Autumn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 47
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Post by Autumn on Jul 8, 2014 18:36:53 GMT -5
I live in the foothills of North Caroalina's South Mountain. There's a bunch of good rocks in this area (and my yard)...but the red clay/soil mix is a pain to get out! Any tips? I've found a nice quartz, but I can't get the clay out. I don't have a tumbler. My Harbor Freight dremel is 16000 RPM, and while the brass and stainless wheels get the surface stuff off, they can't touch the nooks and crannies.
Baking soda, Dawn and vinegar soaks (separately) have only taken off the surface clay. The same with scrubbing.
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2014 18:48:09 GMT -5
If you don't own a pressure washer take them to the car wash .i use a plastic crate type thingy that delivery men use to deliver bread.it has 1"x1" square holes and keeps the rocks somewhat contained during the washing process. Dave
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Post by kap on Jul 8, 2014 18:59:49 GMT -5
Go to Walmart in the plumbing section get some Super Iron Out Mix 1 1/2 cups to a gallon of water OUTSIDE in a dark plastic container with a lid put it OUTSIDE in the Sun. Wash all the dirt of the rocks and put them in. Check them in a couple of days and they should be looking good if still stained put them back for a few more days. Always wear rubber gloves and when you get them out have a bucket of clean water there and put them over in it. A good rule is if you soak them in SIO for 3 days soak them in the water for the same time. This is what we use to use to clean the Iron stain off of Crystals it works great.
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roundrock
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Holding on to the Stone of Destiny
Member since June 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by roundrock on Jul 8, 2014 19:22:56 GMT -5
Another option, similar to kap's suggestion, is buy some crystalized oxalic acid (usually available at a drugstore or paint store). Add 1 pound of crystals to 3 gallons of water then cover rocks. Set outside in sun, or if you have a side burner on a gas grill, heat it up for about an hour. Once water has cooled, rinse with soapy water and then again with just water. Wear rubber gloves. This works great on the quartz crystals I find.
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Autumn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 47
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Post by Autumn on Jul 8, 2014 19:50:04 GMT -5
I've read a couple different sites where oxalic acid was mentioned. I was hoping to avoid any sort of chemical. Arrowheadave, I wire wrap jewelry and pick small rocks. The car wash is a good idea--but myrocks are far too small.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 8, 2014 21:09:38 GMT -5
Autumn, old used dental pics are invaluable tools for cleaning rocks. If you're cleaning hard clay or other softer materials, soak your rocks overnight in water or a strong bleach water mix. Then clean as much loose material as possible with dental pics. You may have to do it a couple of times. And old used tooth brushes are your friend here too.
The car wash thing works great. If your rocks are too small to be contained in a milk crate, you could line the inside of the crate with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. Anything larger than 1/4" will stay in the crate.
If you have a Dremel, pick up some end brushes in various sizes and degree of stiffness. They work great in hollows and tight spots.
Often your family dentist will have a box of worn out pics that they'll give away. Or sets of dental pics can be found on ebay at a reasonable price.
Sewing needles held in a pin vice can be used for cleaning cracks and very tight spaces.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 9, 2014 9:28:44 GMT -5
I guess I got lucky,our water system is pretty high pressured,so my rocks come out very clean....If they are rusty,than the "Iron out" comes out to play...
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Post by snowmom on Jul 9, 2014 12:44:08 GMT -5
A friend snaps them into the silverware container in her dishwasher and lets it rip... after she has cleaned everything she can with a brush and detergent. I've never tried that.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 9, 2014 13:06:26 GMT -5
I'd be very careful with the dishwasher. Grit and mud may clog your drain system. Then you'll be in for a hefty plumbers bill.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jul 9, 2014 16:09:04 GMT -5
Barkeeper's Friend contains oxalic acid and works fairly well. I have had zero success asking for Oxalic acid by name- folks just kinda give ya a blank stare. I think it's one of those formerly common inexpensive chemicals that got absorbed into some corporations product, so that they can charge more for it. Even Borax, the younger generation has no clue or have never heard of it. Anyone remember buying calcium carbide at the hardware? What fun stuff that was...
