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Post by Toad on Nov 4, 2004 1:16:31 GMT -5
I've seen this stuff in several threads, but there seesm to be a difference of opinion as to what it is and how to use it. So in the interest of pulling all the information into one thread:
Is it soap?
Is it used in conjunction with soap?
Does it clean, lubricate, or both?
What stages is it used in?
Thanks.
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Post by docone31 on Nov 4, 2004 8:10:23 GMT -5
Borax is great stuff. It is a wetting agent, a good low temperature flux, and you can clean your laundry. In tumbling, as a wetting agent, it helps scour the grit and residue from the tumble. It does stay a colloid so it acts as a buffer as well as wetting agent.
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 4, 2004 8:21:11 GMT -5
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Post by docone31 on Nov 4, 2004 8:35:33 GMT -5
I think I am going to try some in my water softener. Controlling alkylinity is an issue in our new home. Thanks for the blurb. I notice they do not mention using it for flux. I dissolve some with boric acid in alcohol for firescale control, and I use powdered borax as flux for casting. I make a paste for soldering. Sometimes when the joint goes a little south, I sprinkle some borax directly on the joint after pickling. It makes the solder flow. When I use borax for firescale control, I put in enough to leave sediment in the bottom of the beaker. I dip the piece and flame it. When the alcohol burns off it leaves a white powder all through out the piece. When I pickle, the borax keeps the firescale to a minimum.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Nov 4, 2004 9:18:55 GMT -5
Well, I didn't see a thing on the Borax info page about it's use in rock tumbling! Someebody needs to write something up and send it to them. llana
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Post by hermatite on Nov 4, 2004 11:52:06 GMT -5
I just tried borax for the first time. I thought I'd give it a whirl since I just wasn't happy with the way the load seemed to be rinsing...I couldn't get the last bit of grit. And now the rocks look great and so does the barrel. I'll definitely be doing this again.
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Post by Toad on Nov 4, 2004 13:33:50 GMT -5
Okay, so is it a good thing to use for all grit stages to make post-grind clean-up easier?
Do you add it at the beginning of the batch, or will that affect grind effectiveness? In that case , just add when the cycle is finished to help clean rocks and barrel?
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Post by stoner on Nov 5, 2004 1:46:06 GMT -5
Hey Toad. Do your first stage with just grit. Rinse the rocks with water and send them into stage two. Any rough grit left on the rocks will wear down in stage two. After stage two, you can rinse with water and then do a one hour cycle with water/Borax. Same again just before polish. I've found that by mixing polish and borax gives the rocks a better shine than just polish alone. Then after polish, rinse and do another one hour cycle with Borax/water. That's how I use Borax and it works for me. Does this answer your questions?
Ed
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Post by Toad on Nov 5, 2004 1:56:23 GMT -5
Okay, so no borax in the grind phase.
Thanks, Stoner.
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Nov 5, 2004 19:27:05 GMT -5
so stoner, when you do the polish phase, you mix polish and borax? how much of each do you add?
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Post by Cher on Nov 5, 2004 19:53:02 GMT -5
Ummm question. Is it bad to use it in the first grind or is that really a personal preference? I've been dumping a tablespoon or so in all of the phases. Doesn't seem to bother anything. Do you think it helps or hinders being in the 60/90 grit?
Cher
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 5, 2004 20:08:12 GMT -5
i started to add some (a little) in every batch as it seemed to be a foam preventative.........i forget sometimes, but it does seem to help no matter what phase i'm in.
the wonderful thing about Borax is Borax is a wonderful thing!
KD
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Post by docone31 on Nov 5, 2004 20:15:21 GMT -5
Ok, borax is an additive I use when I cannot get that polish. When grit is run from start to finish, the coarse, med, and fine gets eventually blended. I only use borax for those hard to clean stones that do not polish. I do not use borax with the polish, and rarely use it with grit. Mostly I get lazy and run the borax to the next cycle. I have not seen any difference with using grit with or without borax. Only pre polish stage. The borax helped as I had high dissolved solids that were coating the stones. It was my water issue more than the polish and stones. Being in Floriduh, the water is lousey. Calling it hard is giving it a compliment. With a softener, iron filter, and carbon filter it was still miserable. The borax helped with stubborn stones, I believe removing scale from the water and doing polish in my R/O drinking water. A table spoon with grits won't help, nor hinder. Tumbling stones with grit is like using a grinding wheel except the stones are the brace medium for the grit. It is a mechanical process and water quality is not the issue for grinding. Polish is a different matter entirely.
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 5, 2004 20:21:54 GMT -5
my point exactly, dear Doc, i have well water, sulfur and iron and lime and nastiness.........potable if you are dying of thirst, but hold your nose to get it to your mouth. we use bottled water to drink and make tea with, i use borax with each cycle (when i remember) and i use distilled water with polish......maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't, we each have our little foibles and tribal dances.........
KD
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shorty
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 122
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Post by shorty on Nov 5, 2004 20:33:25 GMT -5
hi all not to change the subject but i ran out of borax and i had some cascade dish soap well i used it and wow that sure cleans better than borax .something to thank about
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Post by Toad on Nov 6, 2004 0:18:38 GMT -5
I think I'll use it at the end of each phase just because I'm lazy and I think it will make the mud come off the rocks easier.
Thanks for all the great info. everyone.
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