dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Sept 11, 2016 2:01:54 GMT -5
I don't have my batches well-coordinated currently and am touching slurry about every day and it is destroying my hands. Does anyone know of good gloves for dealing with it? The disposable medical type gloves are too short so slurry water gets into them and the extra-long dishwashing gloves are too think to actually feel the rocks and I find this helpful in figuring out how "done" they are. Or am I the only one who gets super-dry, itchy hands from touching the stuff? (Even with good hand-washing and super-moistener.) Thanks!
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Post by manofglass on Sept 11, 2016 2:34:24 GMT -5
Try TSC for thick rubber gloves
Walt
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Post by orrum on Sept 11, 2016 3:15:04 GMT -5
Lotion, don't touch until rinsed.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 11, 2016 8:11:34 GMT -5
What the cowboy said...
Also...
Get a BIG plastic box (sterilite storage container?) and hose them off in it, dumping the water out as it fills until the water clears up. That works if you have somewhere to do the rinsing outdoors. I have yet to use a screen but *many* folks use one with good results.
If you are simply pulling rocks from the slurry to inspect and returning them to that same slurry then you can use the plastic box to pour the slurry/rocks out in and then return rocks and slurry to the tumbler barrel. That way it would be easy to pick up rocks with whatever glove you wanted to use....no depth to have to reach down into.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 11, 2016 9:27:26 GMT -5
I dump slurry into bottles,never have to touch the stuff... I bet that stuff does wreck the hands....
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Post by pauls on Sept 12, 2016 0:19:53 GMT -5
When you wash your hands try a dash of vinegar on them then rinse off. I always use vinegar when concreting to neutralise the lime and it really helps. I have no idea if it will work with rock slurry though.
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Sept 12, 2016 1:04:58 GMT -5
When you wash your hands try a dash of vinegar on them then rinse off. I always use vinegar when concreting to neutralise the lime and it really helps. I have no idea if it will work with rock slurry though. That's an interesting idea. I've wondered what the pH of the stuff is, but I have no idea where the pH paper is. Anyway, let me clarify how I am handling the slurry. I certainly am not sticking my hands into it and swishing them around. When I am doing a clean out I drain off the slurry into a disposable carton with a strainer then I clean the rocks in the strainer with a hose without touching them. Then I put them in a 2 gallon bucket with water, shake the rocks around in it and drain off the water. Then I refill the bucket and start cleaning the rocks. The water looks pretty clear at this point in time, but the remaining small amount of slurry in it is still totally killing my hands. I don't know if it pH or trace amounts of grit. I can't pick up small rocks or feel how smooth they are if I use long kitchen gloves and if I use the short, thin medical gloves the water just gets into them. Long, but thin gloves might work. I couldn't see any on the TSC website and the stores are too far away. Looks like they have some cool stuff though. I could use a bigger container like Intheswap suggested or more water for rinsing, but because of "the drought" (actually California's normal climate) and the high price of water here, I am trying to conserve water. I also have to keep the equipment in the backyard minimal and normal looking so the HOA doesn't fine me. They fined a guy last month for polishing his car *in his garage.* Too many containers or any sort of screen set-up would get me on the watch list with the evil parking-on-the-street violators, I'm afraid.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 12, 2016 7:54:50 GMT -5
Uh, if the water is getting into the gloves at the writst it would seem the water is too deep. A large shallow pan for the final "sort" seems like would work. HOA = old b-grade horror movies
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Sept 12, 2016 14:55:25 GMT -5
Uh, if the water is getting into the gloves at the writst it would seem the water is too deep. A large shallow pan for the final "sort" seems like would work. HOA = old b-grade horror movies Yeah, this would probably work and I guess I could haul it into the garage when not in use. Thanks for the common sense solution. I would like by rock related shopping to be more exciting than a trip to Target for a big Sterlite bin, but there you go.
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Post by greig on Sept 12, 2016 15:29:15 GMT -5
Dotty - how big is your tumbler? Even when I use my 12lb-er, I don't have many issues.
I normally dump, from my 3 or 12 lb-er, into a 10 mesh screen/classifier that I got for gold panning, which fits on top of a gold pan. I only get dirty (fingernails mostly) when I am tumbling silver and sticking them into the slurry. For some reason, silver makes the slurry black and it is difficult to wash off. My guess is you are also tumbling something funky, that is bothering your hands. I have never had a slurry make my hands itch. Any chance it is the soap that you are washing with?
One last thought. For wash up containers, dollar stores sometimes have a good variety.
