theejeweler
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2021
Posts: 2
|
Post by theejeweler on Mar 8, 2021 19:03:57 GMT -5
Hi!
I’m new to tumbling and I recently got a raytech vibratory tumbler to tumble some rocks and stones I pulled from a creek. It was going well so far through step 1, but during step 2 I forgot to check it for an entire day essentially, and when I went to clean them it was like the cement was embedded in the rocks. They were shiny when wet before step 2, but now it’s like they either have a gray film or it’s embedded in the cracks and lines. Usually I check the tumbler every few hours and spray but I just forgot this time. So what should I do moving forward to remove the cement? Do I put them back in step one or something else? I had some nice stones I not here so I would hate to just discard them all.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Mar 8, 2021 19:12:08 GMT -5
I would stay in step 2 with a little more water. Then a borax cleaning (1 day max) before moving on. I just opened a barrel that was last looked at in 2016 (yesyou read that correctly) It was setting on the bench and I was expecting a solid concrete mass, but once I priced off the lid (rotary tumbler) I was shocked that the slurry was still fluid! Granted it is a mess but it's wet!
|
|
|
Post by vegasjames on Sept 7, 2023 8:23:08 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
I run my stones through a rotary tumbler before a vibe tumbler to remove any sharp edges or points that can damage the vibe bowl. Being river rocks, this is not an issue, but wanted to let you know if you get non-river stones to tumble.
With rocks that produce a lot of mud, I tumble the rocks with water only keeping the stones moist enough to keep the mud fluid or close to fluid. Then as mud starts building up I go out and wash all the stones and the bowl then put them back in the vibe and keep repeating this process. This grinds away the softer material like calcite and dolomite leaving behind most the harder material such as copper minerals and fluorite so I get more color showing in the stone.
Not sure how hard your stones are, but it does sound like at least some are softer and are grinding up in to mud. No reason to waste grit on these stones in my opinion. Therefore, I would run the stones in just water as described above first to remove any soft material or grind away the soft rocks first.
|
|
Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,752
|
Post by Mark K on Sept 7, 2023 14:43:05 GMT -5
And you can just break up the "cement" and add a little water. It will clean itself up. Once you get them rolling a little bit they will advance pretty quick. Then you can proceed however you wish.
I have had that happen plenty of times due to the fact that at times, the basement is dryer than a popcorn fart. It evaporated so fast some days.
|
|
skmcconnell361
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2023
Posts: 125
|
Post by skmcconnell361 on Sept 7, 2023 17:51:52 GMT -5
the basement is dryer than a popcorn fart. Never heard that one before.
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Sept 7, 2023 17:59:07 GMT -5
the basement is dryer than a popcorn fart. Never heard that one before. I was thinking the exact same thing.
|
|
dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
|
Post by dillonf on Sept 7, 2023 19:40:50 GMT -5
Welcome, sorry to hear about the cement, If you start over like folks suggested the stones should be ok.
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Sept 7, 2023 22:34:26 GMT -5
Okay...so I totally KNOW this is not the answer...and I apologize in advance for posting this...but it's one of my favorite movies...and the topic immediately made me think of this scene! LOL
|
|
Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,752
|
Post by Mark K on Sept 7, 2023 23:51:21 GMT -5
Well, it would work, but the smell may make you regret it.
|
|
iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
|
Post by iamchris on Sept 8, 2023 11:37:01 GMT -5
I'd like to point out that this was originally asked in 2021. 😆
|
|
dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
|
Post by dillonf on Sept 8, 2023 11:46:13 GMT -5
I'd like to point out that this was originally asked in 2021. 😆
|
|