Cleaning agates is an essential step after sawing and before starting to grind.
Why should an agate be thoroughly cleaned?
The main reason is to prevent scratches during grinding, as loose material with a high degree of hardness can detach from the surface during grinding and be drawn under the grinding wheel. This then leads to scratches and is extremely annoying. In many cases, it is then necessary to continue with a coarser grit.
What cleaning methods are available?
There are various cleaning methods:
- Hard plastic brush
- Soft plastic brush
- Steel wire brush
- Brass wire brush
- High-pressure cleaner
- Ultrasonic bath
In most cases, we prefer pre-cleaning with a hard plastic brush followed by treatment with a high-pressure cleaner. The advantage of this method is that the visual appearance of the surface is largely preserved. With metal brushes, it is important to note that the metal can alter the surface due to abrasion!
An ultrasonic bath is also a good method, but only high-quality ultrasonic cleaners are suitable for this. Cheaper models often have only a low cleaning effect.
