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Post by captbob on Feb 25, 2017 14:17:47 GMT -5
So I'm doing clean outs today and one barrel involved moving a load from polish to final burnish in a different barrel.
Thinkin'...
I usually dump the polish and plastic beads into a tupperware to store until I need it for another polish run.
This is a dedicated polish only 15 lb barrel, so I don't need it for other tumbling stages.
Since I don't have any other loads ready to move into this barrel with the polish/beads/water in it right now, what about leaving all this in the barrel and just closing the barrel back up and setting it back on the tumbler until I need it again. ??
I'm thinking that this wouldn't work (maybe it would) with grit, as the grit may settle and become a hardened problem I don't want to deal with. But polish is so much finer and mixed in the water and beads - yes it will probably settle some. Thinking that it may be okay to just sit in there and when I want to reuse it again just run the tumbler to remix before adding the rocks. Not like the water in the barrel is going to evaporate leaving the polish to dry out.
Has anyone just left the polish mixture sit in the barrel when not in use?
Thoughts?
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 25, 2017 14:35:51 GMT -5
I would think if it didn't settle out in your plastic container and that works for you, it wouldn't act any different in the barrel
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Post by MrP on Feb 25, 2017 14:59:32 GMT -5
captbob I have did it in both rotary and vibe. As far as grit settling when it gets too cold in the garage both the rotary and Viking vib gets shut off and started when it gets warm enough. I have no problems with 12-45lb barrels but am not sure how a 3lb would work..................................MrP
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Feb 25, 2017 15:02:52 GMT -5
So I have a jar of recovered polish in my shop that has been sitting for maybe three years. So it is well settled by now as one could imagine. I just picked it up and turned it upside down. With less than a minutes worth of shaking it was all back in suspension with none left stuck to the inside of the jar. Based on that I'd think your idea could work. Myself, I'd keep the barrel on end during storage.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 15:40:52 GMT -5
Two thoughts.
#1) keep it rolling, no cement issue
#2) cemented polish broken down by tumbles very quickly. No biggie
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Feb 25, 2017 16:12:37 GMT -5
Should have no problem. I would steer away from letting it dry out. Lime and rock slurry once dried out 100% in a container. Behaved like portland cement.
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Post by captbob on Feb 25, 2017 18:30:56 GMT -5
Thanks all. Leaving it in the barrel. Sure I'll have another polish load in a month or two. I like the leaving it upright suggestion Ken. Keeps it off the lid gasket and probably be easier to mix up if it's on the bottom.
Will report back if leaving it all in the barrel was a bad idea. Can't imagine why it would be.
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Post by captbob on Feb 25, 2017 18:32:54 GMT -5
Gotta fill these barrels back up and keep them running as they become available. Wouldn't want the wife unit to notice a drop in the electric bill and have her figure out it's the tumblers!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Feb 25, 2017 18:40:12 GMT -5
Uh, wives are very aware of tumbling electricity. Apparently tumbling kilowatts cost a lot more.
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Post by orrum on Feb 25, 2017 18:40:56 GMT -5
Set the barrel so the polish sets up in the bottom. Then when you pUT it on the tumbler ythe rovks will ye as r up the set up polish n besds. Msybe?
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Feb 25, 2017 22:35:35 GMT -5
I've been leaving the polish in the barrel for several years, add a little each run, never let it dry out. Sometimes it sets for months, no problems at all.
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