khara
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2022
Posts: 657
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Post by khara on Nov 4, 2022 23:07:53 GMT -5
Oh, stabilization. How would one go about doing that?? There are a few ways. But ideally buy a vacuum pump off Amazon and cactus juice and stabilize it by sucking the stabilizer into the stone for a few hours. Then taking it out and baking the slabs for 45 min Oh my gosh. That is the LAST thing I would’ve guessed.🤣 Thanks for the info. |
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Post by perkins17 on Nov 4, 2022 23:21:55 GMT -5
perkins17 - Perk, I've thought about you a couple times over the last couple weeks. Good to see you back on the forum.  I've been away from rocks for a while now unfortunately. It's too dang cold up here! I thought I'd pop by and let everyone know I'm still alive. I think I'll become a regular again. I missed you guys.  |
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khara
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2022
Posts: 657
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Post by khara on Nov 4, 2022 23:23:27 GMT -5
jasoninsd don’t get me thinking, bad things happen lol! khara make sure the slabs are on the rack above the chicken to catch those cactus juice drippings! I’m starting to feel like people are just messing with me now.🤔🤓 |
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khara
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2022
Posts: 657
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Post by khara on Nov 4, 2022 23:47:05 GMT -5
I’m starting to feel like people are just messing with me now.🤔🤓 I’m guilty, but in my defense there’s something about that product that makes me think of food. And then the baking got mentioned… My mom keeps raving about her instant pot. Says it can cook anything. I’m thinking maybe I’ll borrow it. 🪨🤔 |
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Post by liveoak on Nov 5, 2022 6:38:36 GMT -5
I've had pretty good luck stabilizing some soft rocks with epoxy,
and no harm was done to any cactus this way.  Worked well. Patty |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 11,812
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Post by Tommy on Nov 5, 2022 9:06:58 GMT -5
My mom keeps raving about her instant pot. Says it can cook anything. I’m thinking maybe I’ll borrow it. 🪨🤔 Save the pressure cooker for the chicken For stabilization you need vacuum, lots of vacuum. |
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Post by realrockhound on Nov 5, 2022 10:32:48 GMT -5
I've had pretty good luck stabilizing some soft rocks with epoxy,
and no harm was done to any cactus this way. Worked well. Patty did you do the epoxy 330 trick? Where you dilute it in acetone, let it set for a few days, then bake it? I know that method works too. |
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Post by liveoak on Nov 5, 2022 10:57:37 GMT -5
Somewhat- but a little different.
Here's Patty's Quick & Dirty stabilization recipe:
First I take my preforms & put them on a warming tray, or in a toaster oven on low.
Then I mix my optical clear epoxy (could be 330) I actually used Easy Cast , as it's what I have on hand.
First you mix the epoxy to the instructions.
This specific epoxy is equal parts 1-1 mix.
Then you stir the epoxy and keep stirring it until it starts to get thick & a little warm (starting to "kick") then and only then do you add the acetone.
In other words you have to let the epoxy react BEFORE you put the acetone in it.
I add NO MORE acetone than 1/3 of the amount of epoxy you mixed.
I use a syringe to add it.
If you put too much acetone in, it will keep the epoxy from fully cross-linking & defeat the purpose.
Same thing if you add it too soon.
After stirring in the acetone, I take my warmed pre-forms and set it in a silicone mold,
or on a piece of plastic or wax paper & flood it with the epoxy mix to complete cover the cab.
Then you just let it cool naturally.
As the stone cools, it will tend to draw the epoxy into any of the pores.
After leaving it overnight to cool, I put it under an incandescent bulb for the next day to fully cure the epoxy.
Once the epoxy is hard, grind away, no stinkin' vacuum pot necessary
Works for me
Patty
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Post by perkins17 on Nov 5, 2022 12:52:47 GMT -5
I’m guilty, but in my defense there’s something about that product that makes me think of food. And then the baking got mentioned… My mom keeps raving about her instant pot. Says it can cook anything. I’m thinking maybe I’ll borrow it. 🪨🤔 My mom has one of those too! It can cook anything. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 1,185
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Post by rockbrain on Nov 5, 2022 18:14:49 GMT -5
My mom keeps raving about her instant pot. Says it can cook anything. I’m thinking maybe I’ll borrow it. 🪨🤔 My mom has one of those too! It can cook anything. Go for the Ninja Foodi. It cooks everything like an insta pot and then browns it. |
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Post by realrockhound on Nov 5, 2022 18:22:37 GMT -5
I love how this is now a cooking thread 🤣
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Post by realrockhound on Nov 5, 2022 20:49:07 GMT -5
Went out and played on the wheels a bit. Thundereggs…. What a pain in the butt to cut 😅
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Post by perkins17 on Nov 5, 2022 21:22:37 GMT -5
Went out and played on the wheels a bit. Thundereggs…. What a pain in the butt to cut 😅 My plan is to use club wheels... Mine are old and slow. There's also the fact that my saw has to be used outside, so I'd be getting soaked in 30 degree and lower temperature. You guys in Oregon have all the good agate hounding from what I hear. How was the cold trailer? |
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Post by realrockhound on Nov 5, 2022 21:30:16 GMT -5
Went out and played on the wheels a bit. Thundereggs…. What a pain in the butt to cut 😅 My plan is to use club wheels... Mine are old and slow. There's also the fact that my saw has to be used outside, so I'd be getting soaked in 30 degree and lower temperature. You guys in Oregon have all the good agate hounding from what I hear. How was the cold trailer? It was cold 😂 I used hot water from inside the house to fill my trays. |
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Post by perkins17 on Nov 5, 2022 21:38:35 GMT -5
My plan is to use club wheels... Mine are old and slow. There's also the fact that my saw has to be used outside, so I'd be getting soaked in 30 degree and lower temperature. You guys in Oregon have all the good agate hounding from what I hear. How was the cold trailer? It was cold 😂 I used hot water from inside the house to fill my trays. I'm thinking of braving the elements to tidy up my area and maybe spin the wheels for a while soon. Cold is temporary, rocks forever...  |
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Post by realrockhound on Nov 5, 2022 21:56:34 GMT -5
It was cold 😂 I used hot water from inside the house to fill my trays. I'm thinking of braving the elements to tidy up my area and maybe spin the wheels for a while soon. Cold is temporary, rocks forever... Exactly 😂 |
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Post by Rockoonz on Nov 5, 2022 22:33:00 GMT -5
I found an old bucket-o-eggs today while tidying the saw shop.
Gonna break out the tile saw and start splitting a few, see if there's any slabbers.
I'll do it outside, most likely in shorts. 75 frigid degrees tomorrow.
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Post by mohs on Nov 5, 2022 22:45:16 GMT -5
its tough out there on the rails  |
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Post by realrockhound on Nov 5, 2022 22:55:44 GMT -5
I found an old bucket-o-eggs today while tidying the saw shop. Gonna break out the tile saw and start splitting a few, see if there's any slabbers. I'll do it outside, most likely in shorts. 75 frigid degrees tomorrow. 🤣🤣🤣. Don’t freeze to death out there. You’re just asking for it. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Nov 5, 2022 22:58:33 GMT -5
Well, when it's 120 here I guess you can give me a hard time.
Oh, wait. I'll be up there...
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that takes the cake
