How To Clean Agates With Iron Out

jakesrocks
misunderstood rock expert

RIP Don Woodward AKA jakesrocks

Member since April 2010
Posts: 12,696

Post by jakesrocks on May 10, 2013 11:27:11 GMT -5

I tried an experiment, which I'm happy to report was a big success.
I had about a dozen Fairburn agates that were sort of ho hum, and needed a good cleaning. I wanted to work indoors, so obviously acid was out of the question. So I used Super Iron Out.

#1 -- In a small crock pot that I use just for cleaning agates, I mixed a strong solution of Super Iron Out, and put the agates in.

#2 -- With the crock pot on the warming setting, I let them cook for 24 hours.

#3 -- After removing the agates from the crock pot, I put them in a bucket of
Cold water which I changed every hour for the next 6 hours.

#4 -- Put the agates in a pie pan in the oven to dry at around 200 degrees
For 2 hours.

#5 -- After cleaning the crock pot, put the agates back in and cover
with mineral oil.

#6 -- Cook the agates in mineral oil for 2 hours on low heat

#7 -- Drain and dry agates with a lint free cloth.

#7 -- Display and enjoy beautifully cleaned specimen agates.

I'm at the soaking in water stage right now. The agates will be dried and oiled soon. I'll post pics of the results later this evening. All I can say right now is, WOW !! What a difference this process made. The colors and banding in the agates really popped out.

I should point out that even Super Iron Out can be hazardous to work with. Only use low heat, and keep the lid on the crock pot until everything has cooled down. This stuff for as mild and safe as it is to use will still cause sinus problems if you breath the fumes. I know. I just had to have a peek last night. I got a load of steam in the face, and have had a runny nose ever since.

Last Edit: May 10, 2013 11:39:45 GMT -5 by jakesrocks

Don --- USN Retired

Geoff
spending too much on rocks

Please add 1074 to my post number.

Member since December 2012
Posts: 446

Post by Geoff on May 10, 2013 13:11:36 GMT -5

Nice. I haven't tried hot Waller solution yet. I've been doing all my Iron Outing in a vacuum chamber at 27 inche mercury (gauged). About 90% total vacuum. Since Iron Out will react with the oxygen in the air, I figured why not remove the air from the equation! This also pulls the air out from the specimen. After treatment, I clean it in an ultrasonic with fresh water change every 10 minutes for an hour.

As far as safety, you're right on. I use boiling HCl to remove feldspars from quartz and fluorite. One whiff and you are done for the day! I left a batch of cold fuming HCl uncovered in the garage by accident, all the steel in the vicinity had a light coating of rust when I found it a few hours later.

jakesrocks misunderstood rock expert RIP Don Woodward AKA jakesrocks Member since April 2010 Posts: 12,696	Post by jakesrocks on May 10, 2013 13:20:34 GMT -5 Yep, I've been hit by HCL fumes a couple times. Not a pleasant experience. Think the worst thing I've ever inhaled was ignited sewer gas. Had to have oxygen for that one, (after a couple guys carried me out of the space I was working in).
	Don --- USN Retired

Deleted Deleted Member Member since January 1970 Posts: 0	Post by Deleted on May 10, 2013 14:16:40 GMT -5 Geoff, that is a cool thought about removing the feldspar. I could make a granite sphere and once finished remove the feldspar for a unique look. So many projects so little time/money/energy! lol Don, cannot wait to see your results. Seems like this method would be a very thorough process yielding terrific results.
	Last Edit: May 10, 2013 14:17:22 GMT -5 by Deleted

jakesrocks misunderstood rock expert RIP Don Woodward AKA jakesrocks Member since April 2010 Posts: 12,696	Post by jakesrocks on May 10, 2013 14:35:55 GMT -5 They'll be coming out of the oil in half an hour. Another half hour of draining and wiping, and I'll get busy taking pics. Should start putting up pics around 6:00 this evening.
	Don --- USN Retired

jakesrocks misunderstood rock expert RIP Don Woodward AKA jakesrocks Member since April 2010 Posts: 12,696	Post by jakesrocks on May 10, 2013 22:09:40 GMT -5 Please excuse the poor quality pics. Too windy and cloudy outside to take pics. These were taken with a hand held camera under a desk lamp. Since I forgot to take before pics, I picked one out that hasn't been cleaned yet to start out with. The next 9 were cleaned in Super Iron Out. I'll try to get better pics tomorrow and replace these.
	Don --- USN Retired