Post by jakesrocks on Feb 8, 2013 23:50:58 GMT -5
This old dog just learned a new trick from a friend. Just thought I'd pass it on.
This is mainly for the agate collector who doesn't want cut and polish them, but still wants to make the colors show.
First my friend gives his agates an acid bath for 24 to 48 hours. After neutralizing the acid and drying the rocks, he puts them in a bowl of mineral oil and puts them in the oven on its lowest setting. He lets them "cook" all day. Then he drains the oil off of them and dries them with a lint free cloth. Wow !! what a difference !! the colors really pop, without changing them or darkening the agate. I've seen the results myself, and they're really impressive.
As soon as I'm over the flu, (which my wife so kindly decided to share with me), I'm off to Wally World for 2 or 3 quarts of their cheapest baby oil, and I'll do a couple overnight in a slow cooker set on warm. If I remember, I'll take before and after pics to post.
This is mainly for the agate collector who doesn't want cut and polish them, but still wants to make the colors show.
First my friend gives his agates an acid bath for 24 to 48 hours. After neutralizing the acid and drying the rocks, he puts them in a bowl of mineral oil and puts them in the oven on its lowest setting. He lets them "cook" all day. Then he drains the oil off of them and dries them with a lint free cloth. Wow !! what a difference !! the colors really pop, without changing them or darkening the agate. I've seen the results myself, and they're really impressive.
As soon as I'm over the flu, (which my wife so kindly decided to share with me), I'm off to Wally World for 2 or 3 quarts of their cheapest baby oil, and I'll do a couple overnight in a slow cooker set on warm. If I remember, I'll take before and after pics to post.
