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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 21:08:30 GMT -5
Let’s pretend that my imaginary friend, Slabby (not her real name, even fictional characters deserve privacy), was exhausted and chose to shut things down early. However, while resting in her pajamas Slabby recovered some energy. She then decided to change and head back to the garage to “sample” a rock similar to this one:  Let’s say she decided after the cut that if she is REALLY careful she can set it in a bucket of fullers earth, just make sure not to rub it on top. Slabby was super duper careful and hardly got any bits in the nooks and crannies! what if, say, completely hypothetically, my imaginary friend then dropped it upside down into the bucket when removing it? And then unfortunately also forgot that the toothbrush is covered in lint and chose to try to brush the bits out? I know that no one would ever find themselves in such an unbelievable situation, but how would you advise my entirely fictional friend on her entirely hypothetical dilemma? |
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Post by Pat on Jun 27, 2024 21:44:46 GMT -5
Looks like cake! Yum!
So, how did you and your wife fix it? Hypothetically, of course! 😁
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Post by pebblesky on Jun 27, 2024 22:26:12 GMT -5
Looks like cake! Yum! So, how did you and your wife fix it? Hypothetically, of course! 😁 Hypothetically cabby is the wife  |
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agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2020
Posts: 836
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Post by agatewhisperer on Jun 27, 2024 23:01:45 GMT -5
My dyslexia has me reading this as your friend Slappy. Took me a few tries but I got there 😂.
I wish I had some advice but haven't used fullers earth before or cut that rock, so I'm basically useless and just wanted to say Slappy. Does the absorbent not come out of the nooks and crannies? Or is it even worse where it gets pulled in to the rock and causes some damage? I'm typically using kitty litter and give it a good wash and scrub with some dish soap and warm water...
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Post by liveoak on Jun 28, 2024 6:19:50 GMT -5
No clue if it would work - but I thought I'd throw it out-ultrasonic cleaner.
I recently got one - so not a lot of experience yet.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 28, 2024 6:26:01 GMT -5
Ooops!
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Post by cabby on Jun 28, 2024 10:01:02 GMT -5
Slabby thinks that, hypothetically, the result might look something like this:  tiny bits of fullers earth (basically a different brand of oil-dri) would get stuck inside of the plethora of crevices on it, with the attempt to use a toothbrush pushing some bits in further as well as adding lint to it. slabby wishes she owned an ultrasonic cleaner! Unfortunately, she does not, so she is hoping her hypothetical rock can be cleaned in an easier way than dental picks and a cheaper way than buying an ultrasonic cleaner large enough… |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 28, 2024 10:07:31 GMT -5
I suppose, hypothetically, that if someone were to place it in full sun for a few days, it would dry the stuff up and shrink it (?).
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Post by pebblesky on Jun 28, 2024 11:19:40 GMT -5
Maybe the rough is destined to be cut into slabs? Aren't the most interesting features of this rough the colorful crazy bands?
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 28, 2024 13:34:27 GMT -5
The intent was to make a facing cut, proceed. I am not familiar with oil absorbent other than kitty litter. I used KL for garage floor oil. I use dishwasher soap to soak cut slabs.
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Post by cabby on Jun 28, 2024 14:07:16 GMT -5
Sorry for trying to mislead you guys! There is no Slabby and it’s not hypothetical! Should have been honest from the start…
Ideally I WOULD slab up this rock, someday… but am still so inexperienced that I am terrified to cut into anything even remotely valuable/desirable (just rocks from digging garden beds or the dozens of Brazilian agates tucked around everywhere). I don’t yet know enough about good cut angles, best slab size, what rocks are more delicate, what to never put in my oil saws, etc etc. I braved slicing off a tiny point that won’t be a problem for future slabs, but that’s it. Trying to get/keep rocks in the cleanest, most salable condition I can so they are ready for whatever future me decides to do with them!
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Post by pebblesky on Jun 28, 2024 14:24:14 GMT -5
Yeah what I meant was the white bumpy spongy area is going to be ignored anyway. To me this is a lapidary rough not a specimen. People who buy such roughs won't normally pay for how clean that white bumpy sponge area is.
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Post by cabby on Jun 28, 2024 14:30:10 GMT -5
Very good info to have! So as long as I get things clean enough to more or less see what it is and not gunk up oil too badly, that’s good enough if I ever choose to sell the rough?
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Post by pebblesky on Jun 28, 2024 14:40:37 GMT -5
Usually if you show a rough both dry and wet, that is good enough for experienced people to make a call. If the rough has a very neat face cut to highlight the band details, it helps more people to pull the trigger, but that is also a lot more work, and the extra money you get might or might not be worth your time.
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Post by Pat on Jun 28, 2024 14:42:37 GMT -5
I know very little about cutting rocks. I only have a 4” tile saw, and 4” thin blade trim saw.
However, saws up to 10” diameter can use water instead of oil. Saws blades bigger than 10” use oil.
To remove the oil from the slabs, plunk the slabs into a box of clean kitty litter. The litter will absorb the oil.
That’s about all I know…. Good luck!
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