rockfrog
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2021
Posts: 114
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Post by rockfrog on Mar 16, 2021 22:54:30 GMT -5
I wanted to check on my tumble that's only been running for two days, just to check the water level really but when I opened it I found this The slurry has become almost a foam and is bubbly and airy! I only put jaspers in this barrel, and I checked the other barrel and it is completely normal. After some searching my main suspect is the one piece of Sanskrit "jasper" that I put in that I am now pretty sure isn't a jasper. Besides this piece, is there anything else I could be doing wrong? If it is the sanskrit then would removing it solve the problem? Is there anything I can do to fix the foam or am I able to just start running it again?
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Mar 16, 2021 23:16:40 GMT -5
Harry Potter and the mystery of the chocolate egg-white foam. Medium to stiff peaks, not bad.
This kind of thing happens from time to time to many folks. It's not necessarily that you're doing anything wrong. One week the same set of rocks might foam and the next week it might not. It doesn't seem to have a real negative impact towards grinding/polishing the stones, at least, as far as I've been able to tell.
There's some mystery mineral in there and Velma hasn't said jinkies yet.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 16, 2021 23:45:03 GMT -5
I wanted to check on my tumble that's only been running for two days, just to check the water level really but when I opened it I found this The slurry has become almost a foam and is bubbly and airy! I only put jaspers in this barrel, and I checked the other barrel and it is completely normal. After some searching my main suspect is the one piece of Sanskrit "jasper" that I put in that I am now pretty sure isn't a jasper. Besides this piece, is there anything else I could be doing wrong? If it is the sanskrit then would removing it solve the problem? Is there anything I can do to fix the foam or am I able to just start running it again? It is chocolate whipped topping for your rocky road. Mine did the same thing but grey not brown. Harmless.
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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 Mar 17, 2021 6:22:20 GMT -5
The foam would probably go away before the end of a 7-day run.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,237
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Post by quartzilla on Mar 17, 2021 7:50:24 GMT -5
I get foam more often than not.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on Mar 17, 2021 8:48:30 GMT -5
I get foam more often than not. Same here.
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Post by manofglass on Mar 17, 2021 8:58:34 GMT -5
That never happens
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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 Mar 17, 2021 9:09:40 GMT -5
I never put in enough water to create foam. My water fill for Stage 1 is less than half the depth of the rocks.
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Post by greig on Mar 17, 2021 11:11:04 GMT -5
I have had the same happen and pretty sure it is after I reuse a barrel, lid or tumbler media from a prior burnish or washed off self collected rocks prior. ie remanent soap
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 17, 2021 17:26:33 GMT -5
Sometimes borax will cut the foam. Foam can occur for no reason. Obsidian often "gases" and can cause the foamies. Any organic matter that gets in the barrel can cause foam. Heck even a drop of soap that works it's way in will faom!
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Post by Bob on Mar 24, 2021 21:41:36 GMT -5
Never has happened. I would immediately suspect soap somewhere.
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Post by aDave on Mar 24, 2021 21:53:04 GMT -5
Foam happens sometimes, usually in the very first run of a coarse grind and usually within the first few days. After time, it will go away. Many attribute it to organic compounds on the stuff you are first tumbling. You might see this after a few days, and it might even stick around through your first cleanout. But, it will go away. This is natural and not anything to be concerned with. I've seen it with some tumbling runs, but it will resolve itself. I tumbled with a rotary for years, so this is not necessarily new.
Just do your next scheduled cleanout and go from there. After seeing foam in the first week, I'd be surprised if you see it after that. Best of luck to you.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 24, 2021 22:05:33 GMT -5
Foam happens sometimes, usually in the very first run of a coarse grind and usually within the first few days. After time, it will go away. Many attribute it to organic compounds on the stuff you are first tumbling. You might see this after a few days, and it might even stick around through your first cleanout. But, it will go away. This is natural and not anything to be concerned with. I've seen it with some tumbling runs, but it will resolve itself. I tumbled with a rotary for years, so this is not necessarily new. Just do your next scheduled cleanout and go from there. After seeing foam in the first week, I'd be surprised if you see it after that. Best of luck to you. I've gotten foam during all three cleanouts, I've only done three cleanouts, don't see it doing any harm.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,553
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Post by jamesp on Mar 27, 2021 7:16:22 GMT -5
Adding a clay slurry thickener put a stop to my foam outs. Foam usually occurred when tumbling in a watery slurry. Often in the first few days before a slurry develops. Especially when tumbling metals, glass or concrete chunks.
Two of those materials are crazy alkaline, perhaps metals are too. Guessing some rocks are acidic and some are alkaline in nature. Mix the two, add water and grind and a potential for a ph reaction should exist. A bubbly ph reaction like adding baking soda to vinegar. My tap water is acidic ph 6.2, glass and concrete are seriously alkaline to the point of their slurry burning skin. Seems like a perfect set up for a bubbly ph reaction too.
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