dandylyon
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 121
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 20:16:33 GMT -5
Post by dandylyon on Feb 7, 2006 20:16:33 GMT -5
When y'all say Borax, do you mean the regular box of Borax you get in the detergent aisle of the grocery store? The "20 mule team" stuff?
When you say Cascade, is that the stuff you put in the dishwasher?
Can you use liquid soaps like Dawn, or Ivory Liquid, or Dreft liquid?
Thanks so much!!
|
|
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 20:21:06 GMT -5
Post by hermatite on Feb 7, 2006 20:21:06 GMT -5
yep borax like the 20 mules! its a wonder! Cascade also like the dishwasher stuff. but I can't remember about the liquid soaps. I assume they're waaaaaay too foamy and you'd risk some three stooges scene if you tried tumbling with them.
|
|
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 20:38:40 GMT -5
Post by rockds on Feb 7, 2006 20:38:40 GMT -5
if you can find borax - get it and use it - works wounders
|
|
drupe
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2005
Posts: 1,245
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 20:41:04 GMT -5
Post by drupe on Feb 7, 2006 20:41:04 GMT -5
Don't know about liquid detergents but the Borax is great stuff to burnish with after polishing. Some folks burnish after every stage other than coarse.
Pete
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,472
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 20:45:04 GMT -5
Post by Sabre52 on Feb 7, 2006 20:45:04 GMT -5
Hmmm. I used tp use Cascade dishwasher soap with good results but the booklet that came with my new Lortone tumblers says no dishwasher soaps and none that contain bleach (damages barrels I guess) so I quit and went to bleach free detergent and borax...mel
|
|
dandylyon
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 121
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 21:02:29 GMT -5
Post by dandylyon on Feb 7, 2006 21:02:29 GMT -5
Thanks, all. My local market carries Borax, so I'll pick up some of that.
|
|
mntumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2006
Posts: 32
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 21:30:24 GMT -5
Post by mntumbler on Feb 7, 2006 21:30:24 GMT -5
how and what is the soap used for ?
|
|
crystaldragon
having dreams about rocks
how do you find good rocks in the middle of IOWA????
Member since December 2005
Posts: 60
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 22:07:36 GMT -5
Post by crystaldragon on Feb 7, 2006 22:07:36 GMT -5
yes, i wanna know how and what it is used for also. i use ajax between fine and polish cycles, but i just bought four extra barrels, so i won't have to run a load with ajax.
|
|
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 23:03:55 GMT -5
Post by akansan on Feb 7, 2006 23:03:55 GMT -5
Along the same lines, I've heard that shaved ivory soap works as well. Does anyone have any experience with this?
I realize it wouldn't work the same as the borax in the loads (which was mentioned as a cure for hard water), but does it burnish?
|
|
cedaddy
starting to shine!
my work area
Member since February 2006
Posts: 25
|
Borax?
Feb 7, 2006 23:04:29 GMT -5
Post by cedaddy on Feb 7, 2006 23:04:29 GMT -5
Borax on the most part cleans the rocks after the grit stages so you do not carry the small particles onto the next stage and contaminate it. It also helps keep the barrels clean as well. Using it during the grit stage also helps the grit run over the rocks more smoother to prevent less chipping. Using it in-between the stages prepares the rocks for the next step to give you the best possible shine. The others can tell you more than I can on this.
|
|
snowdog
fully equipped rock polisher
RIP David Fildes, aka: snowdog
Member since January 2005
Posts: 1,527
|
Borax?
Feb 8, 2006 0:31:19 GMT -5
Post by snowdog on Feb 8, 2006 0:31:19 GMT -5
the soap basically is to hold the fine dirt (rock) particles in suspension --the same as washing your hands(slabs/stones) when they are dirty (slurry) --this allows more grit to slide across the stones --the soap will pick up the finer grit first ---one of the things you have to watch with the soap is that it doesn't contain bigger or courser grit than what you have in the tumbler already --the soap grit is usually softer than sil/carbide so will usually break down quicker -- a couple of the scouring soaps like ajax, comet, etc have bigger, harder grit in them to scratch the dirt off your hands(stones) --they can or could possibly scratch your stones too---not so much on the hard ones (agates,etc.) but something soft like opal could get ruined in a hurry (or have to go back several steps ) the rougher ones may work just fine in the early stages as you are just roughing the stone to shape --then washing to remove big grit before moving to the next finer grit---the closer you bring the stone to polish the finer you want the cleaning agent (soap) to be also ---in order not to have several different ones on hand all the time the easiest thing to do is have one to use all the way thu --thus the borax is near the top of the list
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Borax?
