Reusing Old Slurry Mixture

[dtcmor]

Here is a new method for reusing some of that old slurry that comes from your tumbling barrels and it is practically mess free. When I have a barrel that is ready to go on to the next stage, I put a strainer over a small bucket(1 gallon) and pour the rocks out letting the slurry fall to catch in the bucket. I do this until the bucket has about 2-3 inches(depending on your barrel and load sizes) of sludge in the bottom. I then take the bucket and place it outside in the sun for a couple of days to let most of the water evaporate out, and the remaining grits form a hard cake-like chunk. I then take the chunk and break it into about 1" squares that can be added back(1 chunk per barrel, depending on load size) into future loads to help "kick start" the slurry process and get the new grit to working faster. This can be used for all stages from 60/90 all the way through polish. It also seems to stretch my new grits as I don't have to use as much for each load to do the job.
Give it a try.

[cina]

I have done this for all most a year but I only use the sluge for 60-90
It is a good tip and works well.
Steph

[adrian65]

Good idea, but why placing in the sun and waiting the water to evaporate? Pouring the slurry in a tight plastic bottle and keeping it as it is wouldn't work?

Adrian

[LCARS]

Yep, been doin that for a while now here too.

[Jack ( Yorkshire)]

Hi,
A question and tell me if Im wrong

I was told that the old stuf (goop) slowed down the grind?

Is that so ? from your personal experiance

I always recharge and add a thickner to motivate the grit,

Jack
Yorkshire UK

[dtcmor]

I never re-use the entire contents of the slurry in my next barrel. I recharge as normal with new grits, but I also drop in one small square of the old dry stuff. It acts as a thickener and helps the new grits to disperse better and get to working a little faster.

[cina]

oh ya i never only use the mess I just add some to help thicken it up a bit with new grit each time
Steph