fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 23, 2021 21:59:17 GMT -5
All you purist just pass this one by, i finally (after a year or so) found an epoxy technique to fill cracks and pits that will hold up to grinding, and polish like glass. The product is called Art Resin. i got the recipe from an old timer,and it works better than anything else . heat slab warm up epoxy( 2 parts equal) apply to slab cook at 170 for 2 hours
flip over repeat.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2021 22:01:50 GMT -5
All you purist just pass this one by, i finally (after a year or so) found an epoxy technique to fill cracks and pits that will hold up to grinding, and polish like glass. The product is called Art Resin. i got the recipe from an old timer,and it works better than anything else . heat slab warm up epoxy( 2 parts equal) apply to slab cook at 170 for 2 hours flip over repeat. Proof is in the pudding. You put out some nice cabs. That recent flowering tube onyx was probably a good candidate.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2021 22:04:57 GMT -5
How do you think it compares to hxtal?
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 23, 2021 22:54:07 GMT -5
How do you think it compares to hxtal? I have never had success with Hxtal. It would grind right off ... This epoxy actually sticks to the cab/ slab. I will take some before and after photos And post them.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 24, 2021 7:32:55 GMT -5
All you purist just pass this one by, i finally (after a year or so) found an epoxy technique to fill cracks and pits that will hold up to grinding, and polish like glass. The product is called Art Resin. i got the recipe from an old timer,and it works better than anything else . heat slab warm up epoxy( 2 parts equal) apply to slab cook at 170 for 2 hours flip over repeat. Another product is cactus juice. Similar but it is more fluid and under a vacuum is pulled into the stone not just a surface treatment. I'm not poo pooing your idea just offering an alternative. I have used it on very punky (rotten) wood and it stabilizes it perfectly. Here is the link if your interested. www.turntex.com/product/cactus-juice-resin-and-dyes
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 24, 2021 7:59:14 GMT -5
All you purist just pass this one by, i finally (after a year or so) found an epoxy technique to fill cracks and pits that will hold up to grinding, and polish like glass. The product is called Art Resin. i got the recipe from an old timer,and it works better than anything else . heat slab warm up epoxy( 2 parts equal) apply to slab cook at 170 for 2 hours flip over repeat. Another product is cactus juice. Similar but it is more fluid and under a vacuum is pulled into the stone not just a surface treatment. I'm not poo pooing your idea just offering an alternative. I have used it on very punky (rotten) wood and it stabilizes it perfectly. Here is the link if your interested. www.turntex.com/product/cactus-juice-resin-and-dyesYes Cactus juice i have used on porous material With good results, But it will not seal fractures . Thank you!😊
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 372
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Post by brotherbill on May 24, 2021 8:38:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip, I will try this. Not pricey either and it seems readily available in art stores.
4 hours drying time sounds way faster than my results with opticon!
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 24, 2021 9:05:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip, I will try this. Not pricey either and it seems readily available in art stores. 4 hours drying time sounds way faster than my results with opticon! [ Make sure you heat the slabs up before hand. Either in a toaster oven? Or with a hair dryer. I cannot stress the importance of this. Also heat up the epoxy after you mix it, Also key!
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 24, 2021 12:29:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip, I will try this. Not pricey either and it seems readily available in art stores. 4 hours drying time sounds way faster than my results with opticon! Opticon is a sham! Lol. Thats just my opinion😊
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 24, 2021 17:19:07 GMT -5
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 24, 2021 17:35:51 GMT -5
The slab was coated once, Then i cut my preform and ground on the 80 grit to shape. Then once more with the sauce
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Post by stardiamond on May 24, 2021 19:20:01 GMT -5
I am not a purist but don't stabilize. The purpose of your topic was to share a successful stabilizing technique. My approach is to avoid and then disclose. I made cabs for over 15 years before listing and I set the bar at what I thought what was worth working on and the cab was complete when I was satisfied with it. When I started listing the bar was raised to when a customer would be satisfied with it. I list cabs with flaws, disclose them and let the customer decide. My wife's opinion is not to list cabs with flaws.
The pattern on those cabs is outstanding and they definitely should be made. It is up to the customer to decide whether they want a stabilized cab. I recently bought a one pound piece of Lions Den Morgan Hill. The seller sent a hand written note about how to stabilize with super glue. I tried that more than 15 years ago and it didn't work. Morgan Hill has flaws and I evaluated the price against the anticipated yield working around the likely defects.
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on May 24, 2021 20:00:46 GMT -5
I am not a purist but don't stabilize. The purpose of your topic was to share a successful stabilizing technique. My approach is to avoid and then disclose. I made cabs for over 15 years before listing and I set the bar at what I thought what was worth working on and the cab was complete when I was satisfied with it. When I started listing the bar was raised to when a customer would be satisfied with it. I list cabs with flaws, disclose them and let the customer decide. My wife's opinion is not to list cabs with flaws. The pattern on those cabs is outstanding and they definitely should be made. It is up to the customer to decide whether they want a stabilized cab. I recently bought a one pound piece of Lions Den Morgan Hill. The seller sent a hand written note about how to stabilize with super glue. I tried that more than 15 years ago and it didn't work. Morgan Hill has flaws and I evaluated the price against the anticipated yield working around the likely defects. Yessir, To me it was motre of a challenge To get something to adhere to the faults. I could of worked around the cracks like usual. But it is always nice to have an option, Especially. Many times the fracture will run right down The best area. Thanks foer the input Steven
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neural
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2019
Posts: 114
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Post by neural on May 25, 2021 13:43:27 GMT -5
There are various types of resin that can be used for this purpose, but Art Resin is definitely the best choice as it is the least "toxic" when it comes to safety. It also has a lower viscosity than some of the other resins available. Additionally, it is counted among the better resins when it comes to issues with yellowing over time. Thanks for posting this and bringing it up though. Much as I've used resin for artwork, never thought about using it to stabilize stone.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jun 18, 2021 14:59:04 GMT -5
I purchased the 8-ounce bottles. It appears to work as fencejumper described. But I had the same issue that's mentioned in some Amazon reviews: the bottles make it really difficult to measure amounts carefully. ArtResin seems to be fairly forgiving with proportions, but I wasn't even close to 50:50 with my two mixings. I also used too much and applied it too thickly. So I decided to purchase some flip-top caps to be much more precise. A case of 24 is $15 and change on Amazon. 24 caps are waaaay too many, but I think it's good to have some extra caps in case the nozzles eventually clog. These are 24-410 caps and they fit:
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fencejumper
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2021
Posts: 382
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Post by fencejumper on Jun 18, 2021 16:25:29 GMT -5
Ii got some dollar store plastic shot glasses. 24 for a dollar! Also some dollar store Plastic (littlebigger) Shot glasses. I measure a little into both till there even.
The more u overdo? The more you grind off!
Also some teflon oven liner on amazon Cut to fit sheets NOTHING will stick to it.i have more pointers if you get in a jam pm me!
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Post by knave on Sept 12, 2021 12:51:33 GMT -5
Bumpity
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Post by knave on Sept 15, 2021 15:06:36 GMT -5
How do you heat the resin?
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Post by knave on Sept 15, 2021 15:06:47 GMT -5
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 372
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Post by brotherbill on Sept 15, 2021 15:41:43 GMT -5
Lamp with 100 watt bulb, 2 inches away.
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