MalStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Underwater Rock Hound
Member since January 2006
Posts: 221
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Post by MalStone on Jan 18, 2006 12:29:37 GMT -5
That is the question! Could someone explain to me what the burnishing phase of rock tumbling is supposed to do? I'm totally new at this (obviously!) but it seems like once you have a good polish on the rocks the last thing you want to do is put them through another phase to scrub 'em down again! I mean Borax (which I've read is the recommended thing to burnish with) is a mild abrasive, right? Would it not actually "un-do" some of the polish that was worked so hard for? Just seems like doing this would be taking a step in the wrong direction . . . Help explain the logic on this step, please! THANKS!! Deb
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Jan 18, 2006 12:43:13 GMT -5
hey deb,
funny you should bring this up today! I saw some stuff here yesterday about burnishing & since I was going to my supply house, I asked the staff there.
As they told it...burnishing does multiple things. The two main for me is, in between stages, it cleans the rocks of dirt & grit along with helping to keep your drum clean.
and second...it does add a little extra finish to the stage but the soap is actually a lubricant. I know theres tons more reasons to burnish & I've read here where some poeple actually burnish in between every stage. Ya gots to play with yer rocks & find out what formula works best for you.
Be prepared for an onslaught of info to come at ya! These peeps know of what we speak!
Rotsa ruck! liz
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Post by Alice on Jan 18, 2006 12:49:26 GMT -5
I don't normally burnish after polish, but I do burnish between each stage to clean the rocks and barrel.
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Jan 18, 2006 12:52:11 GMT -5
hey alice? how long do yu let it go each time?
liz
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Post by Cher on Jan 18, 2006 12:52:41 GMT -5
Beginning with 120/200 (second stage) I wash mine in borax after every load including a 24 hour wash after the final polishing stage and am thoroughly convinced it makes a difference.
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MalStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Underwater Rock Hound
Member since January 2006
Posts: 221
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Post by MalStone on Jan 18, 2006 13:01:55 GMT -5
Hmmmmmmmmm. I've been adding borax to my grit (except for the 60/90 stage) at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 3 tablespoons of grit, during each tumbling phase. Washing rocks and tumbler drums between all stages, but am using a flake soap for that step - letting it run about 4 hours give or take. Haven't burnished the rocks that came out of the final polish stage as they are so pretty I would hate to mess 'em up! But if it helps . . . indecision! . . . guess I'll throw a few in a tumbler and give it a whirl then see what the results look like in a side by side comparison. Ye olde trial and error bit!
Deb
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Post by Alice on Jan 18, 2006 13:05:13 GMT -5
hey alice? how long do yu let it go each time? liz Burnishing? I burnish between each stage for about 2 - 4 hours (sometimes longer, cause I tend to forget about it ).
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Post by Cher on Jan 18, 2006 13:07:55 GMT -5
LOL Alice, that's patience when it continues washing into the next day, not forgetting.
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Post by Alice on Jan 18, 2006 13:18:59 GMT -5
I think it has to do with the time of day I start to burnish. If it's in the middle of the afternoon and my son comes home from school, I'll probably forget about it until the next day. There's also no sense in pulling them out of burnish when it's dark outside (I like to take pictures after each stage... after burnishing).
But if I do it in the morning, I'll probably remember 2 - 4 hours later.
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Jan 18, 2006 13:27:59 GMT -5
I burnish after polish...usually for an hour or two, but no sometimes a day or more if I forget them...gives them a better shine I believe...someone said its a lubricant...that certainly describes the feel it imparts to the finished wet product...I use Ivory snow csroc
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Jan 18, 2006 14:21:46 GMT -5
hi im new at this just on my 2nd stage of my 1st batch . i ran 3 batchs of course grind on the 3rd batch i ran some ivory soap flaks that i grated off a bar. wow what a diffrence it made in the feel and shine compared to the 1st two batchs so i would say it makes a diff. i put some in the 2nd stage grind should i have waited to do after for 4 hours like i did after the 1st stage and would i still need to do this again just to clean them up. thanks george
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Post by stoner on Jan 18, 2006 15:22:49 GMT -5
I don't burnish at all.
Ed
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Post by texasrockhound on Jan 18, 2006 15:50:45 GMT -5
Hey Deb -
The good folks here have recommended that I use Dreft when burnishing and i gotta tell ya....
After many disappointing final polish batches I tried burnishing with Dreft (baby clothes detergent...powdered) for 3 days and was amazed at the difference. After 3 days the water in the barrel was really dirty and the stones were much glossier then they were prior to burnishing.
I highly recommend it!
-dan
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MalStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Underwater Rock Hound
Member since January 2006
Posts: 221
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Post by MalStone on Jan 18, 2006 18:12:57 GMT -5
THANK YOU to all that responded to my question! I'm going to have to give burnishing some of my polished rocks a try, just to see what the results are and see if it's something I want to be doing or not. Appreciate your tip on Dreft, Dan, will see if I can find some to try.
Deb
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Post by rockds on Jan 19, 2006 0:33:47 GMT -5
I use borax, also add it to all stages to help with gas build-up (use to use tums) but borax seems to do the trick.
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Debs on Jan 19, 2006 3:02:58 GMT -5
I also use Mule Team Borax in each step and clean them for 24hrs between each stage. I really does work!
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jan 19, 2006 4:21:10 GMT -5
Hi,
I also have tried to polish Without Burnishing But the difference it makes has to be seen to be belived,
I also do a 24hr wash/Burnish inbetween stages with Borax as well as after polishing stage
Try both ways and judge for yourself ( I know which you will choose) :-)
jACK yORKSHIRE uk
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Jan 7, 2007 16:09:17 GMT -5
Lortone and others recccomend Ivory flakes or Snow King as these are non-detergent and they say detergent=BAD.Borax is fine too since is a mineral salt and has no detergent,phosphates or chlorine.I would also recommend using distilled water if you have hard water.I have also used plain dry crushed walnut shell with some success.You can get that at a pet supply store=lizard bedding.
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Jan 7, 2007 16:18:22 GMT -5
I forgot:save a few stones and compare them with the ones you do burnish. It is hard to tell if any good has been done otherwise;the best burnish I have had was just somewhat better than the difference between pre-polish and polish,but worth doing.
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Post by lonewolfrockhound on Jan 7, 2007 20:57:48 GMT -5
I also use Mule Team Borax in each step and clean them for 24hrs between each stage. I really does work! I'm going to try that! Anything with "Mule Team" on the label just has to be good stuff!
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