Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Borax
Jan 31, 2016 21:47:54 GMT -5
Post by Fossilman on Jan 31, 2016 21:47:54 GMT -5
Ok,bought some Borax..................How much per pound should I mix in with my grit??
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 31, 2016 21:52:23 GMT -5
Rotary or vibe? I use borax I my Lot-O. I use 1 tablespoon in the 4.5 lb barrel in 500, 1000, polish stages.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Borax
Jan 31, 2016 21:59:24 GMT -5
Post by Fossilman on Jan 31, 2016 21:59:24 GMT -5
Rotary...................Probably use a 1/2 tablespoon for my 3 pounder than.......Maybe teaspoon for my one pounder............
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Borax
Jan 31, 2016 22:34:57 GMT -5
Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 31, 2016 22:34:57 GMT -5
I'm not sure that anyone uses borax in a rotary.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Borax
Feb 1, 2016 3:46:44 GMT -5
Post by rollingstone on Feb 1, 2016 3:46:44 GMT -5
Yah, I'm rotary, and funnily enough, for the past couple years I've been using powdered Ivory laundry soap, like the rock tumbling manuals from the 1980s and before all recommended. We did a thorough cleanout of the basement a few years ago and found a few unopened packages of Ivory powdered soap in the process ... so there you go! But before I had this decades-old soap, I was using a regular bar of Ivory soap (99.44% pure!) and just cutting off thin flakes with a knife. In a 6 lb barrel I use 1-1.5 Tb shaved Ivory soap-bar, or 2 Tb of the powdered Ivory soap from the 1980s.
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Post by Toad on Feb 1, 2016 5:53:06 GMT -5
I use borax in my 12-lb rotary. Think it helps me clean the rocks after each cycle. 2 tablespoons per load, 3 for obsidian.
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Borax
Feb 1, 2016 6:33:43 GMT -5
Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 1, 2016 6:33:43 GMT -5
Toad and rollingstone, Fossilman is talking about mixing the borax with his grit? Are you guys mixing borax/Ivory with your grit, or using it for cleaning between stages?
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Borax
Feb 1, 2016 10:04:06 GMT -5
Post by Fossilman on Feb 1, 2016 10:04:06 GMT -5
Yah, I'm rotary, and funnily enough, for the past couple years I've been using powdered Ivory laundry soap, like the rock tumbling manuals from the 1980s and before all recommended. We did a thorough cleanout of the basement a few years ago and found a few unopened packages of Ivory powdered soap in the process ... so there you go! But before I had this decades-old soap, I was using a regular bar of Ivory soap (99.44% pure!) and just cutting off thin flakes with a knife. In a 6 lb barrel I use 1-1.5 Tb shaved Ivory soap-bar, or 2 Tb of the powdered Ivory soap from the 1980s. I use Ivory snow bar soap on my last polish cycle,than a cycle with just the soap...
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Borax
Feb 1, 2016 10:05:59 GMT -5
Post by Fossilman on Feb 1, 2016 10:05:59 GMT -5
Toad and rollingstone, Fossilman is talking about mixing the borax with his grit? Are you guys mixing borax/Ivory with your grit, or using it for cleaning between stages? I know I read on here (Somewhere) that they were using Borax in with their grit.....But don't remember if it was vibe or rotary... Well I guess I do like to experiment with things,will give it a try.... It's more so,for Obsidian...
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Post by captbob on Feb 1, 2016 11:05:07 GMT -5
You have a one pound tumbler barrel?
I'm all rotary, and I only use Borax to burnish after the polish step. No other time. Although, I reckon between grits wouldn't hurt anything. Just never seen/had the need between grit steps.
I read and watched all the borax discussions here awhile back. I think some were adding it to later grit cycles. Whether it made a difference I don't recall.
