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Post by connrock on Dec 28, 2013 8:26:10 GMT -5
I throw my cut slabs in kitty litter and then wash them in dish soap/hot water and water. The slabs always have oil left on them. I've also tried Simple Green. What's a good cleaner/soap to get the oil off of the slabs? Thanks,,, connrock
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 28, 2013 9:33:38 GMT -5
That's what I do. How long do you leave them in the kitty litter Tom? I leave mine in for days and sometimes weeks. I'm sure you know this, but just to be sure, it has to be traditional clay kitty litter, not scoopable.
Chuck
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Misplaced Aussie
starting to shine!
Shoulda left it there
Member since February 2012
Posts: 40
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Post by Misplaced Aussie on Dec 28, 2013 10:23:56 GMT -5
Me, I just want to be able to afford some oil LOL
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jollyrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 409
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Post by jollyrockhound on Dec 28, 2013 12:31:29 GMT -5
I just do the dawn soapy water for a week. You can do what a bunch do and put it into a pan with water and boil it out that will work too, and remove it all sometimes. Get it too hot could crack the slab tho.
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Post by bobby1 on Dec 29, 2013 2:13:16 GMT -5
I do the kitty litter over night or up to 2 days. Make sure that you move the slab around a bit to get the best contact with the kitty litter, especially the underneath side. I don't need to wash them afterword's, either. I just wipe the kitty litter dust off them with a dry rag. Bob
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rykk
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 428
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Post by rykk on Dec 29, 2013 2:25:05 GMT -5
I've tried both the kitty litter/oil-dri and Dawn but still, when I try to take pix of slabs, the dang water beads off. One thing about the soaking in Dawn method - So the soap gets the oil off of the rock... but then, when you pull the rock out of the soapy water the oil which has separated and is floating ON TOP of the soapy water re-coats the slab on every side! Right?
IMO, the only way to truly get the oil off/out of the rock is to soak in acetone. Rick
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Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 29, 2013 8:01:07 GMT -5
I would try a liquid commercial degreaser. CLR has one available in Canada, but I'm sure there are many available.
Some of the more porous rocks (sandstone) suck the oil deep into the pores where is virtually impossible to remove. You have to grind that off when you make you cab.
Darryl.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2013 8:34:27 GMT -5
When you wet the slab to take the photo rub the water around hard with your fingers. On my slabs wiped with an old towel, soaked in Dawn water then scrubbed will hold the water for photographs when I do the finger trick. Jim
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Post by connrock on Dec 29, 2013 8:58:24 GMT -5
Thanks all for you replies. I guess I'm just too impatient!I want everything "now" and don't let the slabs stay in the kitty litter long enough. I remember going to the old stock races and seeing the clean-up crews sweeping the "speedy dry" into the track to get the oil out.Also,when we had a small oil spill in work we threw down the speedy dry and then "sort of" rubbed it into the floor forcing the speedy dry into the oil/floor until the floor was completely dry again. The kitty litter has some fairly big pieces in it and I don't think they really get to touch all of the flat surfaces on the slabs.I'm going to crush some up so it's very fine in hope it will speed the soaking process a little. Right now(in most cases)I do the kitty litter thing for about 1/2-1 hour.Wash the slab(s) and then wipe them off with a paper towel and acetone. I cut some plume agate a few days ago and had to soak the thin slabs in acetone to make sure all the 0il was out before using epoxy for the backs and quartz caps.I don't think any amount of time in kitty litter and washing in soap and water would get all the oil out of the plume agate as it's full of fairly deep fractures and pits. I guess the oil on the slabs is what it is and there's no short cuts to getting rid of it! Thanks again for the help,,, connrock
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rykk
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 428
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Post by rykk on Dec 31, 2013 19:44:15 GMT -5
wampidy - Yeah, I do something similar. I spray the rock with Windex and rub that around. Leaves bubbles, though. Rick
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,755
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Post by Mark K on Jan 1, 2014 0:11:59 GMT -5
I usually have a vibe running full of kitty litter while I cut. As each cut comes off, it gets dropped into the running vibe and gets a good scrub.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jan 1, 2014 0:48:42 GMT -5
I often run mine through the dishwasher after soaking in Dawn for a while. Lynn
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,560
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Post by jamesp on Jan 1, 2014 0:51:49 GMT -5
Put them in kitty litter or sand in a cook pot and cook them at the lowest setting on a hot plate. Best kept under 212f. That will expedite the removal. Dry the heck out of them.
