sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Feb 25, 2013 17:10:24 GMT -5
In SIMPLE layman terms, how are fractures and pits in slabs filled in so that they can be displayed or made into cabs if desired?
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 25, 2013 17:52:56 GMT -5
the choice of resin, epoxy, super glue, or sodium silicate varies with the size and other features fo the cracks and pits.
sometimes you want excellent penetration into thin cracks
sometimes you want gap filling
sometimes you want stabilization of a soft stone so it will dome
sometimes you only want to heal semi-healed fractures
so it depends, and results are never 100% satisfying
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Feb 25, 2013 19:53:54 GMT -5
I think that what I'd be most interested in is trying to fill in the gaps, even knowing that the appearance would still look fractured or pitted. I'm not interested in changing the appearance, rather just trying to preserve it so that it can be polished evenly across the slab. Is there a one product fit all?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2013 19:57:22 GMT -5
Hextal epoxy but it is really expensive. It will never yellow over time. Jim
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 25, 2013 20:20:34 GMT -5
Hxtal is a doming epoxy and will polish pretty good. it does cost more than most rock.
bond optic and opticon are also advocated by some. I found opticon to work OK on a wheel, but softened and frosted in a lot-O because of the water.
none of the resins are as hard as agate, and will undercut. a gentle touch is needed. also, with hard agate that takes a glass-like shine, it may appear as a less shiny spot. satin shine presents less problem.
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Post by gr on Feb 25, 2013 22:24:09 GMT -5
Thanks Denny for posting this as I needed this info also Jim and Daniel, Thanks!
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Feb 25, 2013 23:28:57 GMT -5
Hmm, I have not heard of Hextal. I will have to look into that. This is a good topic. I have used opticon for fracture sealing when I would like to make the fracture less visible. Depending on many variables it works pretty good sometimes. I have also used the hot stuff super glue to help stabilize a stone. And I have had some decent results with epoxy 330 as a filler for a hole. It drys water clear, but, I do not know as yet if it yellows. Thanks
Mike
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 25, 2013 23:51:09 GMT -5
330 won't yellow, but it is not as hard as some epoxy because it is designed to hold stone to metal, and cannot be too brittle Hxtal is museum quality: www.hxtal.com/
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Feb 26, 2013 11:59:40 GMT -5
ty Daniel, good info on the 330. Thanks for the hxtal link.
Mike
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Feb 27, 2013 15:05:26 GMT -5
I just filled my first pit with e330 this morning . . . tomorrow morning will see how well that worked (I'm a little worried the epoxy will pop out of the pit when it hits the grinding disc, it's a pretty big pit).
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rykk
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 428
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Post by rykk on Mar 5, 2013 2:38:53 GMT -5
So, how well does the method in the sticky using sodium silicate and energy pills work? I hoping to use it to get a good shine on stuff like Aussie Print Stone and Indian Paint Stone...
I've tried using Zap-A-Gap "super glue (same stuff as Hot Stuff) with very mixed success. Rick
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Post by TheRock on Sept 24, 2018 0:00:34 GMT -5
I just filled my first pit with e330 this morning . . . tomorrow morning will see how well that worked (I'm a little worried the epoxy will pop out of the pit when it hits the grinding disc, it's a pretty big pit). Susan ran across this thread how did the E330 work for you?
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 24, 2018 8:55:41 GMT -5
Hi! It worked poorly. Popped right out.
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Post by TheRock on Sept 25, 2018 3:44:01 GMT -5
Hi! It worked poorly. Popped right out. That Suck's Oh Well guess I wont be trying that one Ill Hafta try that Hextal stuff? I Looked on Amazon they don't have it!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 25, 2018 8:54:46 GMT -5
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,664
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Post by Tommy on Sept 25, 2018 10:18:49 GMT -5
Hi! It worked poorly. Popped right out. I've tried it E330 had poor results with it too strictly when it comes to trying to polish it. I found it to not take much of a shine at all and leave a flat dull spot on the surface where used. I'm excitedly putting the finishing touches on a vacuum chamber in which to fully utilize the Hxtal I just bought to fix and stabilize some materials such as the chunk of cinnabar that are otherwise not lapidary grade. BTW, this thread gives me a bit of a jolt every time I see it - sheltie was facing a rough road as one of his last posts here indicated. If anyone knows anything about the outcome or progress of his situation please share it with us?
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Post by TheRock on Sept 26, 2018 4:00:27 GMT -5
Thanks Robin I ordered the $80.00 Jobbie I hated to spend that much But Jeesh The 1/2 LB kit 8 oz, is only $30.00 more than the 4 oz kit, I Guess I got enough to last my lifetime and then some. I figure She's doing Jewelry and She has been using that E330 Crap and I question its strength over time I think a lil Acetone to clean the area and this stuff should get the job done. I trust everyone's guidance on this.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 26, 2018 9:08:12 GMT -5
Thanks Robin I ordered the $80.00 Jobbie I hated to spend that much But Jeesh The 1/2 LB kit 8 oz, is only $30.00 more than the 4 oz kit, I Guess I got enough to last my lifetime and then some. I figure She's doing Jewelry and She has been using that E330 Crap and I question its strength over time I think a lil Acetone to clean the area and this stuff should get the job done. I trust everyone's guidance on this. E330 is perfectly fine epoxy for jewelry purposes, but it's not the best choice for filling fractures and pits in stones. Hxtal is awesome stuff for that purpose. If you have a large gap or crack, I would probably do the filling in a couple of sessions and let it dry a few days in between. Then I'd let it harden for a good week after that before I started grinding on it. Once it's cured, it's really hard!
That large size is going to last you years. Remember to store it in a dark, cool spot.
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Post by catmandewe on Sept 26, 2018 10:27:35 GMT -5
Hi! It worked poorly. Popped right out. I've tried it E330 had poor results with it too strictly when it comes to trying to polish it. I found it to not take much of a shine at all and leave a flat dull spot on the surface where used. I'm excitedly putting the finishing touches on a vacuum chamber in which to fully utilize the Hxtal I just bought to fix and stabilize some materials such as the chunk of cinnabar that are otherwise not lapidary grade. BTW, this thread gives me a bit of a jolt every time I see it - sheltie was facing a rough road as one of his last posts here indicated. If anyone knows anything about the outcome or progress of his situation please share it with us? Denny lost his fight with cancer about 4 years ago, he was a very good friend. Tony
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,664
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Post by Tommy on Sept 26, 2018 10:48:29 GMT -5
Denny lost his fight with cancer about 4 years ago, he was a very good friend. Tony Damn... thanks for the info Tony.
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