ETA: Will add that with obsidian, I cushioned the heck out of the load - plastic pellets and extra water - once past the rough grind. Over filled the barrel (from "normal") so rocks didn't have much room to bash the heck out of each other.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 1, 2016 14:33:06 GMT -5
You have a one pound tumbler barrel? I'm all rotary, and I only use Borax to burnish after the polish step. No other time. Although, I reckon between grits wouldn't hurt anything. Just never seen/had the need between grit steps. I read and watched all the borax discussions here awhile back. I think some were adding it to later grit cycles. Whether it made a difference I don't recall. ETA: Will add that with obsidian, I cushioned the heck out of the load - plastic pellets and extra water - once past the rough grind. Over filled the barrel (from "normal") so rocks didn't have much room to bash the heck out of each other. That's my friend-your answers headed me into the right direction..... Yes I have a 1 pounder and a 3 pounder.....Everyone wonders why I have the one pounder-it was my Dads,still like new (he took care of his stuff),, The kicker is,he never told anyone he was into rocks..When he passed away,my brothers and I found the tumbler and polished agates he did (great job too)..So hence the question why..LOL (Brothers let me have it) It does a great job every time too,its the old school Lortone with the green base,instead of blue...
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Post by captbob on Feb 1, 2016 15:27:24 GMT -5
Love to see your dad's tumbler if you get the time. Never seen a one pound tumbler.
Very cool that you got it and are able to still put it to use!
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Post by Toad on Feb 1, 2016 15:41:53 GMT -5
Toad and rollingstone, Fossilman is talking about mixing the borax with his grit? Are you guys mixing borax/Ivory with your grit, or using it for cleaning between stages? I mix with the grit. Every load looks like this for me: rocks to 3/4 full, 1.5 to 1.75 cups of grit depending on stage, 2 tablespoons of borax (3 for obsidian), and then water. One week cycles for 60/90 and then recharge, 2 week cycles for all other stages - generally no recharge. I wash off my rocks completely between stages so I can tell which ones are moving on. This is a 12-lb barrel. I used to tumble without borax and would sometimes have a hard time cleaning the rocks depending on how thick the slurry was. But with the borax I have no problems. And I do not do a burnish between any stages. Borax makes the slurry 'self-cleaning'. At least for me...
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Borax
Feb 1, 2016 18:43:58 GMT -5
Post by Fossilman on Feb 1, 2016 18:43:58 GMT -5
Love to see your dad's tumbler if you get the time. Never seen a one pound tumbler. Very cool that you got it and are able to still put it to use! Will do................
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Borax
Feb 2, 2016 9:59:40 GMT -5
Post by tkvancil on Feb 2, 2016 9:59:40 GMT -5
I personally never had any luck adding borax to a rotary. My slurry always got overly thick. Thick enough to make stuff stick to the side of the barrel. Could be the water here I suppose.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Borax
Feb 2, 2016 10:29:06 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 2, 2016 10:29:06 GMT -5
I am nervous about putting detergent in a rotary. Borax may be a good choice since it rarely foams and lubricates well.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Borax
Feb 2, 2016 10:48:29 GMT -5
Post by Intheswamp on Feb 2, 2016 10:48:29 GMT -5
What about Dreft, James? I'm seen that mentioned...
I did do a little experiment with some Oxyclean in a 3# rotary. Let's just say it was a mess but even though my wife said the tumbler smelled funny (the old Model T) it still works. I've just this past weekend got the Unakite (thanks Rob!) and the granddaughters Chattahoochee rocks back to tumbling in it...
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Borax
Feb 2, 2016 21:28:39 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 2, 2016 21:28:39 GMT -5
What about Dreft, James? I'm seen that mentioned... I did do a little experiment with some Oxyclean in a 3# rotary. Let's just say it was a mess but even though my wife said the tumbler smelled funny (the old Model T) it still works. I've just this past weekend got the Unakite (thanks Rob!) and the granddaughters Chattahoochee rocks back to tumbling in it... I don't know Ed. I always used sugar in the rotary. As a lubricant in coarse-220-500 and polish. But used a lot of sugar with 500 and polish as a thickener to protect the rocks. Went to vibe and gladly quit doing 500 and polish in the rotary.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Borax
Feb 3, 2016 6:47:09 GMT -5
Post by Intheswamp on Feb 3, 2016 6:47:09 GMT -5
What about the vibe? Seems you use sugar but then do a wash with borax to help get rid of the sugar... ?
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Borax
Feb 3, 2016 6:52:13 GMT -5
Post by Toad on Feb 3, 2016 6:52:13 GMT -5
I personally never had any luck adding borax to a rotary. My slurry always got overly thick. Thick enough to make stuff stick to the side of the barrel. Could be the water here I suppose. Yup. Nothing a little extra water can't help.
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