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Post by Cher on Aug 25, 2004 17:10:53 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]WOW[/glow] Well, I couldn't stand it, had to go take a look ... I needed to make sure it wasn't "bulging" you know. So as long as I was down there I figured I might as well open it and see if it needed any burping. Holy moly rocky, the dang thing looked like a chocolate shake ready to slurp. It was bubbles right up to the top so I added some of the muley borax that I got today.
Is that common to be all bubbly like that?
[glow=red,2,300]Cher[/glow]
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 25, 2004 18:28:37 GMT -5
yeppers, you gotta burp yer rock......did you read the CE stuff i sent?
borax helps, those mules work hard.
but yeh, pancake batter is what you want as far as consistency for good slurry. i get a real foamy batch now and then, i think it's the type of rock and maybe the combos you are tumbling......i'm not sure.
also the color varies with rock type. the tiger eye i am doing at the moment i just recharged the 60/90 yesterday and it is a perfect silver color with big bubbles. i started another "leftover" batch with some agates and some other jasper that i cut and some budstone and it is brown and foaming like a rabid dog....go figure.
i check my barrels every other day if not everyday....as far as i'm concerned, it doesn't do any harm....just uses a few papertowels. i use an old toothbruch to clean the lip of the barrel too......
i love checking the progress, KD
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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 18:42:54 GMT -5
Yeah cher, the first time I checked mine a few days ago it looked just that, only grey instead of brown. -Jackson
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 25, 2004 19:41:41 GMT -5
Don't be sad, Jackson, it's supposed to look like that. Just means it working. I check my vibe twice a day. Like KD said, doesn't hurt anything and you get to see the progress. Enjoy!
cookie
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Post by Cher on Aug 25, 2004 21:26:35 GMT -5
I am soooo glad I asked about this ... just finding out about using a toothbrush to clean the lit is perfect!! I must have went through four paper towels trying to clean it off. Thanks so much for that great idea!!
[glow=red,2,300]Cher[/glow]
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 25, 2004 21:58:48 GMT -5
i use q-tips to clean the lids. my barrels always seemed to make a foam when they were new even if i washed them before i used them.
jackson when i tumble quartz my slurry is silvery grey. are you running quartz?
kim
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Post by docone31 on Aug 25, 2004 23:30:34 GMT -5
Q-Tips? I thought Q-Tips were the fuddy duddys that live down here in the winter. We call em Q-Tips because all you can see is a car with no driver and a few tufts of white hair just over the headrest. That is when they are not driving the wrong way on a one way street yelling at everyone in their way, or pushing their way to the front of the line at IHop. Borax is good for some reducing the foam. Do not use cornmeal. It is not pretty and the odor is profound. Do not use baking soda! Jaspers will produce more gas than most others. I never had a boom with Jasper, however I had a very unpleasant room re-texture with cornmeal. Chocolate colour means it is indeed working.
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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 23:49:32 GMT -5
OH Cher ! Good thing that you were already prepared for the "G" incident! I will be opening my barrels and checking my rocks tomorrow. I bought today the ivory, borax, toothbrush etc. so I'm ready as well for any surprises! ;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 26, 2004 0:22:23 GMT -5
Kim, I'm not sure exactly what is in it, it is rocks I found at work in the gravel. I think they are mostly agates but there very well could be some quartz in there. -Jackson
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Aug 26, 2004 12:10:50 GMT -5
Hello Cher, Sounds like your tumbler is doing what it is supposed to do. I check mine every other day. I had to reduce the amount of water I had in mine last night and it really went to rolling them stones If everything goes well, I'll be in 220 on Friday. Enjoy, John
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Aug 27, 2004 2:24:24 GMT -5
I've always cleaned the lip of the barrel with a toothbrush (rinse well). But also don't forget the edge of the lid. Use the toothbrush on that as well. I do this every time and (knock on wood) haven't had a leak yet.
Otter
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