Feb 8, 2006 15:07:20 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Feb 8, 2006 15:07:20 GMT -5
Borax is a wonder- It Burnishes, cleans, softens, can be used for something with silver solder (flux maybe) is a wetting agent (breaks water surface tension) and a de-foamant (my own word- stops stuff from foaming up). I use it all the time- and I found a little goes a loooooonnngggggg way- I use it in each tumbling stage, and as a burnish- I use it in my grinder drip system, and I use it in the water for my tile saw! Oh and I think you can also use it to kill ants and roaches!
|
|
|
Borax?
Feb 8, 2006 17:04:33 GMT -5
Post by hermatite on Feb 8, 2006 17:04:33 GMT -5
ixnay on the ants...at least the ones in my yard. Also a handy dandy defoamant (hey good word) is jetdry - the stuff for dishwashers.
|
|
|
Borax?
Feb 8, 2006 17:20:20 GMT -5
Post by Alice on Feb 8, 2006 17:20:20 GMT -5
doesn't work on the ants up here either Herm. Doesn't work on any bugs, critters, or even cats or dogs! (I've Tried!) Borax does really poorly when it comes to pest control. Doesn't keep kids away either. Found my youngest son couple of weeks ago, throwing it up in the air yelling out "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"
|
|
|
Borax?
Feb 8, 2006 18:09:35 GMT -5
Post by deb193 on Feb 8, 2006 18:09:35 GMT -5
Ok, I got 20 mules at the store today. It will be used to clean up after my course and be added to subsequent stages.
BTW, how long to run a cleaning stage between grits. How long for my vibrating tumbler?
|
|
turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
|
Borax?
Feb 8, 2006 19:24:26 GMT -5
Post by turnedstone on Feb 8, 2006 19:24:26 GMT -5
I have not tried borax yet but will after i run out of ivory soap. i just started tumbling, my first batch in course i just ran the grit alone. I had read to use ivory soap in another board that i belong to.so after joining here i found every one here used borax having already bought the soap i decided to try it though i just didn't really believe soap could make any difference. Boy was i wrong. I can not believe the difference in the batch that i ran with out soap compared to the one i ran with. The feel and shine is far Superior to the one with out anything in it so I'm a believer for sure and i have a feeling borax will be even better. Any one tried both. George
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Borax?
Feb 9, 2006 13:38:45 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Feb 9, 2006 13:38:45 GMT -5
No good on bugs HUH??? Oh well- I run a burnish stage for 24 hours - Alice How does it vacum up? (lol Happy Holidays!!!!)
|
|
mntumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2006
Posts: 32
|
Borax?
Feb 9, 2006 22:44:31 GMT -5
Post by mntumbler on Feb 9, 2006 22:44:31 GMT -5
do you use the borax after the polish stage ? and how much soap and water in the barrel ?
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Borax?
Feb 10, 2006 10:49:30 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Feb 10, 2006 10:49:30 GMT -5
I use Burnish (borax) after polish- I clean everything (rocks and barrel) then add fresh water, pellets (not the polish ones) rocks and about 4 teaspoons of borax (3 Lb barrel) Run it for 24hours and then just give the rocks a final rinse and dry!
|
|
|
Borax?
Feb 11, 2006 20:12:43 GMT -5
Post by rockkitten on Feb 11, 2006 20:12:43 GMT -5
i bought ivory soap when i first started here, but never used it. I put Borax in every load i run, all the way thru. it really helps clean the slurry off the rocks when recharging. am i using enough?? i use 2 TBSP in my 12#er. i'm wondering if i should be using more. also, do you use it IN the polish stage? i think i read that you do. getting close to that stage. i'll be polishing in my lot-o-tumbler vibe, how much do i use in that little guy?
|
|