bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on May 11, 2004 14:32:44 GMT -5
I remember someone mentioning a while back about putting wooden dowels in their barrels to act as a cushioning agent. Sounds interesting but I can't seem to find the thread. Can anyone direct me to it. I'm trying to find something besides plastic pellets to use that doesn't completely disintegrate. Will disintegating cushioning agents destroy the integrity of your polish so that it cannot be re-used. Thanks, Bob
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on May 11, 2004 18:53:22 GMT -5
Bob, I use my pellets over and over. I have a jar full of pellets for each stage. It will be awhile before I run out of them, but when I do, I will be looking for something to replace them with. I HATE those dang pellets!!!
llana
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 11, 2004 18:58:10 GMT -5
OK, this is kinda strange, but, I manage a shoe store and inside all the boxes of shoes that have fabric on the there are packs of silicon pellets, smaller than the plastic pellets you buy. I save the little packets and bring them home and I use those to bulk up when I get to pre polish. Heck, theyr'e free. only thing is they don't float. is that bad?
cookie
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on May 12, 2004 7:02:16 GMT -5
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Post by mrbrett on May 12, 2004 7:24:38 GMT -5
hey cookie. I install robots at Subaru and when we uncrate the robots they have the silicone bags in them. I bet each robot has 4-5 lbs. in the box. There used to keep moisture out. If they work in tumbling that is great. Let me know if you want some and I'll get some out to you. Personaly I hate plastic pellets and thinking on trying ceramic.
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on May 12, 2004 9:09:43 GMT -5
Thanks Mich, thats just what I was looking for.
Bob
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Post by mrbrett on May 12, 2004 17:38:42 GMT -5
Well, today i ordered some ceramic media. I'm soooooo sick and tired of picking pellets off my hands and whatever the damn things want to stick to. So in a couple of weeks when I use them I'll tell ya how they worked. ;D
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 12, 2004 20:06:34 GMT -5
Hey Brett We'll see how the pellets do and I'l let you know. I was concerned about the fact that they don't float, but I assume ceramic balls don't either. The funny thing about it is when you initialy put them in the water, they go off like popcorn! I have to put the lid on real fast and wait for it to stop. Whats the pop corn/microwave rule? 3 seconds between pops? ;D
cookie
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Post by mrbrett on May 13, 2004 7:28:02 GMT -5
that is so funny. Yesterday I went inside the plant and open one of the bags. I wanted to see if they soak up water and turn into mush like the crap the make baby diapers out of. Now the bags we have here are about 1 pounders. I dumped some in a large cup and boy did they start popping! I didn't think they would do that. Well, if you want some popping plastic pellets (try saying that real fast) let me know, we have bunches of it. ;D
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on May 13, 2004 8:32:53 GMT -5
Cookie, I think I would put the pellets in some water and let them do their popping thing then put them in the barrel.
I wonder if pecan shells or even whole pecans would do the trick. We have lots of native pecan trees here. Alot of them are really small and hard as he** to crack. Can find lots of them that the critters have broken into. If walnut shells work, why wouldn't pecans/pecan shells? It would be real easy to get my hands on pecan shells and/or whole pecans. Think I might try it!
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on May 13, 2004 9:08:13 GMT -5
Good idea llana, I wonder if there is any reason pecan shell wouldn't work just as well as walnut shells? Anybody out there know of any reason we shouldn't do this? Bob
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Post by mrbrett on May 13, 2004 13:42:07 GMT -5
And the great thing about using pecan shells is that your rocks will have a pleasent pecan smell. ;D
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on May 13, 2004 23:45:46 GMT -5
So I've been reading this discussion about using walnut shells as a cushioning agent and I was wondering, does anybody know if the walnut shells are from English walnuts or black walnuts? I'm asking because I know for a fact that black walnuts have a natural stain in them. If you get them on your hands or clothes it will turn them black and eventually fade to brown. Wouldn't that be a problem if you put those in your rocks?? Otter
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on May 14, 2004 3:22:15 GMT -5
The trick with the pellets is to use a soopn to scoop them up insted of your hand. Or use running water to wash them off your hands when sorting through rocks.
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Post by stoner on May 14, 2004 13:24:41 GMT -5
By the way, Maple or Birch dowels work the best. No color bleed or acids to worry about.
later, Ed
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 14, 2004 19:19:05 GMT -5
llana, I just had an epifini, epiphi, I figured out something. ;D I lived the first 40 years of my life in Texas where we said "pa-'con". But while reading your post my mind was saying "'pee-con". Georgia is sinking in to me and I'm not sure if I like it cookie
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on May 15, 2004 19:51:25 GMT -5
Cookie, You're scarin' me! I always thought that, 'once a Texan, always a Texan'. What's happenin' to you? As far as using pecan shells or whole pecans....don't they also have natural stains and oils in them that may affect the rocks? I would love to have a simple alternative to them dang pellets, but I sure don't want to mess up a load of rocks trying something that may cause damage! Barbara
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