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Autumn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 47
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Post by Autumn on Jul 9, 2014 19:45:32 GMT -5
Unclesoska, I know what Borax is. But not calcium carbide... It sounds familiar. Here are some photos of what I mean. It's far easier to see than to explain.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jul 9, 2014 20:36:25 GMT -5
Calcium Carbide when combined with water, produces acetylene gas that can be explosive if handled improperly. It's one of those "Don't try this at home" kinda things.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 9, 2014 20:55:39 GMT -5
LOL, I have a pint container of Calcium Carbide and an old Carbide miners lamp in my basement. Here are some sources for Oxalic Acid. I have 5 lbs of it in a big plastic bottle. www.searchdome.com/bin/buy-it-now/search?q=oxalic+acidAlso check your local lumber yard for wood bleach (Oxalic acid), or hardware store for cement cleaner (Mostly oxalic acid).
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,018
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Post by gemfeller on Jul 9, 2014 21:17:50 GMT -5
LOL, I have a pint container of Calcium Carbide and an old Carbide miners lamp in my basement. Shades of my wayward youth! Ever make carbide cannons? It's a miracle I made it to adulthood.
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Post by kap on Jul 9, 2014 21:26:49 GMT -5
"I have had zero success asking for Oxalic acid by name"
You can ask for Wood Bleach at Hardware stores it contains the Oxalic Acid
But I like the Super Iron Out better!
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 9, 2014 21:27:12 GMT -5
LOL. We used to take 2 cans, one just large enough to fit over the other. Poke a tiny hole in the bottom of the smaller can. Put a few grains of carbide in the can and spit on it. Slip the larger can on, hold a finger over the hole for a few seconds and then hold a match to the hole. Louder than those old Big Bang cannons that they used to sell. (The Bangsite for the Big Bang cannons was nothing but carbide).
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,018
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Post by gemfeller on Jul 9, 2014 22:31:20 GMT -5
Jul 9, 2014 19:27:12 GMT -7 jakesrocks said: LOL. We used to take 2 cans, one just large enough to fit over the other. Poke a tiny hole in the bottom of the smaller can. Put a few grains of carbide in the can and spit on it. Slip the larger can on, hold a finger over the hole for a few seconds and then hold a match to the hole. Louder than those old Big Bang cannons that they used to sell. (The Bangsite for the Big Bang cannons was nothing but carbide).
We did something similar with firecrackers. Poured about an inch of water into the larger can and made the hole in the small can just large enough for the firecracker to fit. Then we put the small can inside the larger one open end down, and lit the fuse. It didn't make a big explosion but sent the small can very high into the air.
We made cannons out of a piece of pipe with a cap on one end. We drilled a small hole about an inch away from the pipe cap. We put a few lumps of carbide into the pipe, followed by a projectile ranging from a roundish rock to a ball bearing, followed by a little water. When wisps of white smoke started coming out of the little hole we lit it. Holy cow! Not only did it make a big bang but sent the projectile flying with enormous force. I can't remember our aiming system but the thing was fairly accurate and made satisfyingly large holes in wood planks. We were lucky we weren't done in by flying shrapnel from a burst pipe. Do not do this at home!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jul 10, 2014 0:00:51 GMT -5
(rofl)We made Flame throwers with the Calcium Carbide and gardensprayers- no need to pump for pressure, those babies would blast a flame 10-15 feet!WHOOHOO! We also used baby food jars w/ water, drop a piece of carbide in, quickly screw on the lid and then throw that sucker as high as you could. BOOM! Glass everywhere! Hard to believe I've lasted THIS long!LMAO! Again Folks! DO NOT ATTEMPT! (rofl)P.S. Sorry to have gotten so far off topic!
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Autumn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 47
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Post by Autumn on Jul 10, 2014 19:29:30 GMT -5
I guess it's a good thing I work at a hardware store! Can anyone see the pictures? I'm having computer/internet issues, so I can never be sure my browser is displaying things correctly. It likes to "hide" pictures on websites sometimes... Now for my next question. What are these rotary bits for? I know the general uses for them (sanding, polishing, grinding/engraving, drilling) but now how they relate to stones and wire. If I nick a wire while wrapping, which one do I use to smooth the nick and then polish it? Album: s1380.photobucket.com/user/autumn_cc/library/Tools
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2014 19:43:38 GMT -5
a power washer is your friend. Not the most powerful and robust but it'll get the job done. @ Harbor Freight $80 if you can find the 20% off coupon in almost every national magazine.
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