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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 13:38:47 GMT -5
I'm gonna go ahead and start this thread and update it as I go. Today my grandsons are coming over, so all I could do is to wipe down the slabs with acetone. The next time I handle them will be with gloves.
I chose soft, porous material to start. I have a lot more candidates, but I thought I would start with these. Chrysocolla, azurite, copper complex, Indian Paint Stone, a little Needles Blue Gem silica and some Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper. A few others, I think, too. The MHPJ is a test. I may throw in a little Dino bone and Sonora Sunrise.
I'll be using Cactus Juice. It is good for porous material. I will be studying the small fractures to see if it worked for those. Nothing here has big fractures. For those I will use Art Resin.
In the last picture, the fracture isn't that big, it's just the close up. I wanted to document the fractures.
I need to take a trip to the dollar store for some incidentals like a 3 gallon bucket to go in the tank and a dedicated strainer. Cactus Juice is reclaimable. I intend to use it again. It can also be washed with soap and water before it hardens.
I bought a dedicated toaster oven, as well. I may need to run two batches in the oven. Cactus Juice (CJ) begins to harden at 85 F, so, judging by the weather, I think they will be safe to set out and wait 2 hours for the next load.
So, now that I am publicly committed, I am sure to finally get this done. I've had the vacuum pump set up a year or more. I probably won't get to it till next weekend. But, maybe sooner.
Keep an eye out.  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Mar 5, 2023 13:53:37 GMT -5
Looking forward to seeing your process. I knew from previous posts here about the vacuum chamber being needed but not the toaster oven so this will be good knowledge to watch.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 5, 2023 14:32:41 GMT -5
Looking forward to this adventure, Tela! You have some really nice rock, so I hope it works well.  |
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Post by perkins17 on Mar 5, 2023 18:37:34 GMT -5
As someone who has yet to stabilize anything, I'll definitely watch this with interest, and catalog your learnings for later.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 19:07:19 GMT -5
Just went through my gem bone for some candidates. I only chose those that were a little punky or had minuscule hairlines. Most of it was good. These are dry so they don't look like much. At this point, I think I need to run two tanks full and I'm done looking, yet. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 5, 2023 19:26:11 GMT -5
I'm super stoked you decided to do this picture log!! I look forward to seeing your progress on these!! |
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AzRockGeek
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2016
Posts: 704
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Post by AzRockGeek on Mar 5, 2023 19:37:35 GMT -5
I am not familiar with Cactus Juice, but if it is flammable make sure you and your vacuum pump are in a well ventilated area. A while back I was stabilizing a few things with a casting vacuum chamber using minwax wood stabilizer, I did not realize that the fumes were gathering in the vacuum chamber case and entire box blew up on me shooting flaming stabilizer all around. I was very fortunate to be on the opposite side of where everything blew to, if not I guaranty there would have been a trip to the emergency room with 3rd degree burns.
It freaked my wife out pretty good.
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
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Post by Tommy on Mar 5, 2023 19:39:34 GMT -5
Great thread, I'll be following too. Just out of curiosity - and apologies if you already said this elsewhere - what kind of vacuum chamber do you have or are planning to have?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 5, 2023 19:40:09 GMT -5
Just went through my gem bone for some candidates. I only chose those that were a little punky or had minuscule hairlines. Most of it was good. These are dry so they don't look like much. At this point, I think I need to run two tanks full and I'm done looking, yet.  That's a lot of bone! Thanks for all the pictures. I love drooling before dinner! LOL! |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
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Post by Tommy on Mar 5, 2023 19:40:55 GMT -5
I am not familiar with Cactus Juice, but if it is flammable make sure you and your vacuum pump are in a well ventilated area. A while back I was stabilizing a few things with a casting vacuum chamber using minwax wood stabilizer, I did not realize that the fumes were gathering in the vacuum chamber case and entire box blew up on me shooting flaming stabilizer all around. I was very fortunate to be on the opposite side of where everything blew to, if not I guaranty there would have been a trip to the emergency room with 3rd degree burns. It freaked my wife out pretty good.  yikes! That'll ruin a good pair of underwear in a hurry  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 20:03:09 GMT -5
I am not familiar with Cactus Juice, but if it is flammable make sure you and your vacuum pump are in a well ventilated area. A while back I was stabilizing a few things with a casting vacuum chamber using minwax wood stabilizer, I did not realize that the fumes were gathering in the vacuum chamber case and entire box blew up on me shooting flaming stabilizer all around. I was very fortunate to be on the opposite side of where everything blew to, if not I guaranty there would have been a trip to the emergency room with 3rd degree burns. It freaked my wife out pretty good. Good to know and glad you didn't get hurt!! My hose is 6 feet long and I will have ventilation. Thanks for mentioning in. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 20:09:46 GMT -5
Great thread, I'll be following too. Just out of curiosity - and apologies if you already said this elsewhere - what kind of vacuum chamber do you have or are planning to have? Good question. I was gonna go into it later, but since you brought it up...
