jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Jun 19, 2018 8:23:32 GMT -5
I use Borax mixture as a weed killer. I believe deadly to roaches for some reason.
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Post by Peruano on Jun 19, 2018 10:03:20 GMT -5
Some use borax as a final burnishing agent in tumbling. It's bad for most plants.
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Post by rmf on Jun 19, 2018 10:14:13 GMT -5
Pat, Ever hear of the mineral Ulexite? It is the naturally fiberoptic rock that you can look through from Death Valley. It is a Borate mineral (NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5H2O). Borax is sodium Borate (Na2B4O7·10H2O or Na2[B4O5(OH)4]·8H2O) so Ulexite is Borax with a little calcium and less water. From Wikipedia: There are over 100 different borate minerals.[2][3] Borate minerals include: Kernite Na2B4O6(OH)2·3H2O Borax Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O Ulexite NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5H2O Colemanite CaB3O4(OH)3·H2O Boracite Mg3B7O13Cl
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Post by aDave on Jun 19, 2018 11:50:59 GMT -5
Funny fact Flubber "A rubbery polymer sometimes called Slime, Flubber, 'gluep' or 'glurch' (or erroneously called Silly Putty, which is based on silicone polymers), can be made by cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol with borax. Making flubber from polyvinyl acetate-based glues, such as Elmer's Glue, and borax is a common elementary-science demonstration.[21][22]" Funnier fact: After seeing that quote in Wikipedia yesterday, I actually went and read some of the recipes. I was left wondering who actually figured that out.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Jun 19, 2018 12:15:00 GMT -5
Funny fact Flubber "A rubbery polymer sometimes called Slime, Flubber, 'gluep' or 'glurch' (or erroneously called Silly Putty, which is based on silicone polymers), can be made by cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol with borax. Making flubber from polyvinyl acetate-based glues, such as Elmer's Glue, and borax is a common elementary-science demonstration.[21][22]" Funnier fact: After seeing that quote in Wikipedia yesterday, I actually went and read some of the recipes. I was left wondering who actually figured that out. Silly Putty is the one to marvel at. It has some insane properties. Does things nothing else can do. I believe it was a super high tech military project back in the 40's. Humorous because of it's high tech history, ended up in the hands of kids. To this day it is quite a miracle material.
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Post by fernwood on Jun 19, 2018 12:51:32 GMT -5
Back to slurry down the drain. My process has been to drain everything into colander over an ice cream pail first. Save the slurry in a fruit jar. Rinse the ice cream pail into a 5 gallon pail. Dump that outside. Quick rinse the rocks in 5 gallon pail, then colander in utility sink. Have another 5 gallon pail where the sink outlet goes outside. Then run water for about 2 minutes. Keep checking pipes and there is no residue on them. After each clean out, I need to connect the pipe going down from the outlet and the 25' drain pipe back up.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Jun 19, 2018 14:25:41 GMT -5
Back to slurry down the drain. My process has been to drain everything into colander over an ice cream pail first. Save the slurry in a fruit jar. Rinse the ice cream pail into a 5 gallon pail. Dump that outside. Quick rinse the rocks in 5 gallon pail, then colander in utility sink. Have another 5 gallon pail where the sink outlet goes outside. Then run water for about 2 minutes. Keep checking pipes and there is no residue on them. After each clean out, I need to connect the pipe going down from the outlet and the 25' drain pipe back up. So you are saying that the 2 minute flush is cleaning the pipe ? Are you reusing your slurry ? Maybe consider the clay on your farm ? Fresh clay each time can offer great suspension of the abrasives. But it does make a lot of slurry to get rid of. I sit a colander with 1/8 inch on an empty 5 gal bucket and pour the entire contents of tumbler into the colander. Wash the rocks till they are clean and the 5 gal bucket is about 1/2 full of wash water. Then leave the 5 gal bucket alone till the slurry settles to the bottom and the water above is about clear. Maybe 3-4 days depending. Gently take the 5 gal bucket outside and slowly pour the clean water off leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 gallon of water with about all the slurry. By this point the slurry is all contained in a small amount of water that can be poured into a smaller container and left to sit till it settles. This is a passive way of doing it by separation. And often time cleaning many batches over the same 5 gallon bucket and continually pouring off the wash water days later. Often the slurry that accumulates is like stiff mud and gets 3 or 4 inches deep or deeper.
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Post by fernwood on Jun 19, 2018 14:41:30 GMT -5
The 2 minute flush is cleaning the 18" of pipe. My water pressure there is pretty high, as my washing machine's water access is there. Also the winter water access for farm animals. 3/4" faucet outlet, cold water split to accommodate the hose. I can only lift a pail about 1/4 full at the moment from sink to floor. I am reusing some slurry as a starter, per say to speed up the process. Adding some water and grit to that. I am using clay kitty litter as well for the first 2 steps. No clay on this sand country property. Clay was at old place. Miss it a lot. That place also was loaded with frack sand. The sand here is sharp. Animals must have some special supplements in case they ingest the sand while grazing.
Still have not completed my first batches of tumbles. Give it another 2-3 weeks. Posting tumble updates on the other thread.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Jun 20, 2018 3:26:54 GMT -5
I was looking at your tumbles on the other thread. Making great progress there. With a grand assortment of rocks.
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Post by Pat on Jun 20, 2018 9:29:39 GMT -5
Pat, Ever hear of the mineral Ulexite? It is the naturally fiberoptic rock that you can look through from Death Valley. It is a Borate mineral (NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5H2O). Borax is sodium Borate (Na2B4O7·10H2O or Na2[B4O5(OH)4]·8H2O) so Ulexite is Borax with a little calcium and less water. From Wikipedia: There are over 100 different borate minerals.[2][3] Borate minerals include: Kernite Na2B4O6(OH)2·3H2O Borax Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O Ulexite NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5H2O Colemanite CaB3O4(OH)3·H2O Boracite Mg3B7O13Cl These aren't something that I am likely to cut or cab (except for Boracite) are they? Kernite is a MOHS 3 Borax is 2.0 - 2.5 Ulexite is 2.5 Colemanite 4.5 Boracite 7.5 Thanks.
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Post by rmf on Jun 20, 2018 15:54:28 GMT -5
Pat Not likely, even if you tried it would be drab colored material.
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