hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Oct 14, 2022 17:35:05 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference in using Art Resin or Clear Cast Epoxy resin on rocks for filling nicks and voids? I've used both for that purpose and would like to report some small differences I have observed. The Art Resin, a popular item on this forum, seems to get a lot of air bubbles when mixing and is slow to cure. The casting resin is much less in getting air bubbles when mixing and seems to cure way faster than the Art Resin. Is there a difference in the two that we should be aware of for our lapidary work? I've used both but only for a short time so my experience is very limited. If anyone has an opinion I would like to hear from them. Maybe there is a chemical difference that would make a big difference in the results. I don't know but would like to know. If there is a reason to NOT use the casting resin, please let me know. By the way, the casting resin that I have is made by Alumilite and is called "Amazing Clear Cast Epoxy" and is printed on the box for casting and coating. Hope that helps.
Let me know your experience and suggestions.
Jim
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,720
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Post by khara on Oct 14, 2022 18:36:54 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference in using Art Resin or Clear Cast Epoxy resin on rocks for filling nicks and voids? I've used both for that purpose and would like to report some small differences I have observed. The Art Resin, a popular item on this forum, seems to get a lot of air bubbles when mixing and is slow to cure. The casting resin is much less in getting air bubbles when mixing and seems to cure way faster than the Art Resin. Is there a difference in the two that we should be aware of for our lapidary work? I've used both but only for a short time so my experience is very limited. If anyone has an opinion I would like to hear from them. Maybe there is a chemical difference that would make a big difference in the results. I don't know but would like to know. If there is a reason to NOT use the casting resin, please let me know. By the way, the casting resin that I have is made by Alumilite and is called "Amazing Clear Cast Epoxy" and is printed on the box for casting and coating. Hope that helps. Let me know your experience and suggestions. Jim I’d be interested in seeing some pictures of this. I’ve wondered about this but never done any of it. Slight off topic, or topic adjacent anyway, I also wonder if there is a way to temporarily fill a druzy pocket to protect it while working a cab and then remove that protection later. Like fill it with super glue?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 14, 2022 22:49:37 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference in using Art Resin or Clear Cast Epoxy resin on rocks for filling nicks and voids? I've used both for that purpose and would like to report some small differences I have observed. The Art Resin, a popular item on this forum, seems to get a lot of air bubbles when mixing and is slow to cure. The casting resin is much less in getting air bubbles when mixing and seems to cure way faster than the Art Resin. Is there a difference in the two that we should be aware of for our lapidary work? I've used both but only for a short time so my experience is very limited. If anyone has an opinion I would like to hear from them. Maybe there is a chemical difference that would make a big difference in the results. I don't know but would like to know. If there is a reason to NOT use the casting resin, please let me know. By the way, the casting resin that I have is made by Alumilite and is called "Amazing Clear Cast Epoxy" and is printed on the box for casting and coating. Hope that helps. Let me know your experience and suggestions. Jim I’d be interested in seeing some pictures of this. I’ve wondered about this but never done any of it. Slight off topic, or topic adjacent anyway, I also wonder if there is a way to temporarily fill a druzy pocket to protect it while working a cab and then remove that protection later. Like fill it with super glue? khara you really don't need to protect a druzy pocket when cabbing. Just work the stone as if that druzy pocket wasn't there. You're just sanding the top of the stone. The druzy won't be affected at all.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,502
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Post by rockbrain on Oct 15, 2022 9:31:42 GMT -5
@hooligan1958 Jim, I really don't have any experience except a little use of art resin and some use of 'casting resin' way back in the day. Of course this is all epoxy. It's all casting resin. IIt's different formulae and brand names. The big selling points that make Art Resin different is the lack of VOC's and the claim of staying clear longer than other products. The VOC part seems to be true and they've got a lot of different test showing that it resists yellowing better than other brands. To me the long term clearness would be the most important attribute of the product.
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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 15, 2022 10:13:34 GMT -5
Kahara and Rockbrain - Thanks for your input. If I knew how to post photos, I would but I don't even have a camera anymore. As for the yellowing, I imagine that would be a long way off in the future. Am I correct on that? I guess I'll keep using both on similar stones and see if I notice any difference.
Thanks again, for your valuable input.
Jim
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