dudemeister
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2016
Posts: 3 
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Post by dudemeister on Sept 1, 2016 16:39:54 GMT -5
Hi everyone, This is my first message here.  My mom got diagnosed with breast cancer (good prognosis, don't worry), and I was busy planning to make something for her before surgery. Her surgery got expedited, and now I am in a bit of a pickle. Help? I uploaded the pictures I refer to here: imgur.com/a/UflyXI bought a rose quartz heart (image one). The plan was to let someone engrave a message in it, but that turned out to be nearly impossible (only one person in my country who does it, and it is extremely costly). After a lot of consideration I decided to instead fasten a metal plate with the engraved message (image 2, 3 and 4). (Those who are curious, it says 'It's going to be alright' in Dutch.) My plan is to glue the heart and plate together using epoxy glue. I already used my Dremel tool to roughen the back of the plate (image 5), to ensure a good gluing result (the picture looks a lot worse than reality). I basically was going to do the same (roughen the surface) on the heart, but now I thought; 'maybe I can embed the plate instead?'. If I just glue the plate on, it gives a bit of a rough edge. Since the purpose is for my mom to be able to hold it when she gets scared, or put it in her pocket when she goes to the hospital for surgery or chemo, the rough edge got be thinking. Maybe file the edge so it has a smooth transition? Or carve out a place for the plate to go inside the heart? To be honest, I have never used my Dremel before, and I am a bit of a klutz. I am terrified I will ruin the heart, because surgery is on Monday and I don't have time to buy a new one if this one breaks. Does anyone have a suggestion? Go with the plan of just gluing it on, or take a bit of a risk? (How hard can it be?) Heart dimensions: 5.6 x 5.8 x 2.3 cm Plate dimensions: 3.2 x 1.6 x 0.7 cm The tools I have at my disposal: - Dremel 4000 with lots of accessories (http://www.dremeleurope.com/general/en/dremel%C2%AE4000platinumedition-556-ocs-p/) - Epoxy glue - If needed, other stuff (power drill, grinding bench, etc.) Thanks a LOT for reading!!! Best regards, Dudemeister |
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Post by mohs on Sept 1, 2016 20:05:29 GMT -5
Hello mr dudemeister
a healing heart is exactly what's called for
I like your tricky idea
and tricky-- because hearts are finicky in the first place.
so modifications are a trick !!
I would just go with epoxy chamfered edge strategy for now.
That way she's sure to get it with less stress on all parts
later after some thought you could try the inlay idea
but that is going to be way tricky
other will have other ideas though
best to all in this project
healing hearts
rock!
Ed
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Post by mohs on Sept 1, 2016 20:16:28 GMT -5
o- I've never epoxied a metal plate to a heart
but I would think, with what you got going on there,
it should take well
and with just a minimum amount of roughing the quartz
maybe just 320 or finer sandpaper
perhaps a slight amount of heat on the stone
just heat lamp stuff, nothing drastic!
when applying the epoxy
it will help the epoxy flow into the minutest of pores in the quartz
helping with adhesion
anyway epoxy amazing stuff it should hold up well ..
