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Post by glennz01 on Dec 9, 2014 4:14:11 GMT -5
Well I have filtered my oil threw a few filters and It stopped dripping after mixing a few times. My filter will no longer filter the oil out from this batch (and I have a pudding left)
I was wondering how you separate the rest of the oil out... I was thinking about separating the oil and junk out in water where the oil should come to the top where I could pore the oil out and let what little water remains evaporate out.
Has anyone else done this or has another way?
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Dec 9, 2014 4:26:13 GMT -5
I use brown paper bags as the filter. After a week or two of draining, I fold down the bag and place the next rocks to be cut on the bag. This acts as a press to force more oil out. Slow but cost effective.
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Post by DirtCleaner on Dec 9, 2014 5:52:38 GMT -5
The problem I have noticed with the paper bag filter (And I am doing that now.) is that the rock snot goes to the bottom and clogs it up. The better oil is at the top. If someone has a good way of oil skimming post it here.
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Post by DirtCleaner on Dec 9, 2014 5:54:55 GMT -5
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Post by glennz01 on Dec 9, 2014 13:50:08 GMT -5
I think i'll experiment with water separation... When I was cleaning my slabs I noticed that the oil that came to the top was clean but not enough to skim out.
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Post by Pat on Dec 9, 2014 15:06:44 GMT -5
A friend uses old nylon stockings. Works well.
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Post by Peruano on Dec 9, 2014 19:14:25 GMT -5
You are probably wasting your time, or more politely said, exercising your prerogative in attempting perfection in trying to get more oil out, beyond waiting a week or two and when appropriate drawing lines in the sludge that allow that top oil to wick to the side of the paper bag. The bottom is densely packed with rock sludge but the sides are still porous enough to filter the oil and allow it to admittedly slowly drain into the lower container. So throwing away a bit of oil with the sludge is a cost of doing business. I save oil: 1. by draining my slabs and stubs when they come from the saw on the table of a trim saw in which I use oil. Hence, I never have to add oil to that saw. 2. If the trim saw seems to be well stocked. I drip drain my slabs and stubs for a day or at least a few hours in the oil filter bucket. When the bag is not there I keep a vegetable strainer in the bottom of the top bucket and that is where I toss the slabs. Each furnishes only a few drops, but some days, I cut many dozens of slabs and use a lot of stubs, all soaked in oil when they come out of the saw. Once drained they go into Oil Dry (cat litter like absorbant), and or straight to soapy water.
My slab saw uses 3 gallons of mineral oil. I use it for two months or so, filter the used stuff, usually recover some from slabs, stubs as mentioned above and still get at least 2 gallons from the filtering process (maybe a bit more) so its a 66% or better process. and one I can afford (cheaper than my beer bill for that two month period.) Cheers. Tom Oh did I mention that I use the tops off that oily bag as fire starters for my wood stove that sits nearby to the saw.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 9, 2014 20:22:58 GMT -5
I use burlap sacks and paper bags,after a day or so,I just get rid of the muck and add the oil that I lost in the muck...
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 9, 2014 21:21:00 GMT -5
I've thought about water separation before. Never tried it. I think you might have to boil the water and oil mix to get the sludge to release the oil.
meanwhile the paper bag filter works pretty well
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 9, 2014 21:42:03 GMT -5
During the winter in colder areas you could add the water, wait for the oil to rise, then put it all outside. Once the water and rock dust was frozen you could pour the oil off the top. I strain in bags and have 3 strainer setups so I only put a couple gallons in a bag so it will filter out faster. Top Bucket: Bottom bucket: Stacked:
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Dec 9, 2014 21:53:58 GMT -5
I use the same setup as Lee, 'cept my buckets are plastic. I actually made this setup long before I got into Lapidary, and was using it as a gold ore classification step prior to sluicing. Used without the bags or bucket lids, H20 added to 2/3 full in bottom bucket, top bucket added, and dirt shoveled into top bucket that has 1/2" holes. Top bucket is then jerked by handle up and down and all around, rocks stay in top, classified ore to bottom in water. Toss rocks and start again.
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Post by glennz01 on Dec 10, 2014 5:08:55 GMT -5
I haden't thought about letting the water freeze... I can do that overnight some time... All the muck has been sitting for 2 weeks on the draining pan (i'm using coffey filter) I recovered quite a bit of oil out of it thus far... I'm not worried much about losing the coil but it would be nice to gain it back. The slurry has some tumble grade rock chunks in it that I would be getting out anyway so it would go in water regardless.
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