zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Dec 4, 2014 16:55:50 GMT -5
We had a great guest speaker at our rock club last night. He showed off his vacuum system for stabilizing rocks with Cactus Juice. Almost everything I work needs some sort of stabilizing. I'm seriously considering trying the Cactus Juice myself.
Before I jump in & spend the money, I wanted to hear about hands-on experience RTH'ers have.
Lynn
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on Dec 4, 2014 17:28:05 GMT -5
cactus juice?
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Dec 4, 2014 17:47:30 GMT -5
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on Dec 4, 2014 18:13:11 GMT -5
I wonder how UV stable it is.
|
|
|
|
Post by phil on Dec 4, 2014 19:43:56 GMT -5
I've used it to stabilize some turquoise. Did a great job! Just pay attention to the soak times and etc.... And make sure your stone is dry below 5%. Any moisture in your rock messes up the stabilization. Also, buy an old oven at the thrift store, you will NOT want to use it for food ever again. NOT toaster oven, but a larger counter top oven works fine.
I bought a 5 gallon vacuum chamber, vacuum pump etc for about $250 - $300, and the cactus juice is $100/gallon in case he didn't tell you.
If you only have a small amount, I might be able to do it for you Dunno... You'd still have to pay for the cactus juice. Once activated, it only lasts about 3 months. Use it or lose it... They say you can reactivate it with new activator juice, but I wonder if it would be as good...
|
|
RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
|
Post by RocknCritter on Dec 4, 2014 20:59:47 GMT -5
If you don't want to spend $100 per gallon plus buy an old dedicated oven and then drop another $200-300 on a vacuum chamber and pump, etc., there is an alternative.
Just mix half an ounce of each part of 330 epoxy in a pint of acetone. (Be absolutely certain everything is well mixed.) Put your rocks and the 330/acetone mix in a jar. Make sure the 330/acetone covers the stones completely. Seal and leave for 2 weeks. Open and let the acetone evaporate. It might not be fast yet it is very, very effective and none of the ingredients have a shelf life, you don't have to worry about the moisture content of the stones and it's inexpensive.
On another note. Lynn - were you the guy in the corner of the Moab show setup between Ken and Billy with the azurite mine? If so, you do really nice work.
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Dec 4, 2014 21:16:51 GMT -5
Yes, I knew that the Cactus Juice is pricey. The guy has stabilized 75 lbs of various materials & only used 1/4 gallon so far. Anything he'll be stabilizing, he cuts in water.
Yes, RocknCritter, that was me in the corner at Moab. I'm glad you like my work. I'll be in that same corner next Oct. I'm going back to Moab tomorrow for the Holiday Art & Craft show in a building at Swanny Park.
Lynn
|
|
RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
|
Post by RocknCritter on Dec 4, 2014 21:26:40 GMT -5
Yes, I knew that the Cactus Juice is pricey. The guy has stabilized 75 lbs of various materials & only used 1/4 gallon so far. Anything he'll be stabilizing, he cuts in water. Yes, RocknCritter, that was me in the corner at Moab. I'm glad you like my work. I'll be in that same corner next Oct. I'm going back to Moab tomorrow for the Holiday Art & Craft show in a building at Swanny Park. Lynn I was the high-end cab vendor setup directly across from you on the inside corner. Maybe it's time for mandatory RTH tattoos for all vendors. Good luck in Moab. I'm in El Paso this weekend for their annual show. See you next year! |
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Dec 4, 2014 23:15:23 GMT -5
RocknCritter, You had those great LED light bars, right? I still want to build some.
Lynn
|
|
RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
|
Post by RocknCritter on Dec 5, 2014 23:09:06 GMT -5
RocknCritter, You had those great LED light bars, right? I still want to build some. Lynn Yup. That was me. If you need any more info on the lights, let me know. |
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Dec 8, 2014 3:03:11 GMT -5
I want to switch my display case lighting over to LED RocknCritter if there's anyway you could post a basic instructional thread on it that would be great. |
|
|
|
Post by phil on Dec 8, 2014 17:22:59 GMT -5
pics too please.! Did you get the light bars at Ikea?
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Dec 9, 2014 6:44:48 GMT -5
I want to switch my display case lighting over to LED RocknCritter if there's anyway you could post a basic instructional thread on it that would be great. pics too please.! Did you get the light bars at Ikea?  Would be interested in an instructional thread with pics, too! |
|
RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
|
Post by RocknCritter on Dec 9, 2014 9:33:25 GMT -5
I just got back from the El Paso gem show and have more than a full plate for the next few days. So please be patient and I'll post more info and some pixs soon.
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Dec 9, 2014 12:47:38 GMT -5
I'm interested in the LED lights too.
How about you start a new thread for the lights. I'd recommend the Home Made Equipment section. You could add a post here with a link to the new thread.
Hey, anyone have any info on stabilizing with cactus Juice?
Lynn
|
|
|
|
Post by phil on Dec 9, 2014 16:49:36 GMT -5
Hey, anyone have any info on stabilizing with cactus Juice? Lynn did you read the start of this thread? that's pretty much all you need to know.... |
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Dec 9, 2014 21:01:28 GMT -5
I'm the OP. I'm still looking for someone with hands-on experience.
Lynn
|
|
|
|
Post by phil on Dec 9, 2014 22:29:12 GMT -5
Ok. well, I've done about 40 pounds of turquoise chalk with it and am totally happy with the results. What specifically do you want to know?
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Dec 10, 2014 1:25:46 GMT -5
What's it made of?
How hard does it get?
Does it make rocks smell like Kingman Turquoise when grinding cabs?
Does anything affect it adversely? Like water, soap, solvents, sunlight?
Stuff like that & anything you'd like to say about it, good or bad.
Lynn
|
|
|
|
Post by phil on Dec 10, 2014 12:04:41 GMT -5
What's it made of? The manufacturer won't tell. But it's some sort of resin. How hard does it get? I have no way of telling, but it took the soft chalk to a state where it feels hard, grinds hard, and polished very well to a brilliant shine. Does it make rocks smell like Kingman Turquoise when grinding cabs? Dunno. What does Kingman smell like? This has a light chemical odor when ground, but it does not linger. I've polished many other stabilized stones that were a lot more offensive and stronger smelling. Does anything affect it adversely? Like water, soap, solvents, sunlight? Not that I'm aware. Although I would suspect it would be by acetone and other solvents in that family. Stuff like that & anything you'd like to say about it, good or bad. Material being cured needs to be super dry. Any residual moisture in the material affects the cure. I slow dry in an old table top oven I bought at the thrift store for $35. Then I use the same oven for final cure. Smells while curing, but not afterwards. I use the garage. Kills grass, even watered down uncured. Cured, no problems that I've seen. Does not fill in voids in stone, just cures what is, not what isn't. This was soft chalk when before I cured it.  Anything else? |
|
Would be interested in an instructional thread with pics, too! 
