rockroller
spending too much on rocks
Be excellent to each other.
Member since October 2013
Posts: 359
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Post by rockroller on Jul 3, 2015 0:09:54 GMT -5
Dear Diary,
Today I learned that if you want to make a large mess you should add a spoon of baking soda to a shallow bowl with vinegar and your specimen in it. Now that was fun! Except for the cleaning up part. And the conversation that went something like, "What is going on in there dear!?" "Oh nothing honey, I'm just making Science..."
~Roland
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 1:22:32 GMT -5
Dear Diary, Today I learned that if you want to make a large mess you should add a spoon of baking soda to a shallow bowl with vinegar and your specimen in it. Now that was fun! Except for the cleaning up part. And the conversation that went something like, "What is going on in there dear!?" "Oh nothing honey, I'm just making Science..." ~Roland If you put some red food coloring in it first you can make a volcano that won't burn you but is way harder to clean up. Think children. lol Jim
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Post by stephan on Jul 3, 2015 18:10:46 GMT -5
rockroller Roland I have an ultrasonic cleaner if the dirt is in a smaller specimen Careful with that. If you have hidden fractures, you can destroy the rock. And many rocks, like opal, should never be ultrasonically cleaned. With those limitations in mind, they can do a great job.
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Post by Pat on Jul 4, 2015 12:58:52 GMT -5
Pat, you use white vinegar to make the Jalapeno Jelly! (Right, Mike?)
I have soaked rocks in vinegar for years. It is one thing I've found that will take caliche off, no muss no fuss. It may take a week or more, but do not have to exert a lot of effort. Less work is something I'm all for! And much less hazardous than stronger acids (muriatic, oxalic, etc).
And once the caliche has been dissolved, you can grow your own crystals (of a sort). Leave your rock in a dish of vinegar, and as the vinegar evaporates, the caliche will precipitate out, forming crystals. Won't turn into rock by any means, but fun to watch.
Grow your own forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/66674/grow-own Jean I like the idea of growing my own crystals even if just to watch. I have a few rocks that are going to get soaked in vinegar. Also good to know it takes weeks, as I normally think overnight will do it. Ha!
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