jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2017 14:18:46 GMT -5
This one after two days in the vibe, AO 80 and Borax. Running with media smalls only. Moved to polish today. Slurry from AO 80 quite thick after 2 days. Video, after 2 days AO 80 w/Borax. Difficult to remove big rock after vibe shuts down as it is wedged in the small rocks.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 7, 2017 16:09:38 GMT -5
Another BIG pretty! So jamesp, are you putting one jumbo rock in each vibe batch now? I've got a batch of (smaller!) rocks in the vibe as I type! If a rock as pretty as that is thrown at you, hitting you in the head, Does it hurt less than an ugly rock?
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Post by tims on Mar 7, 2017 17:13:17 GMT -5
Killer shine, that's a neat piece.
I love the Viking videos, wish they'd put a volume knob on the tumbler itself. Of course it would go to 11.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 7, 2017 18:33:01 GMT -5
My Gy-roc UV10 is rattling away in the garage on high speed. Not too bad on low speed, but high? Man, those things are noisy!!! Yes, a volume knob would be appreciated!
ETA - This is what it is eating right now - Local stuff plus jamesp 's coral.
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Mar 7, 2017 18:43:24 GMT -5
I have a question. Why, and when do you add Borax?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2017 19:01:30 GMT -5
I have a question. Why, and when do you add Borax? Never used it in a rotary tumbler, only in a vibratory. Add right at the start. sprinkle 2 tablespoons of Borax and 2 tablespoons of abrasive on 14 pounds of drip dried wet rocks. It is probably a lubricant as it makes the rocks super slick. It may also be a cutting agent. And a protective layer considered a slurry.
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Mar 7, 2017 19:04:47 GMT -5
OK...I only have rotary tumblers, so maybe I don't need to add Borax?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2017 19:10:27 GMT -5
Another BIG pretty! So jamesp, are you putting one jumbo rock in each vibe batch now? I've got a batch of (smaller!) rocks in the vibe as I type! If a rock as pretty as that is thrown at you, hitting you in the head, Does it hurt less than an ugly rock? I want to get some thick rubber plate and make a divider or two. That way I can run 2 or 3 without them crashing and beating each other. They are done in 2.5 days so no big deal. Two that size will craze, no doubt. You DO NOT want to get hit on the noggin with that dense rock. Even dropped from 3 inches. Now some folks may have a real hard head. No cracks in that one, take a real hard head to go there.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2017 19:12:08 GMT -5
Killer shine, that's a neat piece. I love the Viking videos, wish they'd put a volume knob on the tumbler itself. Of course it would go to 11. Your gonna love that machine for your Colorado agates Tim. It eats up agate in a hurry.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2017 19:15:19 GMT -5
OK...I only have rotary tumblers, so maybe I don't need to add Borax? I don't suggest it. It may foam and cause gas. Leading to higher pressure and make your lid blow or leak. That's just me. And I do not like foam in my rotary. In any form.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2017 19:17:35 GMT -5
Aren't you the cat's meow. A vibe. Where'd that come from ? Those dang rock rich garage sales you guys have out there ? Purdy rocks Jean. I see 13 alien eggs. you may get a nasty angry alien Mom visit you. Well shaped stones, someone has patience.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 7, 2017 19:22:24 GMT -5
Nice! I like the huge, fancy tumbles. New business for you "Paperweights by James"....Mel
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2017 19:33:10 GMT -5
Nice! I like the huge, fancy tumbles. New business for you "Paperweights by James"....Mel Those Rio's can take the large size tumbling. Right down to the polish. Nature sure removed the trash off of those agates. But most of the wood is even harder. Takes the deepest polish.
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Post by captbob on Mar 7, 2017 19:40:04 GMT -5
OK...I only have rotary tumblers, so maybe I don't need to add Borax? Many of us rotary only types use it as a burnishing agent. That 20 Mule Team Borax stuff. I do. Some folks use Ivory soap chips and I've heard of folks using something called Deft (sp?) some other kinda soap I reckon. Burnishing is basically a wash stage. I do it after the final polish only, but have heard of others doing it between 1000 and polish. Note of caution. Borax will kill plant life. Certainly not good for it anyway. If you dump your slurry in your yard somewhere - who doesn't - be aware that it is bad for plants/grass and probably pets as well. I want to get some thick rubber plate and make a divider or two. That way I can run 2 or 3 without them crashing and beating each other. Just had a thought... could a pair of flip flops be made to work for what you want to do or is the Viking bigger than that? Nice! I like the huge, fancy tumbles. Big? pffft...
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ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
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Post by ubermenehune on Mar 7, 2017 19:41:45 GMT -5
OK...I only have rotary tumblers, so maybe I don't need to add Borax? I don't suggest it. It may foam and cause gas. Leading to higher pressure and make your lid blow or leak. That's just me. And I do not like foam in my rotary. In any form. I have slightly different viewpoints on borax usage. I don't use it anymore in a vibe or rotary. Not because it doesn't work, but because I prefer soap now. In a rotary, it made a noticeable difference as a post-polish burnishing agent, helping to remove residue. In a vibe, borax or soap make clean-outs easier, preventing some of the mud/slurry from adhering to the tumbles. And like Jim mentioned, it helps retard slurry viscosity which can slow or halt movement entirely.
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Post by HankRocks on Mar 7, 2017 20:11:59 GMT -5
That 1.5 lb rock is very nice. There is certainly a lot going on, jasper, moss, swirls, maybe a few tiny plumes. Love to see that when you're finished and zoom in to see the detail.
That river rock does make for great tumbles, as you say most of the soft spots have worn away over the ages. Just cut a couple of Big Bend Vein Agates and they do contain zones of softer, more porous material which need to be cut away for any good solid material.
H
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Post by spiceman on Mar 7, 2017 20:15:01 GMT -5
This one after two days in the vibe, AO 80 and Borax. Running with media smalls only. Moved to polish today. Slurry from AO 80 quite thick after 2 days. Video, after 2 days AO 80 w/Borax. Difficult to remove big rock after vibe shuts down as it is wedged in the small rocks. Where are your gloves, borax is toxic.
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Post by captbob on Mar 7, 2017 20:26:11 GMT -5
Where are your gloves, borax is toxic. LOL Life is toxic. Gotta die of sumtin'! If it is borax that takes me out I must be living a boring life in a bubble. I put borax on my sammiches... kills the glutens - whatever those are - my wife won't eat 'em, so they must be bad!
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Post by spiceman on Mar 7, 2017 20:34:24 GMT -5
Where are your gloves, borax is toxic. LOL Life is toxic. Gotta die of sumtin'! If it is borax that takes me out I must be living a boring life in a bubble. I put borax on my sammiches... kills the glutens - whatever those are - my wife won't eat 'em, so they must be bad! :D I like that. Sammiches, I will never forget that. If I am ever aloud to go to Florida I will stop in for one of those can Captn BoB sammiches. Hungry just thinking about that. :)oOo
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
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Post by napoleonrags on Mar 7, 2017 22:01:55 GMT -5
This one after two days in the vibe, AO 80 and Borax. Running with media smalls only. Moved to polish today. You're a lucky man,or a ninja, Jam Español. In this picture we clearly see a man attacking you with a swashbuckler. Prey tell how you persevered.
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