me all day to move my rocks from one stage to the next! llana
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Jun 12, 2004 22:02:51 GMT -5
WOW!!!!!
ok, i am learning a great lesson from this....... i am beginning to understand the great importance to the contamination part........
i am humbled but i am stronger for this.......eBay watch out!
heehee....haha..funny farm, men in white coats are trying to take me away......
where life is beautiful all the time, KD
|
|
RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
|
Post by RiverOtter on Jun 12, 2004 23:21:54 GMT -5
Ok, I know I've said this on posts before but since it was brought up again I will put my 2 cents worth in again. I use borax between each grit stage. I don't put it in with the grit. I've never tried that to see if it works. Then again, I figure if it ain't broken don't fix it. I've had good luck with the method I use. After a grit stage, I dump and rinse the rocks until the water runs clear. I then use a toothbrush to clean the seal and seal seat. I put rocks and pellet back in the barrel with borax and water. I usually use the same amount of borax in that I put in of grit. So with my 3 lb. Lortone barrels I use 2 tablespoons of borax. I usually run for at least 2 hours. I use the same barrels for all stages except polish. I do have a separate barrel for that. I've never had a problem with cross contamination. I also do a wash stage after polish as well. Don't know if this will help any of you, but it seems to work for me.
Otter
|
|
|
Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 12, 2004 23:57:12 GMT -5
Actually, that sounds like a plan to me. Certainly wouldn't hurt.
cookie
|
|
duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
|
Post by duke on Jun 13, 2004 8:15:37 GMT -5
Hi all I'm getting mixed signals here...some of you mix the Ivory/Borax with the grit..some of you use it with just water. What do most of you do? As you can tell, I'm new at this and I'm learning a lot here. Keep up all the 'good info'... duke
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Jun 13, 2004 10:43:54 GMT -5
just started my burnish cycle with my latest batch and tho i was sorely tempted to try the sugar thing, but i resisted. not being able to find soap flakes anywhere, i am going to use the ivory detergent liquid and some nice fresh pellets. hope to have photos in a few days.
patience is not my virtue, KD
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 13, 2004 10:47:47 GMT -5
I found my borax at Wal-Mart in the laundry soap isle. Tami
|
|
tarylina
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 84
|
Post by tarylina on Jun 13, 2004 15:01:18 GMT -5
I used powdered dishwasher detergent to clean my first batch. They're not very shiny, though. I don't think I left them in polish long enough - my sawdust filler was a disaster and I don't have any pellets yet (bidding, though ) I'm afraid to run them in polish again without a filler in case they crack each other. My first load was too small and too mixed, I'm finding out now.
|
|
|
Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 13, 2004 19:31:40 GMT -5
I put the borax in the polish because some one, a while back , said it causes good slip between the stones. I have bad memories of an ex husband who used Ivory soap and it left a terrible build up on the tub and shower, very hard to clean. (and trust me, that's the least of the bad memories) On one hand, that would tell me it would make for good slip. On the other, seems like it would leave residue. But appearently not I'm definatly going to clean between stages really well with the Borax, for the stones and the barrel ;D cookie
|
|
duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
|
Post by duke on Jun 13, 2004 19:50:28 GMT -5
ok...If I can find them, I'm going to try the Ivory snow flakes..even though I think they are extinct in my area of Tex..or at least on the 'endangered' list. if i can't find Ivory, then its Borax. Thanks Cookie..sorry if the Ivory brings back bad memories..
|
|
tarylina
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 84
|
Post by tarylina on Jun 14, 2004 7:31:25 GMT -5
Thanks, Rollingstone, did not know that. My directions simply read "powdered detergent" so I just assumed dishwashing detergent. Isn't Borax harsh, too? That's the stuff my granny used to use back in the day, and I know it'll clean just about anything.
Has anyone tried Dreft instead of Ivory? It's made for baby clothes so it should be pretty gentle too, and might be easier to find.
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 14, 2004 10:45:30 GMT -5
One of the set of directions I got suggested using powder laundry soap. I used the borax between the Tripoli and the polish and I got great results with the rocks that polished, I have a few that I think are too porious to polish.
Tami
|
|
bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
|
Post by bwalters on Jun 14, 2004 19:36:11 GMT -5
Duke, We haven't been able to find Ivory Snow OR Borax in any of the shopping aisles in our area of Texas. That's why I've used grated Ivory bar soap for everything so far. It seems to work, but I don't have anything to compare it to.
BE
|
|
duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
|
Post by duke on Jun 14, 2004 19:46:32 GMT -5
Hey BE...maybe you and I can be the 'Texas connection' for Ivory snow flakes? ;D I saw a post from tarylina asking about Dreft...have you tried that? Like she said, it's supposed to be gentle...of course, who'd thought it, to be 'gentle' with rocks???..
|
|
|
Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 14, 2004 20:55:20 GMT -5
Well they are our babies Deft sounds like a good idea. I think it' about the same thing. And if Borax is gentle enough, that surely should be, one would think cookie
|
|
tarylina
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 84
|
Post by tarylina on Jun 14, 2004 20:56:36 GMT -5
Duke and BE - I live in Texas, too - Dallas metroplex area. Maybe I could be your main "supplier" if you want some Borax or Ivory Soap I can ship from my work any way you prefer and have it billed back to me, so I only have to pay for my postage once a month. Works great for me. Perhaps we could trade for rocks and we can start a "rock laundering" scheme in Texas I haven't looked for Ivory Soap. but I think Dollar General carries Borax and we have the best one in the whole metroplex right down the street from our house. I know for sure Wal-Mart carries Dreft.
|
|
duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
|
Post by duke on Jun 14, 2004 21:51:46 GMT -5
Hey tarylina....I'm able to get the Borax and maybe the Dreft here, but the Ivory snow flake just can't be found at any of the stores.. Trading for rocks sounds good to me. I have access to LOTS of petrified wood (all sizes), so if you are down in the SE part of the state (Sam Rayburn Lake area), let me know and we can arrange a trip. Some of the Dallas area 'paleo bunch' has been down here on a few of our field trips and they 'loaded up'.... And I did catch the "rock laundering" part of your post... ;D.....lol..good one.
|
|
bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
|
Post by bwalters on Jun 14, 2004 22:18:10 GMT -5
We all DOOOOO tend to treat our rocks like they're made out of egg shells, don't we! When are we gonna realize that they are ROCKS!
I've thought about using Dreft because it's available everywhere down here, but I haven't used it because none of my directions for any of my tumblers call for it. Have any of you tried it yet?
Tarylina, what part of the Metroplex do you live in? I was born and raised there. Been gone for 21 years and now I get lost every time I visit up there. Sure has changed alot!
BE
|
|
tarylina
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 84
|
Post by tarylina on Jun 14, 2004 22:54:37 GMT -5
BE - no kidding, changed a lot! I live in Mesquite and drive my two youngest to Allen every other week to spend with their Dad, and the last two times I went I got lost - missed my exit. They're working on the High Five and it sucks, BAD. But the good news is, there is only four years left of work, then it will be done. Duke - I don't know where Sam Rayburn Lake is (heck, half the time I don't even know where I am in Dallas) but I'm going to AZ sometime soon to help my mom move here. Is that anywhere off of I-10? I could take an extra day for a certain delivery/pickup
|
|
|
Post by puppie96 on Jun 15, 2004 2:11:22 GMT -5
Um...not to rain on anybody's parade, of course, but the tumbler people are talking about Ivory Flakes, which are soap, not detergent, and the idea is that4 detergents shouldn't be used because they damage the rubber of the tumbler barrels. Unfortunately, Ivory Flakes have not been produced for years and years. I researched this thoroughly some time back. So we are on our own.........
|
|