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Post by deb193redux on May 30, 2010 15:00:48 GMT -5
Ok, these are actually more preforms form my 1st acid cooked batch last July in Oregon, and the slabs recooked last Sept in Kansas. Since some of the slabs did not have the black color penetrate all the way through, I am cutting preforms so I can grind them and then soak them in sugar and recook them. I will put up more pics when I get them ground. You can see the penetration issue here where I show the cut side of the preform. The ones on the left have color all the way through. The ones just right of middle show lighter brown in the center. The couple on the right show untouched centers. In fact the one on the far right only had black penetrate between 1/32 and 1/16 inch, and only light caramel color going deeper. A lot depends on the porosity of the agate. I am a little worried because some of my recooking the other day did not increase color a lot. I hope the carbon does not plug the pores and keep more sugar from getting in. A lot to learn. Here are the slabs after I recooked them in Sept. ... and here they are after the initial cooking last July befor I moved to Kansas:
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on May 30, 2010 15:48:11 GMT -5
Pretty darn neat material. I like it after they cooked up to the darker colors but the brown tones are kind of interesting too...Mel
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Post by deb193redux on May 30, 2010 16:14:46 GMT -5
I did hold back a few browns so I could have them for a talk on this topic.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 30, 2010 18:04:25 GMT -5
Daniel, I think I'd have to save about half the browns. The dark will look great when cut though.
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Feb 27, 2012 3:35:33 GMT -5
very cool slabs
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Post by roy on Feb 27, 2012 10:17:42 GMT -5
wow what did they look like before and you cooked them in acid oh please do tell ??
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 27, 2012 10:24:22 GMT -5
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 27, 2012 13:48:26 GMT -5
I've just read all the threads, Daniel. Did you find that you get more consistent results with fresh acid each time?
I've got some Black Skin, Condor, Brazil, and Montana agates that may be fun to experiment with. Can you give any tips on sugar to water ratio? Which acids work best?
Thanks! Chuck
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2012 14:29:25 GMT -5
That is way cool stone. I like the browns as well as the blacks. I would also like to see the process and what you started with. I have a bunch of layered agate that might look good cooked. Jim
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 27, 2012 16:11:06 GMT -5
The key is that there has to be a large porosity difference between the area that will take the dye and the (presumably) denser white bands. Sometimes you can see water beading on a agate - like Montana - and just know it is not porous enough. chuck: I think the results are better with fresh acid. You can get it form a BioFuel supply place for not too much. But I have not tested if it was used again just a few days/weeks later. I tended to reuse mine 6 months apart. This acid will suck moisture out of the air and slowly dilute itself, but boiling it for a while is suppose to release water vapor and re-concentrate it. But I had some batched not take much color. Can't be sure if it was weaker acid, a lower heat source, or less porous stone. I unscientifically varied too much at once. I add the sugar until a warm solution is saturated (some undissolved sugar) then I expect some more to precipitate as the solution cools or some water evaporated. A pinch of copper chloride to keep away mold and a cover to prevent evaporation seems to give a very long lasting solution. I got my best batch with cain sugar (polysaccharide) and honey (a monosaccharide), so I tried fructose, another monosaccharide, thinking the smaller molecule would penetrate better. Unfortunately this batch did not take a lot of color. But I think the agate was less porous. I have some rock that has been soaking for 6 minths instead of two weeks. (Mostly because I got distracted). I will try to boil it soon. I also have become a little less interested in high contrast tuxcedo, and have been focusing more on highly patterned earth-toned jaspers of late. I am sure my mood wil shift back at some point.
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Post by helens on Feb 27, 2012 17:49:38 GMT -5
Wow... what a great thread! I have heard of 'cooking' stones, but I don't understand the process. Going to look at the other posted threads to see if it was there. Beautiful stones, Daniel:).
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