MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Aug 24, 2004 3:50:33 GMT -5
Hello!;D I'm going to be receiving my new tumble in a day or two and I want to be ready to start tumbling! I have read in the postings that a lot of people clean their rocks with Borax, Ivory soap, cascade, and others. Should I wash the rocks in the tumbler with "Borax" for a couple of hours prior to the first tumbling step, and then repeat the same procedure of washing them after each one of the 4 steps? Any recomendations on this will be greatly appreciated
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 24, 2004 5:39:08 GMT -5
i just rinse under water to get the loose stuff off and throw them in the tumbler for first grind
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Aug 24, 2004 9:06:04 GMT -5
I usually wash my rocks in Ivory shavings for an hour or so before starting them in 60/90. I think this helps prevent gas buildup in the barrel. Washing them before you start tumbling this isn't a must, but washing them thoroughly between each stage IS an absolute must. You want to make sure you get them really clean between stages so that you don't have cross contamination, esp if you use the same barrel. I use Ivory shavings between each stage and run it for a few hours, then rinse until the water is clear. Then I will usually put them back Ivory for another hour or so, just to make sure they are really clean before starting them in the next stage.
llana
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Aug 24, 2004 21:22:07 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for your help! ;D I just got my tumbler today!!! so I 'm glad that I don't need to wash the rocks initially because I don't have any Ivory shavings. I will try to buy one tomorrow because I really don't want my rocks to get any gas! By the way, I just buy a bar of solid Ivory and shred- it ;D Here is the picture I took from my new tumbler, after today is not going to be looking so nice anymore Ha-ha-ha! img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/MHPhotos2004/NwT.jpg[/img]Thanks a lot again!
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 24, 2004 22:08:01 GMT -5
How exciting! Bet your'e pumped. Do you have your first rough picked out? Details Details cookie
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Post by Cher on Aug 24, 2004 23:03:18 GMT -5
And how do you shred your Ivory soap? And speaking of soap ... why Ivory? Any particular reason?
Cher
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Aug 24, 2004 23:53:41 GMT -5
Hello Cookie! Hello Cher! ;D ;D ;D If I have my first rough picked out? You Bet!!! I have it all ready, here are the links to see the pictures I will be tumbling. Each set will go in a different barrel: img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/MHPhotos2004/TMixHT.jpgimg.photobucket.com/albums/v392/MHPhotos2004/TMixQT.jpgIn a month I will post the final masterpieces! Ha-ha-ha! Let cross the fingers! Cher, your questions made me laugh badly, that was really funny!!!;D ;D ;D I was just asking myself the same things about the Ivory soap! You all have much more experience than me in these tumbling things, so I was very willing to follow the advice. Anyway I'm actually planning to buy the Ivory tomorrow to try it (no rock gas in my new tumbler) and some borax to have handy. Well thanks for your postings and the fun! Bye now
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Post by Cher on Aug 25, 2004 0:04:55 GMT -5
LOL not me ... if you see my Yeehawww post, you'll see that we got our tumblers on the same day. See you in a month with some shiners!! *smile* (I hope)
Cher
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Aug 25, 2004 0:06:20 GMT -5
Nice bunch of rocks Moonstone, I bet you will be watching your barrels many times over the next so many weeks. BTW, I don't wash my rocks as most come straight off the beach . But I have taken on board the soap inbetween wash !! Don't expect them all to be your masterpieces in just 4 weeks LOL But we are all still learning the ropes and you will get the hang of it too. Have a great time Jack
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Aug 25, 2004 0:24:17 GMT -5
Cher I just discovered your Yeehawww post by just browsing! Great surprise!!! ;D ;D ;D
Hi Jack ;D I'm even thinking of taking pictures of the process while I open the barrels! It is very ecxiting ;D
I'm crossing my fingers, I will really like for them to turn out very, very nice! Ha-ha-ha!
Thanks for your posting Jack ;D
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Aug 25, 2004 1:07:45 GMT -5
With the whole ivory shaving/borax thing, how do you know which one to use? or do they do the same thing? and how much of either would i need to put in a 3# barrel? -Jackson
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 25, 2004 7:16:50 GMT -5
i've never ordered here but james recommended them for polish and i happened to notice they sell ivory snow. www.rocksandthings.com/Catalog/Catalog_Abrasives_And_Polishes.htmnow since this product is not still on the market i don't know how he has access to it still unless he had a bunch before it went off the market and is repackaging it or if he's making it from ivory soap bars. wonder if you could put cut up soap bars in the food processor and make snow? kim
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Post by Cher on Aug 25, 2004 8:22:21 GMT -5
I think soap bars in the blender would really make a mess. I'm thinking I'll get myself a little grater (for grating cheese) and just keep it down on the workbench with a bar of ivory soap. If it's a small enough grater, the pieces would be about as close as your going to get to flakes and be easier to measure.
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Aug 25, 2004 8:27:51 GMT -5
Thanks rollingstone! Your posting and explanations are very useful to all of us!!! I will buy the ivory snow bar ;D Thanks again!!! Hi Kim! Thanks for the link! ;D Right now my plans are to buy several of the ivory snow bars and peel them with a potato peeler. After that I will place them in a labeled plastic container and and have them ready for work! I think that using a food processor could probably be a great idea specially for very large quantities of soap. It will be a great experiment to try. If you try it out please let us know how it turned out. Hi Jackson! We were very lucky to have really nice members helping us out on this!!! I Wish you well in your rock tumbling
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Aug 25, 2004 9:11:14 GMT -5
Don't know about putting rocks in a food processor to wash them. Sure would hate to be standin' in line at the grocery and read "Woman Killed by Rock Flying out of Food Processor" splashed across the front of the National Inquirer. ;D
Moon, I just use a small paring knife to shave off the Ivory bar and shave off what I need as I go. Tried a cheese grater and it was more trouble than it was worth.
llana
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Post by Cher on Aug 25, 2004 12:19:17 GMT -5
That's good to know, guess I'll stick with a knife too.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 25, 2004 12:45:17 GMT -5
lol llana - i said i wondered what the ivory soap bars would do in the food processor not the rocks! next trip to walmart i'll buy some ivory soap bars and cut 'em up and throw them in there and see what happens. i sure haven't been using it for cooking so might as well see if it can be used for this hobby ;D. in fact i'll try it tonight and let y'all know if its a success or disaster. kim
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Aug 25, 2004 12:51:02 GMT -5
Thanks everyone who responded, it helped clear things up for me. But I was wondering, instead of running the rocks with soap to help get the grit out, why not just wash them with water and a toothbrush? Or is that just too much trouble for what its worth? -Jackson
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Post by Cher on Aug 25, 2004 16:52:14 GMT -5
Hey Kim, remember if you get a sticky mess, pour some very very hot water in it and it will melt the soap. Don't turn in on, just let it sit until it softens up enough for you to use your sink spray or a hose to wash the rest out.
Now I have to try and find the other post, wasn't there something about putting soap in with the grit while it's tumbling to help prevent gas?
[glow=red,2,300]BURP !![/glow] LOL sorry, couldn't resist.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 25, 2004 20:00:14 GMT -5
Hi all, I'm coming out of polish with some flint and pet wood now and I scubbed them firrst, then put them in Borax. Tarylina (I miss her) once looked it up and said Borax wasn't a detergent per say, it had an effect like hydrogen perioxide, flushed the grit out better. Llana sometimes uses dishwasher soap (correct me if I'm wrong, Llana) and I've been meaning to try that, too.
cookie
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