khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Jan 8, 2023 2:21:05 GMT -5
Also whether it would be safe to use in a rubber barrel? I’ve read recently that even the wrong brand of soap can eventually break down the rubber resulting in the inexplicable gray-black water during polish/cleaning stages.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 8, 2023 6:42:19 GMT -5
I would worry about vinegar and oxide reaction as well. Aren't oxides a base? Looked it up: Aluminium oxide is amphoteric. It has reactions as both a base and an acid.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 8, 2023 6:50:55 GMT -5
I'm not a scientist...but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! LOL
I could totally be wrong, but I would think the risk of serious gas buildup in the barrel would be a major concern.
As far as the benefit of adding vinegar when it's in a "paste" form...well...there's a lot of references for using vinegar to "clean" rocks since it's an acid. I'm going to guess that's going to play a part in why gemsociety was suggesting it. I've been reading up on using Oxalic and Muriatic acids to clean rocks on the forum and have run across numerous references for vinegar as well.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 8, 2023 11:49:07 GMT -5
Yea, but cleaning rocks with acid is a pretty well-known application that doesn't involve oxide polishes. Makes me think they're talking about something else specific to vinegar and oxides. I'll probably just test this next time I reach for AO. I have a vibe so I'm not really worried about the lid popping from gas. I doubt vinegar would harm the barrel but I'll do a little spot test to see. I found one possible hint while searching the forums here, people saying vinegar breaks the surface tension of water similarly to detergent. If that is the point it seems odd that gemsociety wouldn't just suggest soap or some other surfactant tho, why vinegar. Very interesting!! You've got some good points! I'll be curious to know what gets found out about this! Great thread topic Hefty!!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 8, 2023 12:09:43 GMT -5
The only time I've heard of using vinegar with an oxide to polish was in faceting. It makes sense that it would work on other oxide polishing processes, too. The down side in the faceting process was that over time the vinegar would pit the metal on a faceting machine if it wasn't meticulously cleaned off after using it. In my book it's not worth risking pricey equipment for a few minutes quicker result.
I don't tumble and have no idea if the vinegar will react negatively with the barrel.
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Post by Starguy on Jan 8, 2023 12:14:45 GMT -5
Vinegar wouldn’t foam up like soap. Apparently vinegar has a lower surface tension. Lower surface tension would keep the oxide polish in better contact with the rock surfaces instead of floating. You can actually float metal (razor blade) on the surface tension of water.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,557
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Post by jamesp on Jan 8, 2023 18:02:24 GMT -5
Not sure about acids but tumbling concrete will crank out a strong base ph 12-13 slurry. Bad for skin and corrosive. The slurry was slick like soap.
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