tarylina
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 84
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Post by tarylina on May 21, 2004 22:23:02 GMT -5
I just took my first batch out of fine grit, and since I only have one rubber barrel and no where close to get another one (in Dallas, no less!); I decided I would simply clean the hell out of it.
I took a shower cushie (or whatever they're called) a couple of drops of dish detergent, and a handful of coins and put them in the barrel to run until tomorrow. Is this a great idea, or a really stupid one? I really don't want to drive across town for a new barrel.
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 21, 2004 22:48:21 GMT -5
I just really want to know the results of that. A shower cushie and coins are , well, an interesting approach. Can't be any less plausable than my clean with q-tip, dry, clean with q-tip (over and over again) approach. Let us know ;D
cookie
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on May 22, 2004 0:43:14 GMT -5
The object is to get the barrel squeeky clean. If the cushie and coins works, go for it.
While I have a barrel for each grit, after each stage, I run the rocks with water,some shavings of ivory soa, and the pellets (in the later stages). It is amazing how grey the soapy water gets after a couple of hours of tumbling. The barrel also looks really clean. Not that I really care because I use a different barrel for each stage.
Cal
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tarylina
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 84
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Post by tarylina on May 22, 2004 1:07:02 GMT -5
Hey, Cal, what is ivory soa, how do I go about obtaining some, and what kind of pellets do you use? i've also heard that sawdust is good. Has anyone else tried this?
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on May 22, 2004 12:22:44 GMT -5
Skip the coins etc. and just run your load of rock around for an hour or three, just rock and water, maybe a little soap, then clean it all again and yer ready.
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Post by sandsman1 on May 22, 2004 12:42:22 GMT -5
hi all ---sirrox sounds right to me i been usein my QT12 for 60/90 now that i have a model b for that job i took enuff capmay point rocks (there allmost smooth from the ocean) and filled the barrel 3/4 full put some water and borax in and i fig in a few days they will grind down any 60/90 left in the barrel now i can use it for 500 i never tried it befor but i think it will work its just a matter of gettin any 60/90 that may have stuck in the rubber to grind away i fig after about 5 or 6 days it should be all gone and be like a new barrel inside seeya----john
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 22, 2004 21:25:55 GMT -5
SirRox If I'm coarse and whant to clean my barrel, do I use the stones I just tumbled in soap and water or different ones? I'm in polish now for 6 days and I'm still not happy. After a day or 2 can I put them in Borax and water for a couple of hours to clean them and the barrel? I checked them just now and realised I had some corundum in there and pulled it out. The slurry was a little runny so I recharged, added some Borax and some corn syrup (worth a try) and put them back in. P.S. Cleaning and scrubbing your stones in Borax eats your hands up. What is that stuff? Not sure what "laundry detergant booster" means cookie
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on May 23, 2004 11:02:52 GMT -5
I run 60/90, 120/220, 600 & 1000 all in the same barrel. After the completion of each stage I rinse the rocks and pellets until the water runs clear. I then put the rocks and pellets back into the barrel they just came out of with water and borax. I run for anywhere between 2 hours and 24 hours (nothing scientific here just whenever I have time to get back to it). I then rinse again. I scim the pellets off and switch to the pellets for the new grit stage. I put rocks and pellets back into the barrel with the new grit stage and run. My barrels come out very clean after the wash stage and I've never had any problem with cross contamination. I do have a seperate barrel for polish only. I do clean the inside rubber lid edge and the place where it sits in the barrel with a toothbrush after I dump the grit and before I wash to make sure that I get a good seal. I usually don't need to do this after the wash stage. I've had good luck doing it this way and the borax stage saves alot of time with cleaning of both barrel and stones.
Otter
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Post by creativeminded on May 23, 2004 11:03:06 GMT -5
Hey Tartlina, since I didn't see an answer to your question Ivory Soa is suppose to be Ivory Soap and you can get it at most stores. Tami
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on May 23, 2004 11:10:30 GMT -5
Okay, I'm a pretty smart chick, but what the heck is a shower cushie? I have different barrels for my rotary tumblers, but only two bowls for the vibe tumbler. I use one for coarse and one for polish. These bowls are plastic. How can I clean them so that one can be used for coarse/medium grit and the other for pre-polish/polish? I have had good luck doing the slabs I have in coarse in the vibe, so I want to run them through the entire 4 stages, but only have two barrels. llana
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Post by creativeminded on May 23, 2004 11:26:55 GMT -5
I call them scrunchies and they are those mesh things that you use in the shower or bathtub with shower gel. Tami
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on May 23, 2004 12:00:07 GMT -5
Ahh, got it! Thanks!
llana
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Post by Tarylina on May 23, 2004 13:04:41 GMT -5
Well, I'm still not sure if it was the greatest idea ever, but it worked really, really well.
I'm moving on to pre-polish today.
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 23, 2004 17:18:15 GMT -5
Now I finally have a use for those cushies that have been hanging on the shower head that I don't actualy use (they scratch!).
cookie
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tarylina
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 84
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Post by tarylina on May 23, 2004 18:23:25 GMT -5
Just use the silver coins, not pennies. I had a couple pennies in there and they made the water a little funky. An added benefit was shiny coins (I just love sparkly things!) If you do try it, use powdered detergent, not liquid like I did. It's too bubbly.
Let me know.
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 23, 2004 21:14:43 GMT -5
OK, I took my batch out of polish tonight. After cleaning the stones and bowl thuroughly (sic) I put the stones back in the bowl with Borax and water for about an hour (too impatient I guess). I took them out and scrubbed them again. I should have left them about 2 more days in the cirium-borax-corn syrup mix, they had improved but I couln't tell till they were dry. They are not aweful but cacked too much and not wet shiney. I cheated and used turtle wax on them. The citrine, rutilated quartz and moon stone (I think it is) are very nice. The obsidian bites. The backyard quartz is OK, the white marble, well, they are my hand picked babies so I love the look and smooth feel, but I don't think anyone would be impressed. The bowl is very clean. I have some coarse a rock shop ordered for me waiting to be picked up on my day off and I'll start up again. I don't have an e-mail right now since my computer went down, I can't access it. I'm gonna get another account with MSN and then I'll see about posting some pics. With everyones help of course. I don't know where to begin cookie
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