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 1, 2016 20:29:16 GMT -5
Since it is a quartz how about etching your message in to the stone with a bifluoride cream, which you can get at craft stores. You can coat the surface with a layer of wax, cut your message in to the wax then use the cream to etch it. Then slowly heat the stone in water to remove the wax or use a wax solvent.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 21:40:22 GMT -5
Bifluoride cream. Mental note made. vegasjames, you the best. |
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Post by mohs on Sept 1, 2016 22:56:33 GMT -5
Got another minor suggestion
I would use E-6000 epoxy
Make sure its fresh new bottle
It flows really well
The reason I suggest that
Is if you get overflow from
pressing the plate on the stone
the E-6000 is real easy to remove,
after it dried, with a sharp exact-o knife
you can basically slice the overflow off
away from the plate
because when it dry it is sort of rubbery
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305 
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Post by dottyt on Sept 1, 2016 23:14:47 GMT -5
I am sure your mother will like it and thank you no matter what you do. I think giving the heart and the metal plate separate would be fine, but of course that is not a project. You could put a hole in the plate and she could attach it to a key chain or bracelet.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Sept 6, 2016 14:48:16 GMT -5
Since it is a quartz how about etching your message in to the stone with a bifluoride cream, which you can get at craft stores. You can coat the surface with a layer of wax, cut your message in to the wax then use the cream to etch it. Then slowly heat the stone in water to remove the wax or use a wax solvent. Have you tried etching quartz with bifluoride cream James? I know it's used for etching glass, but quartz? Not being argumentative, just trying to learn. I know hydrofluoric acid will etch quartz but it's scary, scary dangerous and to be avoided. |
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 7, 2016 2:19:25 GMT -5
Since it is a quartz how about etching your message in to the stone with a bifluoride cream, which you can get at craft stores. You can coat the surface with a layer of wax, cut your message in to the wax then use the cream to etch it. Then slowly heat the stone in water to remove the wax or use a wax solvent. Have you tried etching quartz with bifluoride cream James? I know it's used for etching glass, but quartz? Not being argumentative, just trying to learn. I know hydrofluoric acid will etch quartz but it's scary, scary dangerous and to be avoided. No I have not done it. But the bifluoride creams attack silicon dioxide, which bot glass and quartz are composed of. The creams are just a safer version of hydrofluoric acid. |
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ziggy
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 483
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Post by ziggy on Sept 8, 2016 20:58:53 GMT -5
Have you tried etching quartz with bifluoride cream James? I know it's used for etching glass, but quartz? Not being argumentative, just trying to learn. I know hydrofluoric acid will etch quartz but it's scary, scary dangerous and to be avoided. No I have not done it. But the bifluoride creams attack silicon dioxide, which bot glass and quartz are composed of. The creams are just a safer version of hydrofluoric acid. These creams should never come in contact with skin. Safer is still not safe. Fairly painless and seemingly mild acid burns that might end up killing you if not properly treated and things like that. |
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dudemeister
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2016
Posts: 3
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Post by dudemeister on Sept 13, 2016 15:12:40 GMT -5
Hey again, I thought I'd make an update. Some new pictures to go with the text: imgur.com/a/Vxd2sIn the end, I went with gluing the metal plate to the rose quartz heart using a two-component glue. First, I used my Dremel multitool to roughen up a square area on the heart, so the epoxy would bind better. I then bent the plate (carefully) so it had the same curves as the heart. I then prepared the glue, stuck the plate to the heart and let it dry. Afterwards, I carefully removed any epoxy residue and polished the metal plate to remove any small scratches. Actually, I had to do that about three times, because the plate was not straight the first two times... a lot of aceton (and time) was used to unstuck the plate from the heart, twice.  Still, I am extremely happy with the end-result... and so was my mom. The day before surgery, I gave it to her in a small felt pouch. She cried, and said it was one of the best gifts she has ever received. She carries it with her to the hospital, and it sits beside her bed at night. Thanks a lot for the advice; your kindness was much, very much appreciated. Best regards, dudemeister |
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Post by mohs on Sept 13, 2016 19:22:07 GMT -5
that came out really great !
adds a new personalized dimension to a healing rock heart
and did a nice job on roughing the spot out on the heart
I think it will hold up well
who engraved the plate?
I think you've open up new ideas in the healing heartland
Ed
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Post by accidentalrockhound on Sept 13, 2016 21:43:39 GMT -5
Best wishes to your mother , beautiful piece, thanks for sharing,
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dudemeister
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2016
Posts: 3
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Post by dudemeister on Sept 14, 2016 9:10:09 GMT -5
that came out really great ! adds a new personalized dimension to a healing rock heart and did a nice job on roughing the spot out on the heart I think it will hold up well who engraved the plate? I think you've open up new ideas in the healing heartland Ed Thanks! I Googled for someone to engrave a small metal plate, and only found one online shop that did it in my country (http://www.jbmemorials.com/). I had to tell them which size metal plate I needed, what the message was, and what font face I preferred, and they did the rest. Don't tell my mom, but it was a company specialized in memorial stuff - the plates they engrave are usually screwed to coffins and such (heh). In the end, I paid about 10$ for the heart and 12$ for the metal plate... |
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