hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on May 7, 2022 17:59:09 GMT -5
I've now and then seen the comment about "rock stabilizing". Could someone explain to me what that is, what it does, the do's and don'ts of doing that. Is there an improvement in some way, to the stone? Should it be done to all stones or just certain varieties? Thanks for your helping an "old guy".
Jim
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 914
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Post by nursetumbler on May 7, 2022 19:18:08 GMT -5
I've now and then seen the comment about "rock stabilizing". Could someone explain to me what that is, what it does, the do's and don'ts of doing that. Is there an improvement in some way, to the stone? Should it be done to all stones or just certain varieties? Thanks for your helping an "old guy". Jim I dont know how they do it but think it has something to do with 2 part epoxy and pressure according to the jewler that stabilized a piece of turquoise for me in New Mexico. Took a very soft stone and made it safe to use for jewlery (safe meaning less breakable) Thats all I know
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on May 7, 2022 20:15:42 GMT -5
Yeah, that's the gist of it. Many different opinions on the best epoxies/resins and methods for desired outcomes on specific types of stones.
Filling fractures in nice, harder stones and incorporating a hardener into soft, porous material like "chalk" turquoise are the most common uses.
There are many threads here and elsewhere that detail various methods of heating and/or using a vacuum to treat different types of stone.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 7, 2022 20:17:32 GMT -5
I've now and then seen the comment about "rock stabilizing". Could someone explain to me what that is, what it does, the do's and don'ts of doing that. Is there an improvement in some way, to the stone? Should it be done to all stones or just certain varieties? Thanks for your helping an "old guy". Jim Actually, you've asked a really complicated question with a range of answers. MUCH has been discussed here about it. Try a search here on RTH.
In a nutshell, stabilizing requires some type of product to permeate the soft or fractured material, sometimes under pressure, so that the material is more usable afterwards. Many stones may benefit from stabilization. It's not just for soft stones, but also for fracture prone stones. The type of need for stabilization may dictate the product that you use.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 7, 2022 20:18:04 GMT -5
Yeah, that's the gist of it. Many different opinions on the best epoxies/resins and methods for desired outcomes on specific types of stones.
Filling fractures in nice, harder stones and incorporating a hardener into soft, porous material like "chalk" turquoise are the most common uses.
There are many threads here and elsewhere that detail various methods of heating and/or using a vacuum to treat different types of stone.
Sorry, cross post...
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Jun 9, 2022 13:16:36 GMT -5
Thank you, everyone. I watched the video using epoxy 330 and acetone mix. Seems easy enough. I have some other epoxy also, called "clear cast epoxy" which is a clear epoxy used for making a casting with something captured in it like a flower or some other trinket. It's also used for coating an object for protection, like a piece of wood or a table top. It's a two part system like 330 or Devcon. I wonder if it would work as well as 330. Anybody have any idea's?
Jim
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 9, 2022 14:38:09 GMT -5
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Jun 9, 2022 15:08:43 GMT -5
If you use "art resin" do you still dilute it with acetone? I've seen several brands of casting resin that say they are water clear and the store people (Michaels) say it's the same as regular epoxy but just a bit thinner so it will spread evenly and self level. Their opinion is that the casting resin is the same thing as "art resin". Not really a concern for rock stabilizing, as best that I can tell. I like the video's I watched about mixing acetone and soaking the stone for 4 to 5 days for good penetration. Opinions?
Jim
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Oct 14, 2022 15:01:38 GMT -5
Well, I'm back again with another question but not really on stabilizing. I am using resin on some stones to fill cracks and holes, or saw cut knicks. I have Art Resin that seems to be very popular on this forum. I also have a product called Amazing Clear Cast Epoxy made by a company called Alumilite. They seem very similar. What I've noticed is that the Art Resin gets very full of air bubbles when mixing and is also rather slow in curing. The Amazing Clear casting epoxy does not get near as full of air bubbles when mixing and it definitely cures faster. My question is, does anyone know why this happens, and is there a reason NOT to use casting resin to fill voids and cracks? I solicit all opinions. Thanks in advance,
Jim
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