How To Stabilize Rocks With Opticon - First Experiment!!!

#rocksandminerals #lapidary #howto
This video is a step by step process of rock stabilization with Opticon 224.
I purchased a few weeks ago, 5 pounds of Canadian Mined Fishscale Peristerite. They are fragile, but since they were so pretty I thought that it would be a great opportunity to try to stabilize them to make the most out of them!
Before embarking on stabilizing, do your research and watch other videos about Opticon 224 to form your own opinion. You can experiment a few ways of doing it until your find what works!
Here is the amazing vendor I purchased it from:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/CalbeckM...
The Red Tourmalines were purchased at the Tucson Gem Show from the company:
www.silvercove.net
In Canada, I could only find this store to purchase the Opticon! :
lacywest.com
(I could not purchase from the USA, there were shipping restrictions for such a product)
What other Canadian Stones I should look out for? I have a pretty good collection so far that I wish to share with you soon but I want to lean more!
What you will need to STABILIZE:
- Option 224 Fracture Sealer 2 bottles minimum in case one is not enough!
- Nitrile gloves (one heavy duty pair for Acetone one thin for the opticon)
- Ventilation and safety equipment
- Plastic containers
- Plastic Funnels
- Acetone
- Industrial cleaner like Zep
- Aluminium foil
- Aluminium cooking trays
- Metal trays
- Glass tray (optional)
- Brush or silicone spatula
- Cloth / Shop towels / Paper Towels
- Metal or plastic spatulas to mix
- Heating surface/ heating pad or toaster oven
- Vacuum pump
- Stones ;)
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TIMECODE:
00:00 - Intro Stabilizing Peristerite
01:04 - What you'll need
01:23 - Stone Selection
01:33 - Step 1. Cleaning Stones If Oily
01:46 - Step 2. Acetone Bath
01:55 - Step 3. Dry your Stones
02:22 - Step 4. Opticon Bath
02:46 - Step 5. Heat the Opticon
03:17 - Step 6. Vacuum
05:15 - Step 7. Wipe Stones and Keep Excess Resin
05:46 - Step 8. Add thick Layer of Hardener + Vacuum again
08:23 - Step 9. Wipe, Heat, Wait...
09:40 - Step 10. Assess after 12h, if sticky reheat
10:37 - Step 11. Nail Test
11:05 - Trimming The Stones
11:39: Talking plan Cutting 2 Cabochons
12:20 - Difference between Slabs
12:31 - Cabbing
13:58 - RESULT - Comparing stones
14:30 - Conclusion
14:50 - What's to come...