Good luck with your troubleshooting. I am impressed you are thinking about conserving water. Too bad I cannot send you some from Canada. LOL
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Sept 13, 2016 14:06:23 GMT -5
Dotty - how big is your tumbler? Even when I use my 12lb-er, I don't have many issues. ... I have never had a slurry make my hands itch. Any chance it is the soap that you are washing with? One last thought. For wash up containers, dollar stores sometimes have a good variety. Good luck with your troubleshooting. I am impressed you are thinking about conserving water. Too bad I cannot send you some from Canada. LOL I have a 33B, so I really do not have much slurry. I put about 2 months worth into a small ice cream container. It turns to cement in just a couple days in the summertime here. Also I am touching water with a bit of slurry in it not pure slurry, unless there is a splash. The problem is very dry skin. I cannot use real soap (like Ivory) for showers more than a day or two without my skin looking like lizard skin with scales and a lot of flaking, then cuts. I use a soap sub. Due to cleaning rocks I have been washing my hands more and using real soap (which cleans better) more. I think you are right that this is part of the problem. The issue with real soap is that it has a higher pH and strips oil out of your skin, not a problem for most people, but a real problem with extra dry skin. Which is very itchy. This is why I am wondering about the pH of slurry water. Is it high like the lime from cement that Pauls mentioned? Then I probably shouldn't be using the slurry water to water the lemon bush either....
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 13, 2016 21:57:45 GMT -5
Have you tried applying lotion to your hands as soon as you're through rinsing them...before drying them?
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Sept 13, 2016 22:46:35 GMT -5
Have you tried applying lotion to your hands as soon as you're through rinsing them...before drying them? Well, kind of. I use lotion when they are still damp, but not dripping wet. This definitely helps somewhat.
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Post by Pat on Sept 13, 2016 23:08:47 GMT -5
There is s product lotion/cream that can be used that prevents paint from sticking to skin. Does a good job. I've used it. Comes in big tube. Paint washed right off.
I wonder if that would save your skin from the slurry.
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Sept 14, 2016 0:37:40 GMT -5
There is s product lotion/cream that can be used that prevents paint from sticking to skin. Does a good job. I've used it. Comes in big tube. Paint washed right off. I wonder if that would save your skin from the slurry. Good idea. There used to be something in a jar that was 'subtitled': "gloves in a jar: the mechanic's friend" and it came in versions for aqueous, oil, and dry material. I can't remember its name and haven't seen it in years. I have also seen the product you might be talking about in art supply stores in the South Bay. So far, I haven't seen even a Michael's in the East Bay, but I am sure there is one somewhere, I haven't really done any searching yet.
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Sept 14, 2016 3:34:36 GMT -5
I just use a disposable nitrile gloves. Just use a shallow container then it won't go down them
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 14, 2016 6:55:05 GMT -5
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Post by greig on Sept 14, 2016 10:06:06 GMT -5
You should take a video or picture of the slurry in your ice cream container and post it as a warning to all who still pour that stuff down their sink drain. ;-)
Here is an idea in case you have not heard of it: Some people swear that the absolute best thing for dry skin is udder cream. This is the stuff that farmers rub onto their cows udders after milking. Without it, the udders get dry skin from the soap. It is inexpensive and can be purchased at a feed or farm supply store. I know folks who say it works like magic. There are also toothpaste size tubes available for sale for people.
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Sept 14, 2016 13:33:28 GMT -5
You should take a video or picture of the slurry in your ice cream container and post it as a warning to all who still pour that stuff down their sink drain. ;-) Here is an idea in case you have not heard of it: Some people swear that the absolute best thing for dry skin is udder cream. This is the stuff that farmers rub onto their cows udders after milking. Without it, the udders get dry skin from the soap. It is inexpensive and can be purchased at a feed or farm supply store. I know folks who say it works like magic. There are also toothpaste size tubes available for sale for people. Ha, ha! That would be a deterrent. It looks like dark cement, but gets cracks in it. Unfortunately, I just threw it away. (Also, I still haven't figured out a way to get photos on this site. I don't know what photo site is easy to use and inexpensive.) Yesterday, my daughter saw some 60 grit in a bag and wanted to play with it because it looks like glitter. I told her not to touch it as it was for the tumbler and dangerous. She said she would use it in the sink and wash it down. They are also apparently learning about rocks at school as she told me that talc has the least hardness and diamond the most. I asked if she knew what the hardness scale was called and she did! I have talked about this before, but it is just more boring "rock stuff" when Mom talks about it. Unfortunately this also inspired her to try to see what rocks would scratch other rocks. The school seems to have forgotten to tell kids to ask first. Luckily there was nothing finished in the box she was trying. I have tried the udder cream. It is okay, but not great. I think quilters may use it as it doesn't get oil on the fabrics.
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Post by accidentalrockhound on Sept 22, 2016 6:59:44 GMT -5
If good long latex gloves is what you need you can also check your local feed or farm supply store they sell long disposable latex gloves that can go up to your shoulder, not sure what they are called but they use them for medical applications, checking calving mother's , them long gloves my be what you need?
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