|
Post by deb193redux on May 26, 2010 23:09:48 GMT -5
tried another sugar-acid batch with more various material less successful so far and I need to figure out why. changed up more than 1 thing. I recooked some of the last batch after I ground/domed on the 100g wheel. They did not get much darker, so maybe the old carbon blocks sugar from getting in the 2nd time. I'll get up pics. Also cooked some unknown slabs with floating white bands. They only took on a little brown. Before after the bottom row(dry left, wet right) is 2 weeks in sugar syrup at 105 deg followed by 2 hours in 300 def oven. The top row (dry left, wet right) went into the 400degree hydrochloric acid. It picked up more/deeper brown, but not much more. I think the sugar did not get in much or the acid would have made black. It is possible the heated sugar formed too thick a syrup for good penetration. Also my acid could have been weaker because I used twice before. Some brazilian agate turned black just in the oven. Some other Moroccan w/ less banding got dark yellowish brown, One got black. Puzzling. Did some crazy lace and tree agate. I'll put up pics, but no great transformation. I have some more of the Moroccan agate not used in my 1st batch. I will get fresh sugar, keep it at room temp for 3 weeks, and the bake some and boil some, and then maybe boil some of the baked ones. Pics at each step. some of the lace got a nice black line in the oven, but turned too black in the acid. Much to learn
|
|
rock
having dreams about rocks
Metamorphosed Mind
Member since June 2007
Posts: 62
|
Post by rock on May 27, 2010 10:53:11 GMT -5
I saw someone youtube put agate in acid with some rusty nails, left them to soak I'm not sure how long then cooked that and the agate turned bright orange! I found it again, here it is:
It's a real cool video.
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on May 27, 2010 18:50:09 GMT -5
Interesting video. I am not sure I have enough art skill to carve, except maybe abstract.
Iron has always been the way to get red color, and can be added in solution when the stone is porous enough (like some Brazilian agate). Otherwise if there is a little bit of clear reddish color, there is likely iron impurities already in the stone, and heat treating causes it to oxidize (rust) more rapidly.
I am not a fan of dyed agate, especially the garish blue, green, pink, and purple seen in gift shops. But, I have been fascinated with Tuxedo (black/white) dyed agate since I 1st heard about it on this board when earthdog bought some from the Gem Shop in Wisconsin.
The pics above did not really turn black, and I don't know if it was the agate too dense, or the acid got weak, or the syrup too thick ...
Later I will post pics of the ones from my 1st batch that I recooked. But, there is still a lot to discover and very little written down.
|
|
firewalker45
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 929
|
Post by firewalker45 on May 27, 2010 20:13:54 GMT -5
Hi Daniel, I have a copy of George Fischer's book on Gemstones and chemicals. I will lend it to you if you are interested. If so, PM me your addy and I will send it to you. Daniel
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on May 27, 2010 21:35:33 GMT -5
Hi Daniel back at you. How have things been. The text of the book is online, but I have always wondered about any pictures I might be missing. Are there pictures that would be worth my time to scan?
I am thinking about trying some of his artificial dendrites/plume next. I just bought a small piece of Fischer Stone, and have been pricing cupric chloride online.
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on May 27, 2010 21:41:23 GMT -5
Here are preforms I cut from pieces in my 1st batch from Jul-09. You can see the color only penetrated about 1/8 inch and some clear/lighter spots started showing when I began to dome. The top panel is dry, then wet. The bottom panel is wet after soaking again in sugar and then cooking in acid. The black is restored, and the slight gray'ing on the white will clean up with light abrading. (I know from experience). I actually think the black and espresso is nicer than the full sardonyx look. These are done cooking. I will throw them into the vibe tumbler this weekend. Maybe perfect the shape on 180 wheel then vibe. Here is some clear agate with light white banding. It only took a yellowish brown tint. I will try to cook them again. I have an endccut of the same rock that almost took deep black change just from the heat in the oven. It should yeild good sardonyx in acid. You can see here that the edge got darker. I think that over time the outer 1/8 inch of the rock lost a bit of density. Here is some agate in rhyolite Adrian sent me, a small slab of tree agate, and some new lightly layered seam agate from Georgia. The Georgia material has only been in the oven, and the other two were cooked in acid. Still, I do not have much hope for the Georgia stuff after it is cooked; it shows no color change from heat. The bottom pic is from before any treatment. Only the edge got a little gray. The tree agate might give a good cab, but I don't plan to cook any more tree agate. I think I won't cook any more of Adrian's agate either.
|
|
firewalker45
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 929
|
Post by firewalker45 on May 28, 2010 9:25:56 GMT -5
Daniel, those preforms are sweet!I have been shopping around for an all in one printer. When I get one, I will scan the pics and send them to you. Daniel
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,774
|
Post by adrian65 on May 29, 2010 11:41:48 GMT -5
Excellent color enhancements, I like how they remain in the natural tones.
Adrian
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on May 29, 2010 13:27:05 GMT -5
I really like the stronger contrast that your cooking produces. You are a good cook! More espresso please... ;D Jo
|
|
|
Post by sitnwrap on May 29, 2010 13:57:46 GMT -5
Just wanted to say the banding in the after pics are beautiful.
|
|