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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 10, 2023 13:01:39 GMT -5
I have a nice big piece of ammolite with a small shallow divot. I have sanded it flat, leaving the small divot. Can I fill that with (what?) and then flat lap it down again before putting a cap on it for a doublet? |
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Post by liveoak on Jan 10, 2023 14:22:47 GMT -5
If you are going to put a cap on it, just use enough epoxy when you do put the cap on - making sure you don't have bubbles & it should just disappear.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 10, 2023 14:26:32 GMT -5
If you are going to put a cap on it, just use enough epoxy when you do put the cap on - making sure you don't have bubbles & it should just disappear.
Patty
I guess, I'm thinking that I will inevitably get a bubble there. But, maybe I can do it. Thanks.  |
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Post by liveoak on Jan 10, 2023 14:39:51 GMT -5
I just went and checked with my epoxy user (Tom), he suggested to do it in 2 stages.
First fill the hole, you'll need to watch it and poke any bubbles that come to the surface (if it's deep) with a toothpick.
Then let it cure, grind it flat & then set the cap in a separate operation.
I don't know how deep it is, but I know when we were making pen blanks a year back,
when I first poured the epoxy in a deep pour, I'd sit there for the next 1/2 an hour +/- poking bubbles,
until the epoxy started to thicken.
You could also try it on a non critical stone first. 
Patty
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 10, 2023 14:41:05 GMT -5
If you decide to fill the depression with epoxy, remember that you can play the heat from a butane torch across the epoxy a few times to make bubbles pop and disappear.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 10, 2023 14:53:18 GMT -5
I just went and checked with my epoxy user (Tom), he suggested to do it in 2 stages.
First fill the hole, you'll need to watch it and poke any bubbles that come to the surface (if it's deep) with a toothpick.
Then let it cure, grind it flat & then set the cap in a separate operation.
I don't know how deep it is, but I know when we were making pen blanks a year back,
when I first poured the epoxy in a deep pour, I'd sit there for the next 1/2 an hour +/- poking bubbles,
until the epoxy started to thicken.
You could also try it on a non critical stone first. 
Patty
That's exactly what I was thinking. 2 steps. Thanks Tom. |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 10, 2023 14:55:53 GMT -5
I was told you breath on the bubbles and somehow the carbon dioxide helps "pop" the bubbles.
Seemed to have worked when I've used it in the past....
Beautiful specimen btw
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Post by liveoak on Jan 10, 2023 15:22:55 GMT -5
I honestly didn't think Tela was full of that much hot air 
Gary is definitely right about the torch OR a heat gun- BUT be careful you don't want to point it directly at the puddle, just kind of wave it over it a little.
Did I suggest to try it on some not critical first - practice makes perfect
Patty
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2021
Posts: 441
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Post by fencejumper on Jan 10, 2023 18:57:18 GMT -5
Thats a tough one tela
Divots are almost impossible
Hard to feather it in
So you don’t
Notice the edge of the sealer
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 10, 2023 21:14:49 GMT -5
Thats a tough one tela Divots are almost impossible Hard to feather it in So you don’t Notice the edge of the sealer Paul, if she's going to put a quartz cap on it, it shouldn't make any difference, should it? |
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Post by liveoak on Jan 11, 2023 7:32:25 GMT -5
That's exactly what I've seen hummingbirdstones, if you are going to put more epoxy to cap it as a doublet, it theoretically should become invisible. If you weren't capping it, it would be a different story. Patty |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 11, 2023 9:34:55 GMT -5
Last night I was searching Google for "Designer Cabochon Doublet"...opals came up the most...and I was surprised there were several links to Ammolite Doublets! (Just thought that was interesting as I hadn't even heard of Ammolite until yesterday morning!)
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 13, 2023 12:02:13 GMT -5
Well, I was thinking I'd just fill the void and sand it flush, but I have already sanded it into the ammolite and don't want to lose more. What is pictured is sanded flat. It's actually really bright.
I just hope I can get the top on easily without leaving bubbles. I saw a vid on making hxtal glass doublets. They work one long end to the other, gently lowering the top to chase out the bubbles.
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Post by liveoak on Jan 13, 2023 12:16:44 GMT -5
With my clear topped doublet, I used Gary's suggestion ( found in archives) of not putting the cap straight on, but starting at one edge & kind of leaning it over as you press it down,
this is supposed to force bubbles out to the side, rather than trapping them.
It worked for me.
OTOH when I put it straight down- I had bubbles, which I didn't see until I was polishing & then had to get the clear top off & start again. 
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 13, 2023 14:14:25 GMT -5
With my clear topped doublet, I used Gary's suggestion ( found in archives) of not putting the cap straight on, but starting at one edge & kind of leaning it over as you press it down,
this is supposed to force bubbles out to the side, rather than trapping them.
It worked for me.
OTOH when I put it straight down- I had bubbles, which I didn't see until I was polishing & then had to get the clear top off & start again.
Patty
That's exactly what I was trying to describe. Ineffectively. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 13, 2023 18:59:33 GMT -5
Well, I was thinking I'd just fill the void and sand it flush, but I have already sanded it into the ammolite and don't want to lose more. What is pictured is sanded flat. It's actually really bright.
I just hope I can get the top on easily without leaving bubbles. I saw a vid on making hxtal glass doublets. They work one long end to the other, gently lowering the top to chase out the bubbles.
This is the correct way to do it, no matter what epoxy you use. You can also do Gary's butane torch trick right before to get any obvious bubbles out of there. Going from long end to long end should push whatever tiny bubbles are left out. Also remember to when you're mixing the epoxy to do it gently so you don't introduce more air in there than there already is. Good luck! The ammolite looks yummy! |
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