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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 25, 2023 9:55:08 GMT -5
Those look pretty dang good, Tela! Looking forward to seeing how they hold up to cabbing. Thanks for showing the whole process.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 25, 2023 10:04:54 GMT -5
Those look pretty dang good, Tela! Looking forward to seeing how they hold up to cabbing. Thanks for showing the whole process. Because this is my first time with CJ and with a vacuum pump, I think the next time will go a little smoother. I'm happy with the results so far, so I think it was worth the time and trouble. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 25, 2023 10:50:52 GMT -5
I'll echo the "thank you" for documenting the process!! I'm assuming they'll cab the same as any other material you've worked which has been stabilized...but I look forward to your "review" of your own stabilization!  |
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Post by velodromed on Apr 26, 2023 17:02:53 GMT -5
I see you got the oven figured out which is great. If you still have issues, I was going to suggest a small electric smoker. Of course you wouldn’t use wood in it, but they hit the 200 range and hold relatively easy. I also would use a cheap wireless temp monitor from Amazon. I got one that has a carry around monitor the size of the pager that I can clip to my belt and look at occasionally, or set alarms if the temperature goes too high or too low.
I am enjoying this thread and I can’t wait to see the results!
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,201
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 27, 2023 21:02:43 GMT -5
Looks like things are working out pretty well. What kind of vacuum pump are you running? I sometimes run mine for 6 hours plus straight outdoors in hot weather. I have to pull down into a deep vacuum. I've hit as low as 35 microns which is way below. 29.9 inches of Mercury. I've not had problems with overheating. I think I have four different brands of vacuum pumps.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 27, 2023 21:53:29 GMT -5
Looks like things are working out pretty well. What kind of vacuum pump are you running? I sometimes run mine for 6 hours plus straight outdoors in hot weather. I have to pull down into a deep vacuum. I've hit as low as 35 microns which is way below. 29.9 inches of Mercury. I've not had problems with overheating. I think I have four different brands of vacuum pumps. I got this one in a kit slickvacseal.com/products/vacuum-pumps?variant=35711674220710 The videos I have seen always mention making sure to not let it get too hot. It never got so hot that I couldn't touch it. I was playing it safe. I've never used one before, so I just didn't want to screw up and ruin my pump. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,201
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 28, 2023 19:16:51 GMT -5
If turning it off and letting it cool is working for you it's probably best to keep doing it that way. It'll probably last a lot longer too. One of the pumps I'm using is the JB that's listed right above yours. It's a beast but it's way more pump than what you need and of course it's more than double the money. Changing oil often will help a lot with the pump life and with pulling a vacuum. In AC work and oil change is recommended every time you pump down a system. That's probably overkill for you too. Some AC people that are into lapidary save the oil and use it for slab saws.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,201
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Post by rockbrain on May 16, 2023 18:06:44 GMT -5
Hey @tela have you worked any of the material you stabilized yet? I'm curious how well this works and I've been looking at a de-gassing chamber.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 16, 2023 19:25:50 GMT -5
Hey @tela have you worked any of the material you stabilized yet? I'm curious how well this works and I've been looking at a de-gassing chamber. No, I haven't cut into them yet. I've had a plate full of other stuff. My granddaughter is getting ready to graduate from William & Mary this weekend. Plus, I've been trying to by one or two used cars. |
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Post by rmf on May 18, 2023 5:20:12 GMT -5
What I would like to know is if you put a cab stabilized with CJ into Acetone, what happens to the resin? My normal cabbing process is dop with CA and soak in Acetone when done usually 24 hrs to 48 hrs.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 18, 2023 10:51:13 GMT -5
What I would like to know is if you put a cab stabilized with CJ into Acetone, what happens to the resin? My normal cabbing process is dop with CA and soak in Acetone when done usually 24 hrs to 48 hrs. When I get to sawing it, I'll drop some in acetone and let ya know. |
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Post by rmf on May 19, 2023 19:48:57 GMT -5
What I would like to know is if you put a cab stabilized with CJ into Acetone, what happens to the resin? My normal cabbing process is dop with CA and soak in Acetone when done usually 24 hrs to 48 hrs. When I get to sawing it, I'll drop some in acetone and let ya know. Thanks! |
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Post by rmf on May 29, 2023 20:33:26 GMT -5
rockjunquie I have some questions for you. I know the wood is different from the rock just do't know how this may apply to rock/ I was just reading on the turntex.com site and they say, "I have been trying to do some reading about catus juice and alumilite and am confused. What is the difference and when is the appropriate useage for each? Cactus Juice is a stabilizing resin. It is used to fortify the wood itself by impregnating the cellular structure. This makes the wood harder and more resistant to moisture. It will not fill voids. Alumilite is a casting resin that is used to fill voids and cracks in the wood but does not fortify the wood. They work well together by stabilizing the wood first, then casting with Alumilite to fill in the voids and crack if needed." So are you planning to use both or just the cactus juice? Has anyone here on RTH used Cactus Juice or the Alumilite on anything vuggy? What were your results?
