USING A WATER GUN

by Steve Blyskal

This article originally appeared in the March 2021 Backbender’s Gazette

 

What I like to use for cleaning mineral specimens is the high-pressure water gun, which has become popular over the last ten years. This high pressure “gun” was developed by the dry-cleaning industry to shoot solvents at high speed into hard-to-clean fabrics. With slight modification, these guns can be adapted to spray water and clean rocks and minerals. When they first came out, they cost hundreds of dollars and were made in Europe. Soon inexpensive Chinese copies were available for much less, and now it is possible to find one for about $75 from many different sources, including eBay. They are also called fabric or spot cleaning guns.

These guns consist of a reservoir and intake tube, and a metal body with trigger handle. The body contains a high-power magnet that takes the water, compresses it and shoots it through a narrow adjustable nozzle.  Using one of these guns effectively takes practice and some safety considerations.

1. Always wear ear protection, as the compression process is very loud.
2. Always use eye protection, either goggles or a face shield. The high pressure can break off pieces of rock or dirt and fling them at high speed.
3. Always use a heavy-duty chemical-resistant glove on the hand holding the specimen. Even wearing a glove, the blast of water hurts when it hits.

The water gun will get hot during use, and after half an hour, it should be allowed to cool off. Pushing the gun too hard will cause it fail permanently. After use it is important to get water out of the compression chamber since it was designed for dry cleaning fluids and the spring inside will rust.

1. Stick the intake nozzle into a jar of denatured alcohol and run the unit until a spray of alcohol comes out the tip. Shut off the gun and let it air dry. This should extend the life of the spring. I have been using my gun for many years now without problems because I always clean it with alcohol.
2. These high-pressure cleaning guns should be used outside since they are rather messy. I always wear old clothes and shoes and a shop apron.
3. You will need a 3-prong electrical extension cord.

They are great for cleaning Arkansas quartz, Colorado and Texas feldspar, New Jersey prehnite and West Texas agates – all hard minerals. Do not use on soft minerals or anything delicate as the pencil-thin water beam can demolish crystals and matrix. This is an extremely effective cleaning tool if used on the right minerals and with safety in mind.

For more information, check out discussions on water guns on mindat.org.