ruverman56
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2020
Posts: 7
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Post by ruverman56 on Oct 15, 2020 21:14:34 GMT -5
Does anyone use a “water pick” to help get the grit out of cracks etc? Or is there a better way?
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Post by Bob on Oct 16, 2020 0:23:43 GMT -5
Its a lot easier to not tumble rocks with cracks, or, if shallow cracks, grind them away. Then no crack cleaning is needed. I have been tumbling for 6 years and do not but wash off rocks enough to inspect. But for polish I clean well.
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lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 866
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Post by lordsorril on Oct 16, 2020 5:11:12 GMT -5
I use liquid soap on a toothbrush.
I don't mind a little grit carry over in the early stages-can't allow any of that to get to pre-polish though.
I also make sure that no grit is left in the pits/cracks if I plan on letting the rocks dry out...once the grit mixes with the rock dust, dries out and solidifies...if you are not using a degradable slurry base (e.g. sugar) then you will have a fight on your hands.
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Post by Toad on Oct 16, 2020 8:15:04 GMT -5
They stay in rough until cracks are gone. Cleaning takes care of itself
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Post by Mel on Oct 16, 2020 11:17:13 GMT -5
I don't polish cracked rocks, unless I'm SUPER in love with it, then it just stays in rough until the cracks are gone.
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Post by greig on Oct 16, 2020 11:26:19 GMT -5
I make sure rock and barrel are clean in the rotary between stages, but especially going into stage 4. Prior to polish, I clean really well and then do a half hour tumble with just water. Surprisingly, the water is grey so there was contamination somewhere.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Oct 16, 2020 14:18:16 GMT -5
I use a burnishing solution of Dreft or Dawn liquid soap or grated Ivory hand soap and add a little borax to tumble for an hour or more to clean the barrel and rocks between stages/steps. I'm not actually burnishing the rocks just making them as clean as possible for the next tumbling step. Then I wash the barrel and rocks and carefully for any sign of leftover and stuck grit from the prior stage. Of course the barrel and these rocks have already passed the check test to move on to the next tumbling step, but I don't want any chance of prior step's grit contamination ruining rocks in the next step. This process doesn't take long, even in my 15/18 lb. tumblers. Remember the old saying, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness", especially when tumbling rocks! Here is a helpful video. rocktumbler.com/tips/burnishing/#:~:text=Most%20tumbled%20stones%20or%20tumbled%20glass%20that%20have,them%20shine.%20That%20step%20is%20known%20as%20%22burnishing%22.
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polaszko
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2020
Posts: 58
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Post by polaszko on Oct 16, 2020 16:26:00 GMT -5
Sometimes cracks are inevitable, I usually using toothbrush, and between stage 3 and 4 leaving rocks for one day in tumbler with pure water. But if rocks is really cracked better form it in tumbler and end with hand tools.
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Post by pauls on Oct 16, 2020 16:59:15 GMT -5
I try not to polish anything with cracks. Sometimes I put aside slightly flawed rocks for a separate tumble of just flawed but pretty rocks to give to kids, a water pick is really good for cleaning those up.
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Oct 16, 2020 20:31:22 GMT -5
Some cracks or flaws are interesting. I use an ultrasonic cleaner with the Costco version of Free and Clear laundry detergent between grits. Sometimes it reveals pits or cracks that were not apparent. The cleaner is from Harbor Freight and we have had it for years.
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Post by HankRocks on Oct 17, 2020 5:19:24 GMT -5
My process goes against what seems to be the norm as there is only one "soap run" for cleaning. That soap run is between the last SiC run(600 grit) and the first AO run, either 80 or 500 depending on the rocks. The only cleaning after any other runs are done with the garden hose with the spray nozzle on the rocks in a colander over a slurry bucket. Personally I don't consider the transfer of a few grains of SiC from one stage to the next smaller SiC stage to be a real issue. They are going to break down quickly. The only time I take any extra care between stages is if one of the rocks I am tumbling turns out to be a small geode with hollow core that get's exposed during the run. Those I will wash out individually with the nozzle.
I do sort rocks after the first(coarse) stage into 3 groups; 1) ready for next stage, 2) not ready for next stage, repeat first stage, 3) erosion control rock - this will never be a good tumble. This sorting goes a long way towards reducing any "grit traps".
The only other soap run I do is after final polish for burnishing purposes
I am not recommending this process, it just works for me.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Oct 17, 2020 6:08:45 GMT -5
Many stones have cracks and voids running throughout. Grinding or removing them to oblivion is not a choice in many cases. However the tumbler should break down the abrasives to near oblivion if left to run a bit longer. I do an SiC 500 run in the vibe before aluminum oxide pre-polish and polish runs. The vibe does a great job of removing large SiC particles with it's vibratory action. And the SiC 500 does a good job of grinding away a layer of rock that may have gotten damaged by the loose large SiC particles. this rock is porous throughout Note SiC particles caked in cavities The rest of the batch - www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/albums/72157649884102221
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Prov
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2020
Posts: 116
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Post by Prov on Oct 18, 2020 21:01:12 GMT -5
+1 to using a toothbrush with liquid soap.
Every cleanout I do, I take the brush to all my rocks, inspect closely for cracks and pits. I determine from there if a rock is going to "wash out" of the tumble. Sometimes later stages will reveal a pit that was not appearent before, it's just an ongoing process.
I'm not 100% dedicated to perfect rocks, so I will typically pass something with minor defects. As long as the hole isn't impossible to clean, they go through polish fairly well.
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