I feel like I should know the answer...

cherdarock starting to spend too much on rocks Member since December 2012 Posts: 140	I feel like I should know the answer... May 11, 2013 1:37:33 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by cherdarock on May 11, 2013 1:37:33 GMT -5 I was curious about Sodium Silicate, also called "water glass". How exactly is it used in lapidary? I was told it is used with rocks to be cut, is that correct? :help:
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Geoff
spending too much on rocks

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I feel like I should know the answer... May 11, 2013 1:43:54 GMT -5

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Post by Geoff on May 11, 2013 1:43:54 GMT -5

Stabilization. I've tried and failed to use it, but I also made my own... I used silica gel, ground up and dissolved in lye and water. It made stoichiometric sodium silicate which I added citric acid to. After treating the slabs, the solution only penetrated an eight inch, and was water soluble. Getting chemicals shipped to Alaska is very expensive.

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I feel like I should know the answer... May 13, 2013 14:27:17 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2013 14:27:17 GMT -5

Geoff & cherda I suspect if you submerged a stone in sodium silicate and then pulled high vacuum on it, released vacuum, pressurized to as high a pressure and you can provide, then repeat this three or four time you would have a stone saturated with sodium silcate.

Now, SLOWLY heat the stone to 250 hold for "awhile" and then SLOWLY cooled it off. The sodium silicate turns to glass and your stone should be hard and glassy.

I say should be because I have never tried it. I have research stabilization from a couple of angles for a couple of years and I also specifically researched sodium silicate for about 6 months now because I wanna make my own custom colored agates.

It "should work".

Maybe I should try! lol

Don Cave Dweller He wants you too, Malachi. Member since December 2009 Posts: 2,616	I feel like I should know the answer... May 13, 2013 15:30:08 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Don on May 13, 2013 15:30:08 GMT -5 I use it as glue for gluing end cuts to blocks of wood so I can slab out the remaining material. then just dissolve the glue in water to get the last slab off of the block.
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks

Member since October 2010
Posts: 957

I feel like I should know the answer... May 13, 2013 15:33:16 GMT -5

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Post by keystonecops on May 13, 2013 15:33:16 GMT -5

What I do with it, I'll cut a rock as close to vice as I can. Once the oil is cleaned off, I take a 2x4 just a little bigger than rock. Put just nuff on wood to git face covered. Let er sit bout 24 hrs then put it back in vice and finish cuttn. I can slab the whole rock. Put it in kitty litter, then inna bucket o water overnight. Slab will usually fall off. Later Clyde

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rocknrob: There was a shop in Portland, don't know if it's still there called Kenny and Zukes who made the absolute best pastrami sandwiches I have ever had. The problem is every restaurant thinks their sandwich is worth $20 now and seldom makes the grade. Nov 12, 2024 9:53:31 GMT -5

rocknrob: So, to end my thread on sandwiches. If you find your sandwich worthy of that price by all means keep going to that restaurant (chewie)