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Post by Mel on Dec 2, 2023 0:26:56 GMT -5
Looking to use up some of my rock chips, and found those man made turquoise bricks for sale online from the Kingsman mines. I have tons of chips of various material so thinking about giving it a try but would likely be a mix of harder rock (agates, petrified wood, jasper) than turquoise. Has anyone else worked the Kingsman material or tried making their own bricks?? If you made your own, could you give me some input on the process you used?
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Post by velodromed on Dec 6, 2023 2:13:42 GMT -5
Looking to use up some of my rock chips, and found those man made turquoise bricks for sale online from the Kingsman mines. I have tons of chips of various material so thinking about giving it a try but would likely be a mix of harder rock (agates, petrified wood, jasper) than turquoise. Has anyone else worked the Kingsman material or tried making their own bricks?? If you made your own, could you give me some input on the process you used? I’m very curious about this. The kid and I already take small rocks and put them into epoxy pyramids and other shapes… so yeah, let me know what you find out. Seems to me like it would be more possible with petrify wood than other rocks?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 7, 2023 0:20:06 GMT -5
Mel, not sure exactly how they do it but they use optically clear epoxy resin and press those bricks under some pressure. It's a proprietary process they developed themselves.
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Post by liveoak on Dec 7, 2023 7:08:22 GMT -5
I purchased a box from roy a while back & he had a slab from a brick he made - so maybe he can tell you first hand experience ?
He called it Chrysocolla a la roy: Patty
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Post by roy on Dec 7, 2023 14:54:47 GMT -5
I purchased a box from roy a while back & he had a slab from a brick he made - so maybe he can tell you first hand experience ? i did mine with color powder added to the epoxy mother of pearl the mistake i made was not curing it in a pressure pot to get the bubbles out
He called it Chrysocolla a la roy: Patty
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Post by velodromed on Dec 7, 2023 15:08:47 GMT -5
That is really cool!!
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,442
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Post by pebblesky on Dec 7, 2023 16:05:54 GMT -5
I purchased a box from roy a while back & he had a slab from a brick he made - so maybe he can tell you first hand experience ?
He called it Chrysocolla a la roy: Patty Wow this looks pretty cool!
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AzRockGeek
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2016
Posts: 635
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Post by AzRockGeek on Dec 7, 2023 21:08:31 GMT -5
There is a place in Tempe Az that make these blocks as well called RT Research . I am actually heading there tomorrow to discuss stabilizing and making blocks from some low grade Blue Bird Chrysocolla that I have had for years. He mentioned that it run's $30/pound to stabilize rock and takes about six weeks, I am not sure what the blocks will cost per pound yet.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 7, 2023 22:14:15 GMT -5
There is a place in Tempe Az that make these blocks as well called RT Research . I am actually heading there tomorrow to discuss stabilizing and making blocks from some low grade Blue Bird Chrysocolla that I have had for years. He mentioned that it run's $30/pound to stabilize rock and takes about six weeks, I am not sure what the blocks will cost per pound yet. Oooh, please post pics of the blocks when you have them done.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 8, 2023 0:16:40 GMT -5
Yeah AzRockGeek I wanna see it too. I got a bit of nice blue, and according to Lawrence, turquoise containing material, some pretty solid but most is chalk.
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Post by orrum on Dec 8, 2023 9:14:01 GMT -5
X3
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Post by Mel on Dec 13, 2023 22:53:40 GMT -5
This is awesome! I wasn't sure about a pressure pot/vacume chamber setup or if I could just let it cure naturally and use a heat gun to help force the bubbles up to the surface. Going to try making my own this weekend if I can find the time. roy - air bubbles aside, how do you find the final product to be? Is it pretty durable, easy to work with?
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