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Message |
    
Curt Wayne
Citizen
Username: Cswayne
Post Number: 38
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 8:35 pm: |     |
Roots, Rocks, Raggae!!!
I've just about finished digging a 15'x20'x6" hole in my backyard in which I plan to put a patio. In the process of doing so, I've uncovered a nice pile of rocks (assorted sizes). Now, I love rocks and specially ones that I've dug up by hand. read: I'm attached to these rocks. But the dern things are stained clay-red.
To make a little retaining wall or some-such thing out of them is my goal, but I dont want a clay-red wall. So, my question is: Does anyone know of a "rock-cleaning solution" I can apply to these guys to bring them back to their natural beauty?
I know it would be cheaper to just go buy new rocks if the solution is sand-blasting, butI'm attached to these particular rocks and would like to use them if I can.
This sounds silly I know, but I'm serious, really.
Curt
BTW: I've also dug up a nice pile of tree-roots. Being an arteest, I can see something nice being done with them. So they're free to a good home if any like-minded individual can envision a "piece".
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Barb
Citizen
Username: Flannery
Post Number: 50
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 7:51 am: | |
You might try pressure-washing them. I would imagine you could rent a unit from Home Depot. |
Joan Auer
Citizen
Username: Joan
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 8:39 am: | |
Curt, If you need more materials for a retaining wall, we have a whole lot of those keystone blocks for a retaining wall that we need to get rid of. If you come and pick them up, you can have them for free. Private-line me if you're interested. |
steel
Citizen
Username: Steel
Post Number: 340
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 1:30 pm: | |
Curt,
-I'm curious, -Have you broken one open to see if they are red "through-and-through"? |
Curt Wayne
Citizen
Username: Cswayne
Post Number: 41
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 7:33 am: | |
Steel,
Yes, some cracked open as I chucked them up onto the driveway. They're not red all the way through. |
crazyguggenheim
Citizen
Username: Crazyguggenheim
Post Number: 428
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 8:48 am: | |
Call me crazy, but the only Red Rocks I know is in Colorado .
Call me crazy |
Davegateway
Citizen
Username: Davegateway
Post Number: 8
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 7:57 pm: | |
Curt - We've use muriatic acid to clean rust stains from cement. You can buy it in the hardware in Millburn. |
Curt Wayne
Citizen
Username: Cswayne
Post Number: 42
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 1:52 pm: | |
Dave,
I have a strong feeling that Muriatic Acid is not the most environmentally friendly product on the market. When I popped the top it began to smoke! I probably should have picked a windier, less humid day. (Now I know how non-smokers feel.) Thought I was gonna gag! Only problem with this stuff so far is that instead of cleaning my rocks, it seems to have dissolved them. ;-)
Naaah! Mr buncher says, "If this stuff doesnt work, I've got something stronger down in the basement." I think it will work. Heck, if not, I'm going the pressuer washer route.
Thanks for the info and the experience.
Curt
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Curt Wayne
Citizen
Username: Cswayne
Post Number: 48
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, September 6, 2003 - 8:35 am: | |
Steel,
Well, you were right about the rocks being red clean-through about 50% of the time. But I've cleaned off some really nice rocks that are gray and tan too. Here's the thing: This process is just too slow. I soak my rocks for a day and then wirebrush them off in a freshwater bath. Half the time I get some happy surpises and the other half of the time I get real clean red rocks.
The overhead involved with rubber gloves and eye-protection and the fear that the dog will manage to get into the stuff is just too much. As much as I love my rocks, I think I'll have to abandon this project.
I've learned some things though, for instance: NJ is covered with this red sandstone. Im no geologist, but I've been reading a little and it seems that the red rocks give the color to the soil and not the other way around. Sort of a reciprocal thing. The red soil stains the non-red rocks. *pity*
To summarize: Gather your rocks or buy rocks. Dont waste your time trying to clean them.
Curt
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