[Rockhounds] Glue Removal...

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

If it were my specimen it would soak at least overnight, and probably
would soak a full day. I would probably add a mild soap or detergent to
the water.

Unless it is too fragile, I would use a toothbrush to attack the
softened glue.

I would do more of the same if it seemed to be working. If not I would
toss it in the freezer for a few hours to see if that would pop the glue
off.

If water and temperature change was not working I would probably try
vinegar next, and then nail polish remover.

Save the bits of glue that come off until you find something that works.
You can test solvents with them to try to find something that works.
Then test any solvent that works on the glue flakes with another silver
specimen to make sure it will not affect the good specimen (or test with
a small drop on an obscure spot if you have no other specimen).

Good luck. Old glue can try your patience.

Kreigh



magnet wrote:
> 
> Hi all
> 
> I have recently acquired a specimen which on close inspection, shows that at some time, it has been glued onto something. Now normally, I wouldn't particularly worry about it. Who really cares if the base of your specimen has some glue on it? Nobody really looks at the base.
> 
> However, this recent addition is different. It is a specimen of crystalline native silver. Matrix-free. You don't notice the glue until you look at the specimen under magnification. Without this, it looks a bit like quartz or calcite or something similar.
> 
> I am currently soaking the specimen in warm water. I pulled it out after about 15 minutes but couldn't see any change. It does appear a bit more pliable though. I can prise of bits carefully with a needle.
> 
> So to my questions...
> 1. How long will water-soluble glue take to go (or does it just change consistency)? This glue may have been there for more than 20 years.
> 2. What do I do if I can't remove it with water? This is a nice specimen and particularly important because of where it is from (New Zealand where silver is very rare). I don't think that I would like to try acetone or something like that, in case it affects the silver.
> 
> Any suggestions?
> 
> BTW - I will post another email to let you know how I go after having soaked it for longer...
> 
> Regards
> Steve
> 
> Check out Steve's Spot at http://crocoite.blogspot.com/
> --
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