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Post by rockjunquie on May 29, 2023 21:16:53 GMT -5
I planned to use CJ for some of the softer stuff and possibly Art Resin or another resin for voids. I have never heard of Alumilite.
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Post by rmf on May 30, 2023 15:20:50 GMT -5
I planned to use CJ for some of the softer stuff and possibly Art Resin or another resin for voids. I have never heard of Alumilite. The same people that sell CJ also sell Alumilite. I sent them an e-mail today because I was curious and impatient.
This is what I got back: "There are no known solvents for cured Cactus Juice. Acetone will not dissolved cured Alumilite either. Curtis O. Seebeck www.TurnTex.comCactus Juice Stabilizing Solutions and Alumilite Casting Resins"
This means I could stabilize with CJ and still dop with CA and remove with acetone.
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curious2know
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2024
Posts: 1
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Post by curious2know on Aug 30, 2024 8:44:49 GMT -5
I’m very curious to know how this turned out!
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 30, 2024 9:41:05 GMT -5
I’m very curious to know how this turned out! Believe it or not- I have only cut one cab of the stabilized stuff. It came out very nice! It was variscite with very soft matrix. Worked a charm and prevented undercutting.
I haven't been doing much cabbing lately- for a lot of reasons, but not for lack of wanting to. When I do some more stabilized ones, I'll state that it was stabilized.
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Post by chris1956 on Aug 30, 2024 11:01:37 GMT -5
I have used catus juice for a couple years now. It works but won't keep all cracks from breaking. Not good for larger cracks and voids.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,538
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Post by realrockhound on Aug 31, 2024 13:55:24 GMT -5
Epoxy 330 mixed with acetone in a chamber
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Sept 14, 2024 0:00:08 GMT -5
A few thoughts about the vacuum chamber pump and material. I managed to "blow up" some turquoise - after running it in the vacuum and baking it, some of my turquoise looked like it had cracked from the inside. First, I cried like my 5-year old self.. then I spoke to the gentleman who sells CJ, I think his name is Curtis, and he was seriously very helpful! Working though the possibilities, it looks like my turquoise (bought from the mine in China directly) may have been wet inside, and that is a huge no-no - for both wood and rocks. So make very sure your material contains zero oils, and absolutely no moisture - has to be totally dry!
Then, he also mentioned that he works with literally thousands of folks, and even though one sees YouTube videos where folks say to switch the pump off every now and then (and I did not want to break mine as it was my first couple of tries), you can really - and should really just run it for however many hours it takes until the bubbles have pretty much stopped. Apparently stopping and re-starting the pump causes problems with the vacuum created inside the rock. And he said those pumps just go, they do not break through overheating.
The other thing he said is the following "Also I would lower your cure temp. You want 190-200F. Hotter causes excess bleed out which will affect your finished pieces."
Hope that gives someone else some helpful hints!
Theo
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... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew