zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Apr 13, 2012 16:05:57 GMT -5
I keep hearing about using Hot Stuff for filling fractures. At $11 for 1 oz, I've never bought it. I found an online source (woodenwonderstx.com) for E-Z Bond Super Glue. It's $5 for 2 oz. $20 orders ship free. It comes in 3 thicknesses.
Is there anything different about Hot Stuff that makes it special? Isn't CA - cyanoacrylate the same from any mfg?
Lynn
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Post by Pat on Apr 13, 2012 16:52:19 GMT -5
I don't know. I use Hot Stuff to glue metal mandrels into silicon carbide cores for making my own carving tools. Super Glue did not work. Hot Stuff did.
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 13, 2012 18:10:15 GMT -5
I think Hot Stuff and Star Bond are both industrial grade CA glues that dry clear. Both come in various consistencies for filling different gaps. I stopped carrying Starbond because I could not store it properly when traveling but everyone that bought it said it was superior to the Hot Stuff choices and cost less.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Apr 13, 2012 19:00:43 GMT -5
E-Z Bond is what I buy. Never heard of Star Bond.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Apr 13, 2012 19:43:55 GMT -5
I usually uses CA from Gorilla Glue for dopping and never had a problem with the stones popping. off. I bought some Hot Stuff recently and sure enough maybe 10% will work loose. I've also heard Star Bond manufactures a better product and will be trying some soon.
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Apr 13, 2012 22:28:00 GMT -5
I go through several gallons of Star Bond every year. It comes in half a dozen thicknesses and is far less expensive than other CA manufacturers I've used.
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 13, 2012 22:29:08 GMT -5
Star Bond is a Japanese product and has been very popular there for 30 years or more. The Very Thin works really well for stabilizing. I use the Medium and thick to glue everything that needs to be glued including rocks. I've used Hot Stuff over small fractures when contour polishing pet wood with good results as well.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Apr 14, 2012 13:13:29 GMT -5
Sticksinstones - I'd like to know how you use several gallons a year. Are you using it for stabilizing? That's what I'm interested in, not dopping. Tell us about your use/procedure.
John - How do Star Bond & Hot Stuff compare?
Lynn
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 14, 2012 19:17:27 GMT -5
I didn't notice any huge difference between the Hot Stuff and Star Bond. I sold the Hot Stuff labels and switched to Star Bond. Only one customer ever told me he liked the Hot Stuff better. Star Bond came in 2 oz bottles, came with a extra nozzle/cap, cost less, worked great.
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Post by phil on Apr 15, 2012 15:31:11 GMT -5
Hi. Where does one buy Star bond? All I can find locally is Hot Stuff products. Also, sticks, tell me more about how you're using it please? Thanks! Phil
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Apr 16, 2012 0:13:17 GMT -5
You can order it directly from the only source I know of - a guy in L.A. I think. Just look up their phone number at www.starbond.com/ I think they only do phone orders. I buy several 16 oz. bottles at a time and keep them in the freezer for longevity. I can't remember for sure, but I think you can get 16 oz. bottles from these guys for what a 2 oz. bottle of other CA brands would cost at a hobby store!! And their accelerator is great. Works on all the different viscosities. I use a lot of the stuff to stabalize petrified wood. It doesn't matter the source, almost all wood has some fracturing going on (some has a lot). I use the thin CA to saturate the face and penetrate all fractures. Once it dries (or I harden it with accelerator) then I lap it all off and it only stays in the fracture lines. You can use thicker versions (I use a lot of medium-thin and medium) to work on larger, more open fractures. The thin stuff will penetrate fracture lines you can't even feel. You can easily mix the thicker varieties with pigments or crushed stone to make a decent filler for large problem areas. It dries translucent and polishes reasonably well - not quite to the degree agate does, but close enough to salvage a lot of pieces that would otherwise be lost to gravel. Three things to watch out for if you use a lot of this stuff: 1) the fumes can be overpowering and will burn your eyes and sinuses, particularly when warm. It's a lot worse on a rock that has been in the sun or an oven. Those fumes cannot be good for you... 2) it's VERY EASY to glue yourself to a rock. Wear some latex gloves and save your skin. And remind yourself not to touch or pick up a rock until you've hit it thoroughly with accelerator. You only have to work your fingerprints free from a rock with a razor blade a few times to clue in. The solvents can help, but they don't ever work fast. 3) CA is hell on sandpaper. Be prepared to toss belts that you sand over much of this stuff with. It gums it up and coats the grit pretty quickly. 3)
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Apr 16, 2012 0:16:59 GMT -5
Oh, and I use the medium CA to do that cardboard saw cutting trick I posted in another thread. Basically you glue a cut rock face to another rock that you've just cut in your saw to make parallel cuts from the heel so that you don't lose any material to wedge shaped cuts. The CA holds up to cutting oil just fine, as does the cardboard.
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 16, 2012 7:55:47 GMT -5
The source in Los Angeles is where I bought it too. They have 1 oz. 2 oz. and 16 oz. I bought in 25 bottle cases but you can buy less. The guy is Japanese and has a little language issues but very nice to deal with. I have quite a bit of accelerator left I'm selling at shows for $8 (was $12) if anyone needs some.
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