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TIL a trick for cleaning quartz crystals from a dig in Arkansas
Had a bunch of quartz from the Ouachitas with that rusty iron oxide stain. Tried muriatic acid but it was too harsh. Switched to oxalic acid crystals, about a tablespoon per gallon of warm water. Soaked them for 48 hours and the stain was gone without any etching. Anyone know a good way to get rid of clay stains after that?
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torres.blair6mo ago
Clay stains are the worst, feel your pain.
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samrodriguez4mo ago
Oh man, my buddy Dave had the exact same clay problem last year! He soaked his finds in plain water for a day to soften it up. Then he used an old, super soft paintbrush, the kind for watercolors, and gently worked at the clay under running water. It took patience, but it came off without a single scratch. He said the key was letting the water do most of the work first.
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patricia326mo ago
Clay stains turn my nice finds into lumpy potatoes, it's so frustrating. I once left some in soapy water for a week and they came out looking like weird, shiny soap bars. Would a soft toothbrush help after a good soak, or is that just asking for scratches?
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