r0cknewbie456
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2022
Posts: 2
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Post by r0cknewbie456 on Jun 6, 2022 6:59:00 GMT -5
Hello!
I’m incredibly new to rock tumbling and I just got the starter tumbling kit from National Geographic. My rocks had gone through the first round of grit tumbling and without even thinking I dumped the tumbling water into my kitchen sink. It was only after I did this that I looked up what you’re actually suppose to do with the grit (which is not dump it down my sink 😓). From the forms I e been reading I’m freaking out because apparently this could be very bad for my plumbing. This was the coarsest grit since it was stage 1, not a polish stage which from my understanding is the worst in terms of clogging.
My question is, is this serious? How much grit is too much and should I expect something bad to happen? I took out one of my catching notches of my sink and there was some sand like particles that I dumped out in my yard but it doesn’t look like there was too much in there. For additional context, the amount of grit that was in there was 0.7 oz or 20 g.
Thank you!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 6, 2022 7:17:54 GMT -5
Welcome from Virginia.
Stay tuned for your answer. I know others will answer better than myself.
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rocket
spending too much on rocks
Quality slabs for quality cabs in 2022
Member since September 2020
Posts: 292
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Post by rocket on Jun 6, 2022 7:35:28 GMT -5
Welcome from Maryland..when I started out I had to learn patience…the rocks were done with stage one, when they were done, not necessarily one week…I have now had some rocks in stage one for two months or longer (I am in my third year of learning to tumble)
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dug
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2022
Posts: 21
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Post by dug on Jun 6, 2022 7:56:24 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about your plumbing too much. A bit of slurry isn't a problem. It's when a large amount builds up and solidifies, and restricts water flow through the pipes.
But, to be sure, flush it out thoroughly by running a bunch of water down the sink. Best get a high flow rate -- rather than just running your tap, plug the drain and fill the sink and then pull the plug and let it drain all at once. Or dump a bucket down all at once.
And, deal with future barrel cleanouts correctly -- outside.
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Post by greig on Jun 6, 2022 8:40:52 GMT -5
I tested the theory by leaving slurry in a jar for a few days. Sure enough, once it settled, it became like concrete. So as noted above, flush out your traps ASAP and don't do it again. Plumbing pipes are large, so don't panic.
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steelheader
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2021
Posts: 50
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Post by steelheader on Jun 6, 2022 9:49:45 GMT -5
I would like to add that it isn’t just the grit to worry about but a combination of said grit and the rock material that was been worn down. Check underneath the sink for the P-trap, a squiggly almost “s” shaped black or white pipe - at the lowest point of this trap there might be a screw you can open to drain the sludge. Check it out on Youtube.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 6, 2022 10:15:15 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from Northern Arizona!
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steelheader
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2021
Posts: 50
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Post by steelheader on Jun 6, 2022 10:28:39 GMT -5
I would like to add that it isn’t just the grit to worry about but a combination of said grit and the rock material that was been worn down. Check underneath the sink for the P-trap, a squiggly almost “s” shaped black or white pipe - at the lowest point of this trap there might be a screw you can open to drain the sludge. Check it out on Youtube. And just to add, have a small bucket underneth as the P-trap is full of water. It is designed to stop the smell from the main drain coming out the kitchen sink.
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Post by stonemon on Jun 6, 2022 10:44:38 GMT -5
Welcome from western Oregon1
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r0cknewbie456
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2022
Posts: 2
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Post by r0cknewbie456 on Jun 6, 2022 11:08:12 GMT -5
Thank you for the advice and all the warm welcomes!
I’ll be sure to flush out my pipes as much as I can today and check the plumbing connections where I can!
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 981
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Post by nursetumbler on Jun 6, 2022 20:14:12 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Jun 7, 2022 12:21:45 GMT -5
Shouldn’t be a problem with a small tumbler. I save all my slurry, it gets like thick hard clay. You escaped disaster.
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jun 7, 2022 12:34:55 GMT -5
Welcome from Lake Erie, northern Ohio!
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 10, 2022 7:19:16 GMT -5
You should be fine. I usually let my slurry settle and dump off the water and top layer into a 5 gallon waste bucket (that is dumped into a swampy spot on the side of my yard) I dry what remains and use it as "starter" for the next time I'm using that grit. I would flush the pipes real good (I would use hot water if possible) One small batch really should not cause problems, unless there were problems to begin with (I.e a slow drain of previous clogs that were never cleared completely)
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