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Post by frane on Feb 19, 2012 7:23:11 GMT -5
OK, I finally glued a bunch of rocks with flat sides to wood blocks so I can get some good slabs without the rocks slipping in my saw. Used gorilla glue as suggested somewhere here but I can't remember what to use to remove the rock from the wood block. I cut it away on the bruneau but ended up with splinters of wood and a coating of glue on the stone...Does anyone know the secret? Fran
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 19, 2012 11:00:34 GMT -5
Fran, I think you just soak them in water overnight. At least that's what I seem to recall.
Chuck
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Post by roy on Feb 19, 2012 12:19:59 GMT -5
i have not figured that one out myself i tried to soaking them in water did not work tried freezer did not work i have a bucket full of those blocks
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Feb 19, 2012 12:39:48 GMT -5
hot water..as in boiling should soften up the glue enough to pry it off.
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Post by MrP on Feb 19, 2012 12:49:58 GMT -5
I cut all the extra glue off, right up to the rock and block. Then throw it back into the soapy water for a few days. After that I can usually cut between the rock and the wood with a utility knife. Sometimes it works good other times not. I think it is worth the trouble because with using the wood block the whole rock is cut......MrP
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Post by helens on Feb 19, 2012 14:23:31 GMT -5
For dopping opals, people use Elmers glue (I think wood glue is the same way), then paint nail polish over it the Elmers Glue joints (to prevent wetting). To remove, you use acetone (nail polish remover) on the outer layer, then the Elmer's glue soaks right off because it's water soluable. Nail polish may not be practical for a large rock, but something cheap that would soak off with acetone?
Not sure how practical that is for cutting a large rock, but maybe it's adaptable?
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 20, 2012 1:41:40 GMT -5
I use regular yellow wood glue, then soak it off in water.
Lee
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 18:29:23 GMT -5
I cut the wood block as close to the stone as possible without damaging the wood saw teeth. I then anchor the wood either in a clamp or just put it up against something so it won't move and use a wood chisel and a hammer to cut off the glue and what wood is left. There shouldn't be more than 1/8 inch of wood left on the stone so it will break away as you slide the chisel along the stone It comes off real easy that way. Sometimes I do not have to use the hammer and just push the chisel with my hand. The chisel has to be very sharp and I do not think that a putty knife would do it unless it is sharpened first. My friend Mike contacted the people that make Gorilla glue and they told him that there is no solvent that will cut through their glue.
I end up with a perfectly clean stone but I think that the stone left on the block has to be fairly thick (1/4 inch at least) or it will break. If there is a knob or piece of stone left on the slab from the end of the cut it should be ground off so the slab will lay flat on the table when you are using the chisel. I can not stress enough that the chisel has to be very sharp or it will put a lot of stress on the stone. DO NOT HOLD THE STONE IN YOUR HAND BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO SLICE YOUR HAND QUITE BAD.
Hope this helps. The next time I cut off a block I will take photos. Jim
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 20, 2012 18:32:44 GMT -5
I use elmers glue and soak it in a bucket of water to get the last slab off. Lately I have been just using slab grabbers as I don't have this problem with them, I just loosen up a nut and the last slab falls out. Gorilla glue is water proof so soaking it might make it softer but it won't make it release.
Tony
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Feb 20, 2012 19:10:45 GMT -5
Elmers and a bucket of water for me. I've had some take a week or more before the slab falls off. Scott
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Feb 20, 2012 19:19:28 GMT -5
Dont know bout gorilla glue, I use water glass aka sodium silicate. Once the rock is close to 2x4 I just put it into water. Itll pop off after awhile. Later Clyde
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 20, 2012 19:32:47 GMT -5
I do as Clyde does.
snuffy
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Post by frane on Feb 20, 2012 21:17:14 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! I think after these 20 I will switch to wood glue or something. It really does help to have that wood block! Fran
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Post by Woodyrock on Feb 23, 2012 1:15:40 GMT -5
Do not switch to hot glue..........I dug a hole about four feet deep in Utah, and found a block of wood with a very nice piece of Pigeon Blood hot glued to it. The wood had started to deteriorate, but the glue was still holding. After the first one, I found a dozen more. Someone years back had set up camp at the Pigeon blood site, and cut slabs, and did not even try to get the last piece off the wood blocks. Woody
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Feb 25, 2012 0:43:40 GMT -5
I use whatever wood glue is cheapest at the store and soak in water to release but have found that rainwater works a lot faster than tap water. Meteoritic water as they call it. The acids in the rain erode chalk and limestone where tapwater won`t and does a number on the glue too.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,750
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Post by Mark K on May 4, 2012 20:30:49 GMT -5
I was using wood glue but was having trouble with the rock coming off of the wood half way through. I asked at the club meeting if anyone knew how to beat this. I was told by an expert to use Liquid Nails Projects Adhesive. Take it for what it is worth as I have not done it yet. However, the guy who told me this is the guy who owns Lot o tumbler.
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Post by frane on May 5, 2012 6:00:10 GMT -5
I never would have thought of that one. Wonder how hard it is to get the slab off the block of wood after? Thanks for the information. Fran
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Peter
having dreams about rocks
Member since May 2009
Posts: 51
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Post by Peter on May 5, 2012 9:26:30 GMT -5
30, seconds in a microwave does it for me and better than glue is a glue gun, hardly ever fall of the sticks.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2012 9:51:43 GMT -5
I switched to elmers carpenter glue and it stuck extremely well. I soaked it in water but it would not come off. I then cut the wood close to the stone and soaked it again and the next morning the wood was floating. It had come off by itself. I then scrubbed the slab in soap and water to finish cleaning it up. That will be my choice from now on. Jim
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2012 13:54:15 GMT -5
To those that had problems with hot glue:
to remove hot glue, simply reheat the glue.
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