insearchofspace
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 108
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Post by insearchofspace on Jan 17, 2017 22:09:32 GMT -5
I jumped into tumbling after buying a HF dual barrel unit the day after Christmas. I started with some rocks I found in the UP, and moved on to some rock shed sea jasper. I have only run with 60-90 so far. I have found that foam has made checking progress a less than pleasurable experience. The foam was holding onto the grit, keeping it from being broken down completely. The gritty foam would also wind up on the lid and seal, making it hard to get a good seal without lots of diligent wiping. Checking slurry consitancy was an impossibility. I recalled from my time in a chemistry lab that silicone grease would sometimes be employed to stop distillations from foaming and boiling through the fractionating column. So I decided to see what it would do in the tumbler. Last night I used a tooth pick to add a pea sized dab of silicone plumbers grease into each barrel. Just checked them today, no foam. Just wanted to share the observation. Happy tumbling!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 18, 2017 10:12:29 GMT -5
That's interesting. I almost never have a problem with foam though. Foam usually only lasts for the first few days of tumbling. I almost never have a reason to open my barrels in the first few days though. I run my tumbler for a week between clean outs in the first stage and longer in other stages. When I do open the barrel, I do a full clean out, so even if there was foam, it wouldn't be a problem. The grease sounds like it might be a good solution for those who check their barrels more often.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 18, 2017 10:44:46 GMT -5
Rotary: I rarely have foam with agates. Tumbled metal and glass and often get foam, especially metals. I have cured foam by adding table sugar at the dose of 3 cups/10 pounds rock. Or using less water. Rocks that have high metal content will foam. Like nickel rich impactite from the crater site in Canada above the Great Lakes.
Yes, foam will reap havoc with grit. Prevents it from engaging with the rocks.
Try a cup of clay based kitty litter/6 pounds rock for instant slurry. Hard to get a thicker slurry to foam. Carries grit to rock efficiently. win win
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 18, 2017 11:30:44 GMT -5
I never rarely have problem with foam.....If and when it does I just had some type of used slurry of the same course!!!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 18, 2017 11:33:43 GMT -5
Foam in and of itself usually isn't a problem. Many rock types will produce foam and some can come from your water. Generally it doesn't last long.
One way to use up your grit is to use less water. If you are using the bottom of the top layer guideline for water you can get away with less. 1/2 cup is plenty for a 3# barrel. Imagine if you will, with less water, even if foam is carrying grit, the level will be well below the rock line, therefore better distribution.
Good luck, keep asking questions and take notes on what does and does not work for you.
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Post by spiceman on Jan 18, 2017 11:54:31 GMT -5
Good to know. Thanks for the info. Just one question do use soap or borax? I have food issues if I use Dawn or Borax in my early stages. But doing clean outs every week, it's not a problem. But also I don't have foam all the time. Don't know why, yet.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Jan 19, 2017 16:07:01 GMT -5
The River Rock that I am rolling right now has a lot of foam, I think it's caused because the small river is polluted with soaps and detergents. I checked the barrel yesterday and it was full of foam running the 2nd stage, so after checking the rocks I added a coupla tablespoons of Sugar to the barrel before sealing it back up and tossing it back on the Loretone 3A tumbler. After 30 seconds I could clearly hear the tumbling rocks and I think it was working.
After 24 hours it was not loud anymore. I opened it back up to find it was full of foam again. I added a couple more tablespoons of sugar but did not hear a change in the tumble sound when it was rolling again. This Stage will be finished in 4 days. We will see what I find when I open it on Sunday.
I would not add an Oil to a mix that needs water to work.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Jan 19, 2017 16:34:35 GMT -5
I remember renting a Rug Shampoo machine at Kroger, and along with the Shampoo Soap you could also purchase a Defoamer. Just wondering if that would work ?
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insearchofspace
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 108
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Post by insearchofspace on Jan 20, 2017 13:49:56 GMT -5
That rug machine defoamer is a silicone compound. They work by changing the surface tension in the bubbles that make up the foam, allowing the tiny bubbles to turn into big bubbles which then pop. Try it out!
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Jan 24, 2017 9:10:56 GMT -5
A coupla days ago I opened up the barrel to change out from stage 2 to stage 3. I had added several tablespoons of granulated sugar to try and control the foaming. The barrel was still full of foam but the bubbles were much smaller/finer than any of the foam I had seen before. I don't think the foam really matters as long as it's not too thick.
Plus the slurry Tasted much less like Gravy and more like Pudding.
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Post by greig on Jan 24, 2017 11:53:05 GMT -5
Many times when I self collect rocks, I will initially clean them with dish soap and water. If they are not well rinsed, they certainly foam. The best way I have found to remove the soap (after a thorough rinsing), is to put them into the tumbler for an hour with just water.
Another product that will remove surface tension on the water is a few drops of JetDry (for the dishwasher).
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Jan 24, 2017 12:51:43 GMT -5
What a great idea . . . Step .5
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