geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 278
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Post by geoff59 on Jan 26, 2023 8:35:12 GMT -5
Many people who tumble rocks live in northern areas, where snow, air temperatures below freezing, and more, can cause problems. So this thread is directed at those of us who live in these places (New Hampshire for me, 20+ inches of snow in the last week here), tricks, tips, methods. Please add yours!
For example, I use (year round actually) the hose spigot at the plumbing & heating system setup in my home. I have a 10’ length of hose, with a spray nozzle, and I dump my drums in to a colander which is over a 5 gallon bucket. Rinse the rocks with the hose. I don’t need a lot of spray, just enough to do the job. Once the colander has drained for a minute or so, after the water rinse, I then separate the bucket and carry it outside to my rock pile. Often I need another short rinse in the bucket, no problem there either.
My 2nd tip is, if you’re tumbling in a rotary tumbler outside in a shed or unheated garage, a box placed over the tumbler will keep the motor heat and prevent the contents of a drum from freezing. This was my method over a decade ago, before I decided that my tumblers were going to live inside the house along with the cats.
Please add your winter tips and methods, thank you!
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,279
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 26, 2023 9:31:45 GMT -5
Great thread! I'm NE Ohio and while our winters aren't as extreme as yours appear to be (2-3" snow yesterday, then late day rain and now slush) it is a definite challenge to do this hobby in the winter. All of my tumblers are in the basement, right under my bedroom so if anyone is going to be bothered it's just me. I do use my utility sink with a bucket and strainer to clean the rocks, then I dump the slurry outside in a rock bed. I can't wait for the warmer temps so I can begin cleaning everything outside again! Oftentimes I'll put the rocks in a large bowl with water, sit on my couch with the toothbrush and scrub while watching TV. Gives me good lighting to see through my loupe while doing so.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 26, 2023 9:47:03 GMT -5
This is actually a really great idea for a thread geoff59 ! I know things have been brought up in the past...and even though I live in the frigid north, I don't tumble enough to give any tips. I will say there's one other option for tumbling in the winter...and that's becoming a snowbird! LOL
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Jan 26, 2023 10:41:11 GMT -5
Many people who tumble rocks live in northern areas, where snow, air temperatures below freezing, and more, can cause problems. So this thread is directed at those of us who live in these places (New Hampshire for me, 20+ inches of snow in the last week here), tricks, tips, methods. Please add yours! For example, I use (year round actually) the hose spigot at the plumbing & heating system setup in my home. I have a 10’ length of hose, with a spray nozzle, and I dump my drums in to a colander which is over a 5 gallon bucket. Rinse the rocks with the hose. I don’t need a lot of spray, just enough to do the job. Once the colander has drained for a minute or so, after the water rinse, I then separate the bucket and carry it outside to my rock pile. Often I need another short rinse in the bucket, no problem there either. My 2nd tip is, if you’re tumbling in a rotary tumbler outside in a shed or unheated garage, a box placed over the tumbler will keep the motor heat and prevent the contents of a drum from freezing. This was my method over a decade ago, before I decided that my tumblers were going to live inside the house along with the cats. Please add your winter tips and methods, thank you! I am in NW Ohio, and My solution is simply to run my tumbler in the house. For draining I use a two bucket system, I drain the slurry into one bucket then move the strainer over to a second bucket and rinse with a gallon jug of water. I let the slurry dry to use as a thickener for stage 1 and I dump the bucket outside, If I used borax I dump it in the driveway, if i didnt use borax(which i only use as a burnish between stage 3 and polish), no borax in it goes in my garden bed. I have my tumbler one room over from my bedroom about 10 feet away and i cant hear it.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Jan 26, 2023 19:02:02 GMT -5
I run my tumbler in my garage coldest temps about 20°. I run only 1 tumbler in the winter, none this year. I use an old cooler set on it's side with old towel over the opening so motor gets a little cool air. Once I start a batch I don't stop till Spring, saves on clean up time. Just check every couple of days to make sure there are no blow ups. Oh I'm in Northeast Ind.
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wolverine
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 128
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Post by wolverine on Jan 26, 2023 19:10:09 GMT -5
I am in Michigan and all my tumblers are in the garage which is heated to about 55 degrees. I have a hot water hose hookup in the garage that I use to rinse the rocks off outside. I just run the hose out the back door to rinse off and bring it back into the garage so it doesn't freeze. With it being hot water my hands don't freeze.
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 27, 2023 6:31:07 GMT -5
I watched a video meminor put out and he used windshield washer fluid for the water when tumbling outside in Canada. I do the tumbling in the basement her in north central New York.
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Hefty
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2022
Posts: 387
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Post by Hefty on Jan 27, 2023 10:44:56 GMT -5
I tumble inside, have a spare bedroom that I soundproofed for other purposes a couple years ago.
For rinsing I have a 5 gallon bucket with colander and a nut milk bag. I place the bag in the colander and pour the rocks into the bag. I clean the barrels out and dump the dirty water over the rocks to give them a light rinsing. Then I pick up the bag with all the rocks and dunk the bag in a 2nd bucket of clean water for an intermediate rinse. Swish around a few times, then dunk the bag into a 3rd bucket of soapy water for a few swishes and they're clean.
I just keep lids on the buckets and let the sediment settle. When the bucket gets full I siphon the water off of the sediment and throw the water outside.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,094
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Post by stefan on Jan 29, 2023 10:57:59 GMT -5
I'm in WNY but I'm lucky in that we heat our basement with a pellet stove and my shop is in the basement. It is often warmer down there than the rest of the house. I rinse everything into a 5 gallon bucket that gets dumped outside in the gravel driveway. I do run my 14" saw out in the unheated garage, but it has to get pretty cold to freeze mineral oil lol.
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lapis60
having dreams about rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 65
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Post by lapis60 on Jan 29, 2023 15:05:53 GMT -5
I use the winter to buy more rough.
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 29, 2023 18:16:06 GMT -5
NE Ohio on Lake Erie I’m watching a movie with a bowl full of rocks and a toothbrush. I use a 5 gallon bucket as well to rinse, either in shower or utility sink, and dump outside. Can’t wait till it’s warm enough to use the outside spigot. Planning on making a hot and cold line for outside, to also wash the dogs. And hopefully! Runs cold line to our shed with a small 20 gallon heater in the shed to use in the winter. The shed is heated & cooled!! Eventually!!
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 278
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Post by geoff59 on Feb 1, 2023 7:06:35 GMT -5
I watched a video meminor put out and he used windshield washer fluid for the water when tumbling outside in Canada. I do the tumbling in the basement her in north central New York. This windshield washer fluid, it for sure shows determination!
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 278
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Post by geoff59 on Feb 4, 2023 7:17:19 GMT -5
There is a manned weather observatory up on top of Mt. Washington in northern New Hampshire, check out this screen shot from their website, taken last night. Someone up there should be tumbling rocks I think!
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