I tried something on a mica pot a few days ago, thinking of getting
trees ready for the wedding (horrors--one or two will be in mica
pots!). I sanded the pot with 150 grit sandpaper, then 300, making sure
to sand with the length of the pot in mind so there wouldn't be any
wayward scratches. I didn't really bear down, just sanded enough to
even out the surface. I then tried rubbing on mineral oil, which I use
on unglazed ceramic pots for displays. The mineral oil evaporated
fairly quickly, so I tried vegetable oil instead. Works great. The
sanding evens out the marks from the molds and gives the pot more of a
matte surface as opposed to one that is rather glossy. The oiling gives
it a nice low lustre. Has anyone else tried this?

Craig Cowing

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Lynn Boyd wrote:

Craig -
Yes - I have tried it - and it does improve the look,
very temporarily,
then collects dust and looks worse than before oiling.
Spraying it with
water won't wash off the dust. Have you tried shoe polish?
Lynn
Lynn Boyd, Oregon, USA


Interesting thought. This isn't long term--just for display.

I haven't tried shoe polish. I don't polish my shoes so I
don't have any
around.


I can do you better than that. I don't have any shoes (just
sandals) -- but I will have some by mid October, Craig.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!

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dalecochoy wrote:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
Subject: [IBC] oiling mica pots
Sounds like a good idea, but most of my mica pots have squirrel
tooth on their rims by the end of their first year of use. It
would take more than a "light" sanding to get rid of them.

Jim Lewis

Ditto here Jim, that is one of the problems with using mica "training pots"
as a less expensive alternate to good ceramic, but it's a lost savings when
the squirrels ruin the pots!! You'd think with 3 dogs and 3 cats I'd NEVER
see a squirrel !!!!
I keep a rag and bottle of baby oil or plain ( unscented) mineral oil at my
work station. Use it on every pot when done working. Years ago when I was
out of mineral oil I used cooking oil for a while but found the rags got
rancid smelling quickly. Never did the sanding. That's just TOO MUCH work
for a training pot! :)
Dale

I guess you guys just don't live right. ;0] If you had oak trees near you the
squirrels would have no interest in your mica pots.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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Jim Lewis wrote:

Lynn Boyd wrote:

Craig -
Yes - I have tried it - and it does improve the look,
very temporarily,
then collects dust and looks worse than before oiling.
Spraying it with
water won't wash off the dust. Have you tried shoe polish?
Lynn
Lynn Boyd, Oregon, USA


Interesting thought. This isn't long term--just for display.

I haven't tried shoe polish. I don't polish my shoes so I
don't have any
around.


I can do you better than that. I don't have any shoes (just
sandals) -- but I will have some by mid October, Craig.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!

Actually, you might be better off not wearing shoes. That way security at the
airport won't need to have you take them off! ;0)

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Interesting thought. This isn't long term--just for
display.

I haven't tried shoe polish. I don't polish my shoes so I
don't have any
around.


I can do you better than that. I don't have any shoes (just
sandals) -- but I will have some by mid October, Craig.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL -
Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!

Actually, you might be better off not wearing shoes. That way
security at the
airport won't need to have you take them off! ;0)

Oh, rest assured that shoes won't enclose my feet until 5 minutes
before I step into the Church, Craig. ;-)

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Not all of
God's chillun' got shoes -- some of us by choice!

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dalecochoy wrote:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
Subject: [IBC] oiling mica pots
Sounds like a good idea, but most of my mica pots have
squirrel
tooth on their rims by the end of their first year of use.
It
would take more than a "light" sanding to get rid of them.

Jim Lewis

Ditto here Jim, that is one of the problems with using mica
"training pots"
as a less expensive alternate to good ceramic, but it's a
lost savings when
the squirrels ruin the pots!! You'd think with 3 dogs and 3
cats I'd NEVER
see a squirrel !!!!
I keep a rag and bottle of baby oil or plain ( unscented)
mineral oil at my
work station. Use it on every pot when done working. Years
ago when I was
out of mineral oil I used cooking oil for a while but found
the rags got
rancid smelling quickly. Never did the sanding. That's just
TOO MUCH work
for a training pot! :)
Dale

I guess you guys just don't live right. ;0] If you had oak
trees near you the
squirrels would have no interest in your mica pots.


My trees sit under 2 smallish live oaks and the forest around the
house if filled with laurel, willow and water oaks. And
squirrels.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

dalecochoy wrote:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
Subject: [IBC] oiling mica pots
Sounds like a good idea, but most of my mica pots have
squirrel
tooth on their rims by the end of their first year of use.
It
would take more than a "light" sanding to get rid of them.

Jim Lewis

Ditto here Jim, that is one of the problems with using mica
"training pots"
as a less expensive alternate to good ceramic, but it's a
lost savings when
the squirrels ruin the pots!! You'd think with 3 dogs and 3
cats I'd NEVER
see a squirrel !!!!
I keep a rag and bottle of baby oil or plain ( unscented)
mineral oil at my
work station. Use it on every pot when done working. Years
ago when I was
out of mineral oil I used cooking oil for a while but found
the rags got
rancid smelling quickly. Never did the sanding. That's just
TOO MUCH work
for a training pot! :)
Dale

I guess you guys just don't live right. ;0] If you had oak
trees near you the
squirrels would have no interest in your mica pots.


My trees sit under 2 smallish live oaks and the forest around the
house if filled with laurel, willow and water oaks. And
squirrels.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

dalecochoy wrote:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
Subject: [IBC] oiling mica pots
Sounds like a good idea, but most of my mica pots have squirrel
tooth on their rims by the end of their first year of use. It
would take more than a "light" sanding to get rid of them.

Jim Lewis

Ditto here Jim, that is one of the problems with using mica "training
pots"
as a less expensive alternate to good ceramic, but it's a lost savings
when
the squirrels ruin the pots!! You'd think with 3 dogs and 3 cats I'd
NEVER
see a squirrel !!!!


I guess you guys just don't live right. ;0] If you had oak trees near
you the
squirrels would have no interest in your mica pots.

Craig Cowing


Man, that's not true, I have huge oak trees on my property and all property
around me!!
Dale

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++