Epoxy or cyanoacrylate?

Jewelry Discussion
1

I made a deep (~4mm) bezel for a rutilated quartz tongue that I’m
using as a pendant. The tongue has very little taper near the base
and I know that rolling down the bezel on it is not going to hold it
long term.

I’d be interested in any opinions on whether epoxy or cyanoacrylate
would be better for cementing the stone into the bezel.

A couple of (not-so-good) photos will illustrate:

http://www.ganoksin.com/ftp/DSC_1615.jpg
http://www.ganoksin.com/ftp/DSC_1617.jpg

Thanks.
alonzo

2

A 2 part epoxy is much better in shear than cyanoacrylate. no
question about it. Its also not so hard when cured. Thus a lot
safer. Last thing you want is for the stone to fall out. As an aside
I had an front top incisor porcelain crown fall off. Scrubbed it
well, dried it very well, used 2 part rapid 10 min epoxy put on the
tooth stub, held in place for 15 mins. Use it for hardv apples etc.
Perfect bond some 6 months ago.

3

Epoxy is so far superior to superglue for just about all things
jewelry that I chuckle a little when people want to use superglue.
No doubt there will be a storm of disagreement to that, which is
fine. Glue it in, wipe it down and then carefully wipe it off with
acetone and nobody will ever know it’s glued. You get greater
strength, longer life, and real working time with epoxy.

4 
I'd be interested in any opinions on whether epoxy or cyanoacrylate
would be better for cementing the stone into the bezel.

Epoxy

5

Thanks everyone for the replies. You confirmed my own thoughts. Epoxy
it is. Cutting a grove around the stone for some extra grip was a
good idea too.

– alonzo

6

This certainly has been my own experience; epoxy wins hands down.

Lisa Van Herik
www.beadifferent.com

7

Are the folks recommending epoxy referring to the 2 part kind? (Is
there such a thing as a one part kind?) If you need just a pin
head’s worth, I was always concerned about not getting an even mix of
the two parts in the tiny amount used.

Janet in Jerusalem

8 
Thanks everyone for the replies. You confirmed my own thoughts.
Epoxy it is. Cutting a grove around the stone for some extra grip
was a good idea too.

I use a clean (new, no compound) mounted (medium) bristle brush to
remove the glue that’s hanging over.