Rottenstone source

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Cornered One

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
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143
Loc
Mississauga, Ontario Canada
We have been mixing our glass cleaner for many years and one of the ingredients is a couple of spoons of Rottenstone. It makes the glass shine upon cleaning. It is getting harder to find and when our local Home Depot stopped carrying it we were able to buy one pound bags at a paint store. The store closed and we are left without a source. Does anyone know where to buy some?
 
It might be worth seeing if there are any stores in neighbouring towns/villages. Even if you end up ordering online it's nice to know that there's somewhere close by to get it from when you need it.
 
Is your recipe in an old blue book? That was great. The people who first trained
me used that rottenstone cleaner, and I liked it. For the past few years, I've been
doing something Baer recommended, which is to mix a few drops of Shaklee
Basic-H cleaner in water and use that. It works fine, and I like how safe it is.
 
shayla said:
Is your recipe in an old blue book? That was great. The people who first trained
me used that rottenstone cleaner, and I liked it.

Yes we read about it in Paul Fredrick's book 35 years ago and have been using it ever since. It costs about 1.00 a gallon to make, cuts through grease and dirt, and never streaks. We love it but you need rottenstone to make it.

Thanks again everyone you have saved our life. It is hard to change when you have been using the same clear of 35 years.
Click to expand...
 
The recipe I use came from my hardware store owning grandmother, and uses whiting, applied directly to the glass that is wet with the cleaner. Whiting will be a milder abrasive than rottenstone. Works well on even antique window glazing. ( I restore old doors and window sash, not just picture frames )

16 oz. bottle.
1.5 tsp. vinegar
2 oz. alcohol
1 drop dish detergent
Distilled water to fill
 
Would love to know that "blue book" recipe. And would love to know if you have use it on Conservation Clear and Museum Glass.
I"m looking for something I can give to clients with their purchase...do up a cute little label and save some bucks over the blue stuff we are having trouble getting anymore.
 
tamip said:
Would love to know that "blue book" recipe. And would love to know if you have use it on Conservation Clear and Museum Glass.
I"m looking for something I can give to clients with their purchase...do up a cute little label and save some bucks over the blue stuff we are having trouble getting anymore.
Click to expand...

I have a signed copy of that "Blue Book" by Paul Frederick.

The recipe is ....
1 pint of alcohol (isopopanol or methanol) 1 gallon of water, 2 tablespoons of whiting or rottenstone and 1 tablespoon of Ivory liquid detergent.
He says that the alcohol and water dissolve dirt and grease, the whiting or rottenstone is a polisher, and the liquid detergent is an anti-static.

I have not tried or used this and keep in mind that this book is about 38 years old and things may have changed.:popc:
I might question using any type of polishing compound on Conservation Clear, Museum, AR, or any glass with a film or coating.
You might experiment, just don't do it on a large piece.
 
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