|
Post by mnhmslmom on Jan 18, 2004 21:16:01 GMT -5
Hi, I have instructions for tumbling from our local shop (rocksandthings.com) which say to use Ivory Snow to keep the grit moving. He sells it in the shop, but I didn't buy any. I would talk to him, but he is closed on Sundays and Mondays and I want to get this started.
My question is...I thought they didn't make this stuff anymore...or at least the soap flakes.....can I use the detergent? Or just skip using it? My husband bought some Ivory Snow, but it's detergent.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm totally enjoying this board. I've only done 3 tumbles so far, but love doing it!!
Thanks! Lynnea
|
|
|
Post by docone31 on Jan 18, 2004 21:49:28 GMT -5
I would be reluctant to use anything that has a carsofoam base. The use of cascade for a few hours makes some sense. I have heard of using Ivory bar soap cut into strips. I understand the theory behind this, however, I was advised to use cornmeal once. I ended up re-texturing the room, and ultimately the house to match the texturing. I have used borax laundry soap with some success. It doesn't seem to foam and doesn't film the stones. Experimentation is the heartstone of what we do. Always make major changes, then when something goes sideways we are not suprised. Small changes bring a sense of relaxation, hence the cornmeal. As a newbie, let me encourage you to experiment with the approach of, if it works, do not fix it. However, I have tried some of the techniques of the newbies, and met with some dramatic success. If you are going to put soap in a tumbler, or organics, or whatever, do it in the morning, on a day off, and track the expansion. The cornmeal is an exception however. It did not ferment untill three days later and then boom!!! I relaxed on the second day. If it hadn't been for the sound change I might not have checked that day. Watch out for jaspers. The gases produced by tumbling can induce leakage and lids popping off. It is good to check with regularity.
|
|
joseph3
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2004
Posts: 6
|
Post by joseph3 on Jan 25, 2004 1:19:50 GMT -5
Exploding Barrells brings to mind all sorts of yucky gasses that have come out of my rock tumblers... Like the bottom of a swamp smell that comes out of limestone... The dead smell that comes out of dinosaur bone... The smell of the seashore that comes from whale bones... Petrified wood sometimes explodes on me, or smells like rot... I redid the texturing in one room as well, when a batch of sugar water fermented and blew up. hehehe
|
|
Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by Banjocreek on Jan 25, 2004 2:07:30 GMT -5
I used a small portion of Ivory soap cut from a bar, and I think it just made everything all thick and foamy. The grit was caught up in the soap bubbles instead of the water. My question would be... why do you need an additive to "keep the grit moving", when the tumbler is revolving??? So far I am content to keep additional elements out of the tumbler, except for the cascade rinse. As time goes on I may be persuaded elsewise.
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Jan 25, 2004 8:46:28 GMT -5
When I bought my Lortone 45C, the grit that came with it said to add a tbs of "Tide". I have run with that, as well as varying amounts and am currently using nothing. Seems to work better without anything added. Sometimes add some baking soda, depending on the type of rock.
MichiganRocks
|
|
hurk
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 37
|
Post by hurk on Jan 26, 2004 13:03:57 GMT -5
hey all... I do use the bar of ivory soap cut it into shavings put it in a jar and add a little water and let it form into a thick liquid soap.... it is my understanding that the soap helps in the cascade effect going on inside the barrel... it aids in thickening the slurry and helps prevent the stones from slipping down the sides to the bottom ...I only use a tbl spoon for polish and 2tbl spoons for the burnishing stage for 24 hours... it does add that extra shine to your polished stones ...as an added note sure does leave you with a nice clean barrel after the burnishing....HURK
|
|
Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
|
Post by Pdwight on Feb 1, 2004 2:33:31 GMT -5
I just got my brand new QT66 in and actually read the little book that came with it, it says to not use any sort of washing powders or dish washing luquid or powders I have used cascade complete at the end of several batches to clean and burnish everything and it looks great who knows Dwight P
|
|
Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
|
Post by Trylobyte on Feb 1, 2004 14:51:14 GMT -5
I've used all the standard soaps, such as Ivory, Cascade, borax, etc.
The problem with dishwashing machine soaps is that they drive the pH up really hard, into the 12 range, and will tend to react with materials that don't like alkaline environments. I'm fairly certain that agates and jaspers (my standard loads) are immune from that effect, but other minerals probably don't like that. And, even more importantly, that high pH level could damage the natural rubbers used in the roller liners. The effect is also magnified by using REALLY hot water. I'd avoid cascade and their ilk.
I've seen reference to Borax as a cleaner, and it works pretty well, but it also drives pH up as high as 10-11, especially with very hot water. It also seems a little difficult to rinse it from the stones, and they maintain a slimey film unless you rinse them in very hot water. Cold water won't do it. If you didn't rinse well, you'll see a film on the dried rocks.
I use about 1/4 cup Ivory Snow flakes with just a touch (1tsp) of borax in my 12 lb Model B's, which seems to keep the foam down, and really rinse well in hot water.
I've used this recipe a couple dozen times, and it's the best I've come up with yet.
|
|
Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
|
Post by Trylobyte on Feb 1, 2004 14:56:52 GMT -5
BTW...
I don't add soap at all with grit. I use the soap prior to prepolish, prior to polish, and after polish. Yep, I think clean rock are happy rocks...
I use hot water with the soap mix, and I also "pre-heat" the rocks beforehand by running hot water into the bucket for a moment. Otherwise cold rocks will just suck the heat out of the water in about 5 seconds.
I run the rocks in this mix for about an hour or two, rarely overnight, simply because I'm too anxious to keep the line moving...
|
|
tigerlily46
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2003
Posts: 8
|
Post by tigerlily46 on Feb 3, 2004 17:24:27 GMT -5
re: ivory snow. i couldn't find it either. so before starting the pre-polish stage on a batch of Indian garnet, i chunked up some ivory bar soap and put it in the tumbler. i also filled the barrel within about 2 inches of the top with water, to help minimize the foaming.
i did notice the slimy effect someone else has mentioned, but after rinsing i dumped everything into a mason jar filled with vinegar. i let everything sit for a couple hours and then rinsed, and rinsed, and rinsed.
if vinegar is good enough to use on your hair, i guess it would be good enough to use on rocks. i just made sure that everything was EXTREMELY well rinsed, just in case vinegar isn't good for rubber barrels.
i hope this helps.
--tigerlily
|
|