When heat treating i go on up to 230-240 and never had moisture damage from boiling water. But 180-200 will really get rid of the oil. In the hot summer i put them out on a black rubber mat in the full sun. But the hot plate does the best job.
You can turn it on for about 2 hours and let it cool and give it 2 hours the next day. It may take 4-8 hours to cool so take advantage of that fact.
Oh, some cat litter has smell good and may not be clay based. So i prefer play sand.It's the warmth that does the job.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 1, 2014 0:57:15 GMT -5
Foxtail, I like your thinking. I have found the cheapest store brand generic kitty litter works best. After the kitty litter I use Castrol Royal Purple degreaser. For any rock intended to glue to something, like dopping, quartz caps or intarsia pieces I clean with alcohol before gluing.
Lee #2
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Post by 1dave on Jan 1, 2014 2:00:36 GMT -5
Soak porous stones in water BEFORE putting them in the saw. I like jamesp 's ideas!
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Post by sheltie on Jan 1, 2014 9:23:18 GMT -5
I would try a liquid commercial degreaser. CLR has one available in Canada, but I'm sure there are many available. Some of the more porous rocks (sandstone) suck the oil deep into the pores where is virtually impossible to remove. You have to grind that off when you make you cab. Darryl. I did this for awhile but quit when the color of the degreaser (purple in this case) leached into several of the slabs I'd cut and there was no way to remove it.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,560
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Post by jamesp on Jan 1, 2014 10:40:37 GMT -5
Soak porous stones in water BEFORE putting them in the saw. I like jamesp 's ideas! I got the hot plate idea from you Dave. I was pre cooking slabs in the heat treatment furnace but at 1300 watts it was expensive so i got the hot plate out and am happy with the results. I have to really dry the oil out of the slabs or it turns brown when heat treating at 600f. Removing the oil is a must for heat treating. And i found that the kerosene is easier to clean than the Mobil oil i used to use.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jan 1, 2014 12:40:55 GMT -5
If you are REALLY serious about removing oil, look for a used ultrasonic cleaner on E-Bay. They will take the oil right out of the pores of the stone in seconds, NOT hours or days ! The tubs on those things are made of Stainless Steel so any type of cleaning solution can be used including most acids in a diluted state. I also use mine to clean the coins I find metal detecting, Sno Bowl and water mix. This would also work for removing Iron stains from Mineral / Crystal specimens. New machines are pricey as all get out but if you aren't in a big hurry to have one, you can probably find one big enough to wash your Poodle in for under $50.00 .
Harley
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,755
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Post by Mark K on Jan 1, 2014 12:54:55 GMT -5
Soak porous stones in water BEFORE putting them in the saw. I like jamesp 's ideas! I frequently do this with the chryso. Someone told me that it was a good idea so I tried it.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 1, 2014 14:19:29 GMT -5
Soak porous stones in water BEFORE putting them in the saw. I like jamesp 's ideas! An old mechanics trick is to put a waterless hand cleaner on the hands and forearms before starting a particularly dirty job. The soap fills the pores and makes cleanup much easier. I also rub bar soap into drusy pockets and pits before polishing to prevent powdered polish from getting into hard to clean places. I wonder if water with a soap w/o additives would do the same for oil cutting problematic rocks?? What a time to be out of dead cats and lye Lee #2
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