|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 7, 2017 2:00:31 GMT -5
I have some Graveyard Point Plume Agate that has beautiful internal formations and a rugged and weathered crystalline edge. I would like to clean this of the mud and debris but do not want to harm the crystalline structure or any of the central sections of the slab. Is there some trick to doing this without ruining the slab? (...Or should I leave it as is and begin my sanding and polishing?) Note the sections that look like mud (A & B). This is a rough, and is shown dry. Another smaller slab of the same material has less "crud" to clean out, but the edge could stand some cleaning.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 7, 2017 7:13:05 GMT -5
Oooops... I got my "B" mixed up on the second pic. It is pointing at yet another mud-ball. Oh well...
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Sept 7, 2017 8:42:10 GMT -5
Not sure really what you're asking. That part should just be cut away IMHO. But, for cleaning, try a wire brush.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 7, 2017 13:56:33 GMT -5
Thanks Tela. I already tried soaking it in water for a few days and then hitting it with a small brass wire brush, followed by a soft bristle toothbrush. That was then followed-up with a water pic... No luck getting rid of the deposits... and a few of the mini-stalagmites broke off in the process... bummer...
Originally I had planned to cut 30mmX40mm pendant ovals, but thought the rugged crystalline edge gave it a more "complete" look - especially the smaller triangular slab. (The triangle shape is pretty much how I received it. I just ground off the sharp sides of both slabs with an 80 grit dremel diamond wheel. I have a few Plexiglas display stands that will be included with the finished slab(s) as gifts to the kids.)
Both slabs are small. I would be able to squeeze 2ea. 30mmX40mm cabs from the long slab, and only 1ea. from the triangular slab (although that one from the triangle slab would be an incredibly beautiful cab!). I bought the Graveyard Point Plume agate slabs from Stone Age Industries.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 9, 2017 20:46:28 GMT -5
Although I am going to continue to hand sand and polish the small triangular piece, I am going to follow your advice Tela and cut a few smaller cabs from the rectangular piece. There is a reddish vein in the upper left quadrant that I want to treat with Ultra Thin Starbond first. I will also treat the triangular piece with some Starbond - the lower "cloud" formation above the "mountain range" goes through the whole slab and looks like a weaker material. Thank you again for your advice.
|
|
|
Post by coloradocliff on Sept 9, 2017 21:05:01 GMT -5
Glenn, I cleaned up this lil agate with an over night soak in Iron Out on a homemade double boiler set up. One pan inside of another with the edge of larger pan on edge of stove burner. Would have used a crock pot but single guys don't have much use for them.. Until now maybe.. After the hot bath the next morning scrubbed it in hot soapy water with a small scrub brush. Cleaned up well. Works great on agates but will change colors to less colorful on those with lots of iron.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 10, 2017 10:04:26 GMT -5
Thank you Cliff! I will have to add this to my cabinet for future fun... but will not use it on this particular piece under full immersion. There are interesting flows on the surface of both slabs that I want to bring out when I cab them. I am afraid these will be dissolved. I might try selectively brushing some on the edge "stalagmites" and the A&B areas to see if the sediment loosens-up enough to be removed.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Sept 10, 2017 11:18:29 GMT -5
Thank you Cliff! I will have to add this to my cabinet for future fun... but will not use it on this particular piece under full immersion. There are interesting flows on the surface of both slabs that I want to bring out when I cab them. I am afraid these will be dissolved. I might try selectively brushing some on the edge "stalagmites" and the A&B areas to see if the sediment loosens-up enough to be removed. I'm a little confused, I think. Do you want to leave those parts out of the cabs? If so, why bother cleaning? If you want to leave them in, get some medium to thick super glue (goes by different brand names) drench the offending area. Let dry, repeat until the dried glue has rounded the surface. Then you should be able to cab it.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 10, 2017 20:17:51 GMT -5
Thank you Cliff! I will have to add this to my cabinet for future fun... but will not use it on this particular piece under full immersion. There are interesting flows on the surface of both slabs that I want to bring out when I cab them. I am afraid these will be dissolved. I might try selectively brushing some on the edge "stalagmites" and the A&B areas to see if the sediment loosens-up enough to be removed. I'm a little confused, I think. Do you want to leave those parts out of the cabs? If so, why bother cleaning? If you want to leave them in, get some medium to thick super glue (goes by different brand names) drench the offending area. Let dry, repeat until the dried glue has rounded the surface. Then you should be able to cab it. I decided to follow your advice Tela regarding the rectangular piece - I will make a few cabs instead of working to clean the top edge of mud and debris. I am presently allowing the super thin Starbond epoxy to soak the red area in the upper left quadrant. It looks interesting and I wanted to include that area into one of the cabs. I was worried that if I had followed Cliff's advice of soaking the whole cab in Iron Out, the red section would be lost. The same worries applied to the small triangular slab piece... I thought that a liberal application of IronOut would harm the cloudy area above the dark "mountain range" - a fissure extending across, and all the way through, the whole piece - it could split the slab in half (which is why I an using Starbond on that section too). The crystal section on top of the triangle still needs some cleaning (though not as bad as the rectangular piece) and I was contemplating using a small oil-painting brush to apply some Iron Out only to that section to see how it worked. I have not done that yet.
|
|