rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 611
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Post by rocknrob on May 23, 2024 12:58:02 GMT -5
Good morning! I've been having some trouble cutting a rough piece of chrysocolla into slabs without it crumbling. I'm trying not to have to stabilize it (mainly because I don't have the means to at the moment without needing a shopping spree). Is there any trick to cutting this kind of material? I've had similar problems with Malachite. I'm using a 10" trim/slab saw with a sintered blade (about .04 kerf).  |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 24, 2024 6:35:12 GMT -5
I've never had to cut rough, but I've had crumbly slabs. In fact, I had so much trouble I wanted to give up cabbing it. BUT, some of it is real solid.
You don't need a lot of equipment to stabilize it. YT has videos where you just soak it in a mix of epoxy and acetone. It takes a long time but it works.
ETA
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 611
|
Post by rocknrob on May 24, 2024 16:15:00 GMT -5
I've never had to cut rough, but I've had crumbly slabs. In fact, I had so much trouble I wanted to give up cabbing it. BUT, some of it is real solid.
You don't need a lot of equipment to stabilize it. YT has videos where you just soak it in a mix of epoxy and acetone. It takes a long time but it works.
ETA
I'll have to check it out, this Chrysocolla is stunning but ohh so fragile. I'm going to try and cut 3/8th thick slabs from it to try and keep it in one piece. My only other option is to put the 6" saw blade with the thinner kerf in my 10" saw but man does it get messy with overspray. |
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Post by victor1941 on May 25, 2024 8:18:31 GMT -5
I have used this method with Marfa, Tx. plume with success. My only difference was using a vacuum at the beginning to help get the mix into the soft areas of the plume more thoroughly. I was not trying to fill cracks of unstable material but stabilizing softer areas in the plume.
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