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Post by fernwood on Dec 31, 2019 7:47:09 GMT -5
Does anyone use a Waterpik Fusion for cleaning rocks between stages?
I often tumble rocks with crystals I want to keep intact. Some Pet Wood and fossils, I want to keep the character, AKA ridges in.
Am thinking the Fusion would be a great cleaning tool. For those unfamiliar with it.... The fusion is an electric toothbrush that also has a water feature. They retail for close to $200.00. I am looking for a used one.
Opinions are appreciated.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 31, 2019 9:25:33 GMT -5
I think a Water-Pik type cleaner would probably work well and could be used indoors. Especially in colder climates where rinsing with a nozzled hose in the driveway is not always a good option.(I have seen the pictures!! brrrrrr!!) I tough it out when it's below 40 and the wind is blowing!
For my purposes, I would use a Water-Pik type cleaner for some of the Arkansas Quartz crystals that are being kept as specimens and not to be tumbled. I don't put any great effort into cleaning rocks between stages, just a simple rinse with a spray nozzle on the hose. The exception I make is for any of the ones that are hollow such as some of the Round Mt Chalcedony pieces that are actually hollow and the cavity gets exposed. On those few I just spray with a hose a bit extra into the interior of the rock. After each Coarse Stage I do an inspection/sort; ready for next stage or back into Coarse. At that time I might notice a couple that need an extra spray.
From Coarse(46/70 or 80) I move to 600 SiC. After the 600 SiC I do a 4 to 5 hour roll with soap and then on the AO prepolish and Polish and only soap(burnish) after the Polish stage. I operate under the theory that a tiny bit of coarser SiC grit transferred between the coarse stage and the 600 SiC stage is not that big a deal. Same with the AO stages. I understand that can be taken as heresy with respect to the established norms but my finished tumbles are always well polished.
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einholt
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2019
Posts: 95
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Post by einholt on Dec 31, 2019 11:27:41 GMT -5
I use a waterpik (cordless, older model) to spray some hard-to-reach areas I don't want to use a metal pick on. Works fairly well, I would warn that the back spray goes everywhere.
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JBe
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
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Post by JBe on Dec 31, 2019 12:20:07 GMT -5
I use a spot cleaning gun I bought on Amazon for about $60. I would guess it's higher pressure than the water pick. I just hold it a little farther away on the fragile stuff.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 12:27:05 GMT -5
Look at thrift stores. Sometimes they'll have new ones. Some don't carry them due to them being personal hygiene instruments - but they do get donated, and you can ask them to put a couple aside for you.
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Post by Pat on Dec 31, 2019 13:09:56 GMT -5
I know several people who use the fabric spot cleaning gun from amazon. I had one to clean the red clay off the quartz clusters we found in Mt. Ida, Arkansas. It’s a handy tool.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 2, 2020 12:45:12 GMT -5
I do the same for character ... only ever squirt it clean with 2$ spray bottle ... never had issues with cross contamination ... just keep wet until sprayed ...
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