jet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 103 
|
Post by jet on Jul 11, 2017 7:41:57 GMT -5
I have a friend that fell in love with this condor agate of mine. I would like to take a couple of slices from it, one to make some jewelry from and one to maybe put on a nightlight for a Yule present for her. With all the cracks in it, I'm afraid once cut it will just fall into pieces. Is this something that can be stabilized before cutting and if so, how would I go about it?  |
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
|
Post by Sabre52 on Jul 11, 2017 7:52:28 GMT -5
Condors are notorious for fractures. Opticon might hide some of the cracks and stabilize it some but all in all, it looks as if those unhealed fractures probably go clear through. Probably gonna be a big problem when you cut it. My habit with those is to break out the solid sections like I do with some poppy jasper, and, if they are big enough, cab them...Mel
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2017 12:12:24 GMT -5
As Mel said.
Trim your cabs by first cutting along the fractures....
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Jul 11, 2017 12:42:51 GMT -5
jet I've used Hxtal & a heat lamp. It can make fractures like those disappear. Lynn
|
|
jet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 103
|
Post by jet on Jul 11, 2017 13:23:53 GMT -5
I'm ok with the fractures being visible, just wanted to see if there was a way to keep the slice intact in one piece.
I'll do a little more dinking around and see what I can find out.
Thanks for the responses.
|
|
QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
|
Post by QuailRiver on Jul 11, 2017 14:59:19 GMT -5
jet I've used Hxtal & a heat lamp. It can make fractures like those disappear. Lynn I agree about using Hxtal. It's an optical grade, water clear epoxy with a similar Refractive Index to glass. So it optically works well on agates too. Just first have to make sure that ALL of the oil residue is out of those cracks in the slab. Larry C. |
|
|
|
Post by coloradocliff on Jul 11, 2017 15:34:24 GMT -5
I'm ok with the fractures being visible, just wanted to see if there was a way to keep the slice intact in one piece. I'll do a little more dinking around and see what I can find out. Thanks for the responses. Jet.. Go with zarguy on this one. He cabs a bunch. Ask him how many wheels are on his arbor.. A butt load. I believe 12 or so, huge number and works them all. You see it and you'll have man unit build you one. Lynn is really, really good at this part of lap work. Beautiful condor.
|
|
