Morenci Turqoize

Hello All

been working with this material (Morenci Turqoize) for a while, and
was wondering if anyone could help out with info on what the backing
material is made of. I am thinking it is a resin based industrial
epoxy ? but there is a filler material added to that? that makes it
look graphite like,or iron oxide? or is it not resin at all?

Also I would like to find out if any one has knowledge of a good
supplier of this material, the last few batches I bought were from
the Indian Jewelers supply house,the quality is just okay.and the
shapes are not what I am looking for;way too many air bubbles in the
backing material. I was useing a spectacular batch that i had from
about 20 years ago,bought from a company in AZ called the Brown
Brothers, Can’t find them. any suggestions? I would be needing larger
peices about 25 to 30 carats a stone and more in the round /ovalized
forms.

Help
Hratch Babikian

Hello,

I was able to find Morencie turquoise at this web address.

http://www.eaznet.com/~mts/

It is from Wayne Brown so maybe it is the Brown brothers you are
looking for.

The backing material is likely Devcon which is a two part epoxy
resin commonly used to back turquoise. It can be shaped and sanded
after hardening. I have seen it with iron, aluminum, and what I
think is brass filings, it just makes different colors of the
metals. Yours is likely the iron variety.

Hope this help you find what you are looking for.

Fred

been working with this material (Morenci Turqoize) for a while,
and was wondering if anyone could help out with info on what the
backing material is made of. I am thinking it is a resin based
industrial epoxy ? but there is a filler material added to that?
that makes it look graphite like,or iron oxide? or is it not resin
at all? 

Usually it’s either JB Weld or Devcon Plasti-Steel. With the color
you’re describing, probably the Devcon.

Also I would like to find out if any one has knowledge of a good
supplier of this material, the last few batches I bought were from
the Indian Jewelers supply house,the quality is just okay.and the
shapes are not what I am looking for;way too many air bubbles in
the backing material. 

First, I would contact Dan Woodard, an Orchid member, who happens to
be the owner’s son. He might be able to shed some light, or would
like to know about the problem. They’re nice people and they like
happy customers.

Not to slight Dan, but I personally like getting my turquoise from
Thunderbird Jewelry Supply, the competitor there in Gallup. I lived
in Gallup for quite awhile and dealt with both. With T-bird, I can
call the stone buyer and tell him/her exactly what I’m looking
for–natural, stabilized, clear, with matrix, color, size, matched,
whatever–and they send it to me, and it’s usually what I would go
for if I were there in person. These stones are not in their catalog,
because they are small lots and not enough to list in a catalog. IJS
might have a similar setup. With this particular practice, you do
need to have an account or a credit card, because you will be charged
by the carat weight, and they won’t know what the carat weight will
be until they pick out the stones you want and weigh them. I
generally buy $100-$500 at a time.

Both companies are great to work with, and do try to help their
customers if there is a problem.

I was useing a spectacular batch that i had from about 20 years
ago,bought from a company in AZ called the Brown Brothers, Can't
find them. any suggestions? 

The Brown Brothers seem to have dropped off the face of the earth,
and not sure why. However, if you special order from T-bird, or
perhaps IJS, I think you’ll find their quality to be as superb as
what you were getting from the Brown Brothers, plus you might
discover some new material that is as equally stunning.

Hi Hratch,

You can try Larry Cooley (PO Box E, Sparks, NV 89432, 775-358-0685).
Don’t know if he’ll have Morenci material but it’s worth a try.

Beth Rosengard

well To All who Ansewered this thread,thank you so vey much. I did
go to The Thunderbird site,they had quite a bit to look at and ask
for.I did also find the Brown Brothers,wayne and peter ? they were
one in the same,and they still are producing the same high end
quality Turq.

thank you all
Hratch B.

PS: the Filler in the Back, as I was cleaning and sanding with water
and silicone carbide the water and grit was turning rust color…
sooo that was /is probably the steel powder mix epoxy.