My attempt to stabilize chrysocolla.

[NM Stone Supply]

I have read many instructions on stabilizing turquoise. I am going to attempt this method on some chrysocolla that is somewhat too soft for me.

Here is what I will use.



16 ounces acetone per tube of epoxy







Stir it up good then add the stones.



I used 3 batches to fill this little tub up with the mix. You can see it bubbling a lot as the mix soaks in.



I will leave it in here for 7 days then remove the stones and dry them for 7 days. I hope it works good.

Jason

[Deleted]

Definitely keep us updated, I have been pondering what is the best/safest method for a while.

Thanks,

Tim

[deedolce]

Yes, I'd very much to hear the results. Love the photo 'how to' so far!

~D

[beefjello]

I hope it works too Jason. Looking forward to seeing the results.

[blackout5783]

Just a quick heads up and you might already know this, but if that's a plastic jar you have the acetone mix in keep a very close eye on it. Acetone can dissolve many plastics and you might check on it one day and just find a puddle of cured resin on the floor!

[phil]

Tried that once on some turquoise. Kinda worked but took many weeks to soak in. And then only soaked in to the outer 1/8th inch or so.The only difference is I dried the stones in the NM sun for about 2 weeks (no rain) before I put them in there and pulled a vacuum on it after the stones were put in. Used both tubes of some 303 epoxy and about a gallon of acetone in an empty metal paint can (new). Left set in the NM sun as my heat source and mixed it up about every 2 days for the first 2 weeks. After about 2 months the liquid had turned to a semi-hardened jelly that easily came off the stones. Polished up OK, but I could tell the solution never made it to the center of the small stones I was using when I cut them in half to cab them. Only did it once, so no telling if it was a fluke or good idea.
Hope this helps.

[Deleted]

The professional stabilizers first pull vacuum to suck out the air. Then they put the entire mess under 4000psi to push the solution into the substrate. They use a heat cured acrylic.

Good luck Jason!!

[tntmom]

I've tried this method before and like Phil, I only got it to penetrate 1/8".

I have had more success heating the stones up and using Hxtal (Michael's method), reapplying to the surface a few times during 4 or 5 hours, sometimes it will wick through the stone completely if I keep it hot enough. I check it every hour or so and reapply when it has soaked in. I then remove it from the heat and let it cure for a week.

(Hxtal is a water proof, UV proof, non yellowing, glass repair two part epoxy) www.hxtal.com/

[NM Stone Supply]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. This is sure new to me. So far it looks good, they are still bubbling meaning the air is slowly coming out of the stone. I might leave this in for a couple weeks.

[deb193redux]

excellent thread. I have been planning something like this for a long time, but I never get organized.

[jamesp]

A food vacumn bagger dohicky machine is really great for this type application.A little vacumn goes a long way.And it is thrifty on the epoxy.And it can be set out in the sun immediatly after drawing a vacumn. PHD ReDnEck EnGiNeEr

[keystonecops]

Apr 18, 2013 8:12:32 GMT -5 jamesp said:

A food vacumn bagger dohicky machine is really great for this type application.A little vacumn goes a long way.And it is thrifty on the epoxy.And it can be set out in the sun immediatly after drawing a vacumn. PHD ReDnEck EnGiNeEr

Thats a purty good title James Later Clyde

[jamesp]

I do my best to live up to it.I have 2 friends that come to my place to deer hunt and they are totally disfunctional and drink too much and trip over each other and everything is a big dramatic complicated problem.Dear wife and i crack up watching them.She named them KEYSTONECOPS.So you too have a purty good title.

[rockjunquie]

Great and interesting thread. ;D

I just want to give you a heads up. My brother in law came up with a way to vacuum seal mason jars with a brake bleeder. Works great, I do it all the time.

www.instructables.com/id/The-Alvin-Vacuum-Sealer/

I'm going to try this when I attempt some stabilizing. I have some chrysocolla that I'd like to make a little more user friendly. Of course, I will be limited to the size of a quart mason jar, but my pieces are small.

[Deleted]

Hey Jason,

How is it looking so far? I could not wait for your results and started my own batch. :-)

I HOPE it works.

Tim

[Deleted]

I'll use Telas method with CA to see how it goes. I may use proper pump, dunno.

Cherdarock do you have a proper vacuum pump?

[FrogAndBearCreations]

the only problem I see is that your mixing the hardener along with the resin in the acetone - that is not how I do it - I mix only the resin in the acetone for the saturation and then after several days sitting in a vacuum I hit it with the activator/hardener and put them under a 60watt light to cure for several days

[mrribbit]

so what was the end result I am gonna do it

[Deleted]

May 16, 2013 16:55:49 GMT -5 FrogAndBearCreations said:

the only problem I see is that your mixing the hardener along with the resin in the acetone - that is not how I do it - I mix only the resin in the acetone for the saturation and then after several days sitting in a vacuum I hit it with the activator/hardener and put them under a 60watt light to cure for several days

It wont hardn until the solvent flashes off. Two parts in solvent is ok, normal and customery for epoxy stuff...

[jamesp]

Rocks being vacuumed using a food vacuum sealer. In this case vaseline.
Vacuumed rocks in package placed in oven at 200F initially to reduce viscosity.
Easy way to apply fairly good vacuum and safely heat at same time. Beware of acetone and it's flash point...