I got mine here slickvacseal.com/ They are a vet owned American company. I got the 5 gal 3cfm, but they were out of stock so they sent an upgrade for free- a 6 cfm pump.
The benefit to a larger pump is that it doesn't work as hard, therefore, it doesn't get as hot. I am hoping it will eliminate the need to stop the pump to cool. But, they do get hot, so the pumps need to be placed away from the tank to prevent the stabilizer getting hot and hardening.
ETA - I chose the inlet to be on the side of the tank, so the lid, which is glass, could be easily replaced.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 20:12:33 GMT -5
Just went through my gem bone for some candidates. I only chose those that were a little punky or had minuscule hairlines. Most of it was good. These are dry so they don't look like much. At this point, I think I need to run two tanks full and I'm done looking, yet.  That's a lot of bone! Thanks for all the pictures. I love  before dinner! LOL! I hadn't realized that I had amassed so much until I went through the bins. I'm getting more in the mail this week, too. I don't buy it often because most of it is crap. I have some slabs with only one good cab. I buy what I can afford and I can't afford the best. That said, some of it is quite good. I especially like the pink. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 20:13:43 GMT -5
I'm super stoked you decided to do this picture log!! I look forward to seeing your progress on these!! I'm gonna try real hard to remember to take lotsa pictures. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 5, 2023 20:22:52 GMT -5
I'm super stoked you decided to do this picture log!! I look forward to seeing your progress on these!! I'm gonna try real hard to remember to take lotsa pictures.  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 20:32:37 GMT -5
The amount of slabs I can do in one load is restricted by how big the toaster oven is. However, I am considering using a big old electric skillet for some.
I only need a temp of 200 F. Both the oven and the skillet may be hard to maintain the correct temp, but a little too hot won't hurt. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 20:36:00 GMT -5
From the Cactus Juice website:
Stabilizes and hardens punky wood
Eliminates significant wood movement due to changes in moisture content
Add integral color with dyes that go through and through
1 year shelf life once activated, 3 year shelf life unactivated
Virtually no foaming- NEW!
At least 15% less bleedout- NEW!
Clear as water- NEW!
Non toxic
Non flammable
Easy soap and water clean up
Reuse excess until gone
Those few in bold are very important to me. One of the advantages that I thought existed for Art Resin is that it is non toxic, but so is Cactus Juice.
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Post by chris1956 on Mar 5, 2023 20:45:26 GMT -5
I have used an oven thermometer to make sure the temperature is right as the small toaster ovens aren't very accurate when it comes to temperature. I have always tried to keep the temperature right at 200. Good luck and looking forward to the results.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2023 20:59:31 GMT -5
I have used an oven thermometer to make sure the temperature is right as the small toaster ovens aren't very accurate when it comes to temperature. I have always tried to keep the temperature right at 200. Good luck and looking forward to the results. Have you vacuum stabilized before? |
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 5, 2023 22:15:01 GMT -5
Was the fingernail polish remover what you used to wipe down your slabs? I think polish remover will have some kind of skin friendly additives that could be glycerine or oil, you really want to use straight acetone as a cleaner.
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yikes! That'll ruin a good pair of underwear in a hurry 
before dinner! LOL!
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew