|
Post by Toad on Apr 15, 2006 14:11:56 GMT -5
I forgot to add borax to my most recent rough grind, and I may have shorted the water a little bit.
Instead of the smooth grinding sound I was used to, I was hearing a lot of clunking. So when I opened up the barrel this morning, the paste was much thicker than any other batch I had done previously. I guess that some of the bigger rocks were sticking to the side and falling off to hit those below.
So I had a lot of chipped rocks, and they didn't clean up nearly as well as usual. At least this happened during rough...
Don't forget the borax!
|
|
thehawke
freely admits to licking rocks
My Lord and Master
Member since January 2006
Posts: 866
|
Post by thehawke on Apr 15, 2006 14:51:38 GMT -5
ok will ivory snow work? You add the borax right to the grit? How much? I cannot find borax at any of my usual haunts.
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Apr 15, 2006 14:55:06 GMT -5
larger grocery stores usually have it in the laundry detergent section....i searched and searched for it too, finally asked and lo and behold i'd been staring right at it and didn't "see" it.
KD
|
|
|
Post by hermatite on Apr 15, 2006 14:58:13 GMT -5
i never put borax and grit in at the same time. I just do a wash with borax after every stage.
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Apr 15, 2006 15:05:26 GMT -5
I find it at K-mart.
I usually put it in right with the grit and the mud rinses right off with no scrubbing at all when I'm ready to recharge. I really regretted not doing it this last time.
|
|
|
Post by xenaswolf on Apr 15, 2006 18:02:07 GMT -5
Hawke, look for 20 Mule Team Borax in the laundry detergent section at the grocery store. I think Albertsons even has their own store brand borax.
|
|
thehawke
freely admits to licking rocks
My Lord and Master
Member since January 2006
Posts: 866
|
Post by thehawke on Apr 15, 2006 19:01:19 GMT -5
QFC doesn't have it. I think I looked at Larry's too to no avail. I'll check albertson's.
|
|
|
Post by cookie3rocks on Apr 15, 2006 19:05:06 GMT -5
If you have an Ingles, they have it. Ivory Snow is pretty much the same thing.
cookie
|
|
|
Post by rockds on Apr 15, 2006 19:33:51 GMT -5
I put in one to ttwo table spoons of borax per load (approx 1 tbsp per 3 lbs) and it works great - no gas build up and keep the slurry nice and smooth. It is also fairly cheap compaired to the grit. Ivory snow will work also and is better for my company also.
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Apr 15, 2006 21:23:51 GMT -5
I used to put it in but haven't for probably the past year now. I keep forgetting so now I just use it to wash the rocks between loads.
|
|
|
Post by rockkitten on Apr 15, 2006 22:47:39 GMT -5
as i recall, the Borax isn't right with the laundry detergent, it's by the laundry additives, like bleach and stuff like that. comes in a kinda square box maybe 10" X 6" ? i use it in every tumble along with the grit. made a world of difference in washing them at the end of the week. speaking of 'week', the last month or so, i've been letting my tumblers all run 2 weeks without doing a recharge and i am much happier with the outcome. after one week, i still had grit in the barrel and just kept dumping it out and starting over with new. this is working better for me and uses less grit too.
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Apr 16, 2006 6:43:44 GMT -5
Don't think I'm patient enough to wait 2 weeks yet...
|
|
jrtrio
has rocks in the head
With10 tumblers tumbling the sound is so delicious!Send me more of those little red fellas, please?
Member since February 2006
Posts: 535
|
Post by jrtrio on Apr 16, 2006 7:34:41 GMT -5
I don't add any detergent to any grit. I like the grit to be able to do it's thing without any interference. Then I pour the batch thru a strainer into a cup and rinse the stones off at the same time. Then I rinse out the barrel. After all this I put the stones back into the barrel add the detergent and water. Run the cleaning stage for no less than 24 hours no more than 48. Then it's on to the next stage!
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Apr 16, 2006 11:58:13 GMT -5
With the borax added ahead of time I don't have to do a rinse cycle - everything comes off easily with just a quick rinse, no scrubbing. Plus I'd be afraid of chips without the 'cushioning' that the slurry would provide. Obviously you're not having that problem or you wouldn't be doing it that way, but to each their own I guess.
|
|
|
Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 16, 2006 19:08:13 GMT -5
I tumble my rocks in straight Borax between grits. Seems to work great. Toad, are you using plastic pellets?
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Apr 16, 2006 21:29:21 GMT -5
Nope, no pellets. All I do in my lortone is the rough grind. Figure I'll do all the other stages once I get my vibe. Are pellets as important in a vibe since you don't have the falling action?
|
|