Borax/Burnishing. Anyone having troube finding it?

[lastl98]

I've looked high~low for this stuff.

I have heard it mentioned a lot on here especially with the rotary tumblers.

Some use it between each step & others use it for the final "burnishing/polish" stage.

Where the heck are you guys buying it from? I'm about ready to just buy it online?

Thanks for your input & help guys/gals.

Last

[lbowman1]

Try Wal-mart or just about any grocery store. Look around near the laundry detergent.

Lori

[lastl98]

Thanks Lori. I tired the Walmart closest to us & no go.

I'll look around the laundry isle at the other one further away.

This place is AWESOME for help!

Thank you so much!

Last

[snowdog]

found mine at a regular " K-mart" -- alot of the groceries don't carry it around here tho -------

[NM Stone Supply]

Wal Mart should have it. I got mine there. Ask the manager in the store. The workers never seem to have the right answer. They just like to say no we don't carry that.
Jason

[lastl98]

nmonyx said:

. The workers never seem to have the right answer. They just like to say no we don't carry that.
Jason

LOL! You got that right!

I will check the suggestions above from you guys/gals tomorrow.

Totally forgot about checking out KMart for it.

Last

[deb193]

Local supermarkets had it. One Boraxo, the other had 20 Mule Borax.

[lastl98]

deb193 said:

Local supermarkets had it. One Boraxo, the other had 20 Mule Borax.

Boraxo!?!

Is there a difference?

This is getting confusing again! lol

Last

[akansan]

Mine came from Wal-Mart, laundry detergent section (although on the other side of the aisle from the laundry detergent). It's a large box, green and cream, but I walked past it about five times before I actually spotted it. It should be with the other laundry "aids".

[lbowman1]

deb193 said:

Local supermarkets had it. One Boraxo, the other had 20 Mule Borax.

Those are just brand names. I think they're a couple others too but I can't remember what they are. Just be sure it says it's borax somewhere on the box. Borax has a tendency to "make water slicker" and a little goes a long long long way. I bought my box for washing clothes about 2 years ago and I've still got about a quarter of a box left. If I use too much the clothes actually feel slick. A tumbler just takes a pinch.

[lastl98]

lbowman1 said:

deb193 said:

Local supermarkets had it. One Boraxo, the other had 20 Mule Borax.

.A tumbler just takes a pinch.

Now that's interesting. I've heard anywhere from a tablespoon or two. Only differences I've also heard are that some use it between each grit change to others that only use in in the 'Final' burnishing stage.

I thought that the Borax was actually cleaning the 'old' grit out of some of the harder to reach parts of the rocks in order to move on up to the next 'finer' grit.

Anyone who uses Borax regularly care to comment?

Thanks as always,

Last

[181lizard]

So here's my 2 cents Last!

First bag of "burnishing" stuff I bought, was purchased from a local rock shop. Looked Pale yellow (or buttery) and came in a plain small brown bag. (labeled burnishing soap) I would use this in each stage of tumbles...maybe 1/2 tsp. Before I sent that batch onto the next stage, I rinse everything well, then add a heaping tablespoon with the water & let her go for about 12 hours.

When that ran out, I bought a box of "20 mule team" from Albertsons. I used this in the same way, but noticed the water never got the little fine bubbles with the "20" as with the "burnishing soap".

When the "20" runs out, I'm gonna try the first one again to compare.

[lbowman1]

I may be wrong on that. What I use a pinch for is prepping the rock before I add grit instead of using Dreft which I think is too expensive. The borax seems to work great for that. Better than using Dawn. For burnishing I'm not sure. I've got burnishing powder from the Rockshed for that. I can't go look on the bag right now but if I remember right a little of that goes a long way too.

Lori

[stefan]

www.dialcorp.com/index.cfm?page_id=55
everything you wanted to know about Borax LMAO!

[lbowman1]

hahaha! Did you send them an email telling them how to use borax in a rock tumbler? ;D

Lori

[lastl98]

I do have just one more question on the use of Borax.

During the 'final' or 'burnishing' stage do you charge the tumbler or vibe with just a Borax/water mix?

Or do you add any other soaps?

I've heard/read that Dove soap flakes are popular too.

[lsmike]

I got mine at Cub Foods.I believe it is too soft to actually burnish but it does make a difference by cleaning out any grit which has penetrated.After the polish stage I add enough water[maybe a quartercup] and Borax to make a creamy slurry in my 10# vibe and run for a few hours or until I remember to turn it off

[akansan]

Last - I just caught the pinch mention that you picked up on. Lori uses a vibe (right?), which takes less grit to run. Less grit & less borax.

In the final stage, I run the same as my wash stages - about 2Tbsp & water. (In my grit stages I only use about 1tsp.) I just run it longer than my in-between washes. There is a noticeable difference after about a 2 day burnish. There's even a bit of difference between the 2 day & the 7-day burnish.

The first soap I used wash Ivory flakes. I much prefer the Borax - less suds.

[Condor]

There are three different soaps I use of and on. All of them work very well. Borax of course, but I also have Dreft, and sometimes use Ivory Flakes. Any one of these will do the job exceptionally well. Don't have a set amount I add. Usually a tablespoon for the 10lb vibe or teaspoon for the 4 pounder. Sometimes I go more, sometimes less.

Condor

[adrian65]

So, from what you say, should I understand that the final burnish not only washes the stones, but also polishes them?

Adrian