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Post by gingerkid on Jun 24, 2012 18:32:05 GMT -5
Have a couple of cabs that I've been working on for a friend and had a time keeping the amethyst dopped, so I decided to use super glue on top of the wax to keep the cabs dopped. After soaking the cabs in acetone, the wax and super glue won't come off the cabs even when I tried scraping it off. Then I tried setting them in the freezer for a while, and still cannot get either off. Does anyone have any tips on how I can remove the superglue and wax safely from the cabs? Many thanks!! (please overlook the rubies, lol, they need "total makeovers :blush: ) Wax and super glue from hades
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 24, 2012 18:44:51 GMT -5
You'll probably have to soak them at least over night to get the glue off. Don't know about the wax. I always used denatured alcohol to get that off.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 24, 2012 18:46:39 GMT -5
I guess it wouldn't help to tell you you should have put them in the freezer and remove the wax first. Soaking in acetone should release the super glue. You could cut off the dop sticks and grind the glue/wax off.
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Post by Pat on Jun 24, 2012 18:48:24 GMT -5
I've never worked with dop wax, since I use Locktite when I need to dop. For a quick release, I use a mini-butane torch and heat up the dop stick (a metal bolt), and it comes off in about a minute.
Surprised the freezer didn't do it. Maybe you have invented a new super glue ---wax +glue! ;D
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 24, 2012 19:31:45 GMT -5
Super glue will release when soaked in water, takes a while, but will let go.
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Post by mohs on Jun 24, 2012 19:46:11 GMT -5
Your dop wax must be getting funky, Jan fresh dop should have held just fine good luck with the projects Ed
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steveo
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 273
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Post by steveo on Jun 24, 2012 21:53:15 GMT -5
I use green wax on cabs not heat sensitive and put in freezer about 5 minutes and it falls off and super glue on Opal and the like then soak in water till it releases.
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jun 24, 2012 23:08:45 GMT -5
I use my trim saw. Just saw off the dop stick, then rough grind the back with an 80 grit wheel. Works for me every time! Sheri
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itsandbits
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 825
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Post by itsandbits on Jun 25, 2012 0:17:51 GMT -5
Once the stick is off, a quick turn on the wheel and its gone. It's not supposed to soak in so you won't loose much if you're carefull. I do it when I'm experimenting with the opals; can't even measure the loss
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Post by gingerkid on Jun 25, 2012 7:31:33 GMT -5
Thanks to all of you for your expertise!! Lots of great advice that I'm going to give a try on the ammies in a little bit. Does Home Depot or Ace Hardware carry denatured alcohol by any chance? Wow, Pat, Loctite is some serious glue. Which do you use? Rick has a couple of bottles of it around here somewhere. I think I have mostly funky wax, Ed, since I've been "recycling" it after cleaning it and placing it back into the dop pot. Still don't have a clue on how to clean out the Inland dop station or the top sides of it where you place stones to warm them. steveo, haven't ever used the green wax before but I have a couple of sticks that will have to get a try. The amethyst cabs are very small, and I wondered when dopping small stones, what do y'all use for dopping? Toothpicks? Straight pins? Lol, they're not that small, but the smallest one is around 4mm. What do you use for dopping very small cabs (glue, wax, ?) ?
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 358
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Post by mjflinty on Jun 25, 2012 7:33:23 GMT -5
Soak them in nail polish remover over night. You can take off the super glue in one piece by sliding a razor blade under it.
Michael
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 25, 2012 7:39:22 GMT -5
Yes, you should be able to find it at a hardware store, Ginge, but as Michael suggested, you might try nail polish remover first. Jo
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Post by gingerkid on Jun 25, 2012 8:04:36 GMT -5
Thanks, Jo, I hope we can go tomorrow and pick some up. Hi, Michael, I soaked the amethyst cabs and the ruby disaster in fingernail polish/acetone overnight and tried to remove the wax and superglue with a butter knife. The amethyst cabs are rather small and don't trust my handling of a razor blade, but, might ask hubs to see if he'll do it. Thank you for the suggestion. Think I'll try using the wheel to see if that will do it, or the trim saw. What do y'all use for dopping very small cabs?
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 25, 2012 8:14:11 GMT -5
I use super glue with a wooden dowel or metal faceting dop (got plenty of them).
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Jun 25, 2012 11:21:06 GMT -5
Nail polish remover is a weak acetone (watered down)...you might have better luck with 1200%. (sorry... :blush: ...typo...100%) Walmart and drug stores do sell 100% acetone as well (I think they use that to dissolve off acrylic nails!). The also sell it at Home Depot and Lowes with all the other solvents (including denatured alcohol). Our Walmart sells denatured alcohol (it's in the paint section) Sue
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Post by phil on Jun 25, 2012 11:30:23 GMT -5
Small cabs? wax and wooden matches or finishing nails and super glue. Super glue dissolves in water given enough time (are you being patient enough?) And wax can be reheated too... simply stand the stone back up on the hot plate till the wax melts.
Sloppy users and wax all over the top and sides of your dop pot? Heat it up and scrape as much off as possible, then cut some aluminum foil covers. Use the heavy duty stuff. Could even place it in the freezer to see what you can pop off.
I forgot - sometimes you need to just throw out the old wax and replace it with all new. Wax does loose properties when reheated over and over or sometimes when overheated even once. It's far cheaper to replace the old wax than one good stone.
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Post by mohs on Jun 25, 2012 11:31:08 GMT -5
It might be wise to clean out your dop pot and start with fresh dop Its worked wonders on mine and I have no more issues, mostly
I did mine with a spoon and knife kind of easy. You won't get it 100% clean but enough to make a big difference
Ed
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Post by Pat on Jun 25, 2012 12:43:07 GMT -5
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Post by gingerkid on Jun 26, 2012 13:02:28 GMT -5
Hi, Jo, might need to purchase some of the metal dops. I've seen some cabbing pro star (?) aluminum dops (?) that look nice but are a bit pricey. Have a friend that recommends them and wondered if any forum members have tried them? Meta, I used the 100% acetone fingernail polish remover that will curl your nasal hairs when you take the top off of it because it is so strong (have borderline asthma). It evaporates quickly, too. Is the 1200% acetone sold in hardware stores? LOL, Phil, yes, I can be a bit sloppy at times. :blush: It won't mess up the Inland dop pot if you scrape the area where the stones warm? Do you use wax on match sticks and/or nail heads or glue for dopping very small cabs? Thank you very much for your advices!! Thank you, Ed! I agree that it's time to clean up that messy dop pot and give it some new wax. Had some wet/dry automotive sand paper (80 grit) and decided to wet it and see if I could get the glue and the wax combination off of the amethyst and ruby cab, and it worked, although the rubbing wreaked havoc on the sandpaper and had to use more than one sheet. At least the darned stuff is off of it, and I won't do that number again. :blush: Thank You, Ms. Pat, for the link to the Loctite gel. I've never seen it before, and will give it a try!!
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Jun 26, 2012 15:11:46 GMT -5
Is the 1200% acetone sold in hardware stores? Sorry :blush: typo!
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