Hi all. Just acquired some minerals that are already slabbed- and want to know the best process for removing saw oil from specimens that have had a covering on them for years (no joke- years). Have some small pieces of really high end sugilite that I want to salvage if at all possible. Have them soaking in Dawn dishwashing liquid atm- but it is barely making a dent- this stuff is thick and gooey. Any help on what I can use without ruining the specimens is appreciated. http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220308#msg-220308 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:33:19 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222431#msg-222431 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222431#msg-222431 Greg Capatch Lapidary and Faceting Mon, 02 May 2011 18:13:47 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222369#msg-222369 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222369#msg-222369 Heat (in my opinion) is the most effective, foolproof tool of all for completely removing saw oil. A porous specimen, or specimen with fine fractures will still hold oils after any amount of soaking and scrubbing. If you are polishing slabs, or face-cut specimens such as agate nodules, any residual oil left behind in those fractures could likely drag across the face of the piece without end -- and at the same time contaminate the pad, lap or wheel you are using.

Jake]]> Jake Harper Lapidary and Faceting Mon, 02 May 2011 00:58:11 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222367#msg-222367 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222367#msg-222367
Dennis]]> Dennis Tryon Lapidary and Faceting Sun, 01 May 2011 23:05:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222337#msg-222337 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,222337#msg-222337 This Idea might not help with your heavy oil problem but here is what I do. I go to the dollar store and get a bottle of dish soap any color will do. Some smell better than others. Put a gallon of water in a bucket and the bottle of soap. I drop my slabs from the saw into the bucket and let them soak or until when I drop a slab in and the soap will no longer cover them. Rinse with water and the oil is gone. One bottle of soap will clean about fifty slabs from my 14 inch saw.
Don]]> Don Hixson Lapidary and Faceting Sun, 01 May 2011 18:25:09 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220419#msg-220419 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220419#msg-220419 Greg Capatch Lapidary and Faceting Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:10:21 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220389#msg-220389 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220389#msg-220389
Jake]]> Jake Harper Lapidary and Faceting Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:13:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220387#msg-220387 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220387#msg-220387 Jim Bean Lapidary and Faceting Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:09:16 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220368#msg-220368 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220368#msg-220368 Greg Capatch Lapidary and Faceting Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:10:17 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220316#msg-220316 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220316#msg-220316
1) Wash thoroughly with Dawn dish soap (You've done that)

2) Place your pieces in kitty litter and cover - leave for 2 or 3 days)

3) "Bake" the pieces in an oven set at 250 degrees F for 4 hours (the temp can be increased with the time decreased, however, this increase in temp may places your stones in danger of fracturing (or exploding) . The oven will have to be placed outside, or in a well ventilated area as this step produces much smoke and fumes from the oil burning off.

I work in a commercial lapidary shop finishing fossil wood specimens and this is the process that we use.

Hope that this helps,
Jake]]> Jake Harper Lapidary and Faceting Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:28:10 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220312#msg-220312 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220312#msg-220312 Donald Lapham Lapidary and Faceting Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:56:36 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220308#msg-220308 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,57,220308,220308#msg-220308
Just acquired some minerals that are already slabbed- and want to know the best process for removing saw oil from specimens that have had a covering on them for years (no joke- years). Have some small pieces of really high end sugilite that I want to salvage if at all possible. Have them soaking in Dawn dishwashing liquid atm- but it is barely making a dent- this stuff is thick and gooey. Any help on what I can use without ruining the specimens is appreciated.]]> Greg Capatch Lapidary and Faceting Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:08:22 +0000