Pearls Glue

Hi,

Just wanted to know what do experts recommend to glue natural pearls
to silver ear mountings. I made this concave pieces with a central
stem and have used Devcon 5 minute epoxi mixed in the correct way
but some pearls have just fell apart and I think the glue I used
could be the problem. I also have bought two types of cyanocrilate
glue, one more liquid than the other and do not know if I could use
this to set the pearls.

Regards,
Thor Hedderich

When I was an apprentice on Jeweler’s Row in Chicago, we used 5 min.
2 part epoxy.

Elaine
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

Lately I’ve been using HXTAL which seems pretty secure but its such
a pain to wait days for a good cure.

On some antique pieces I’ve run into, pearls were set with some sort
of white hot glue. That stuff is fabulous but I don’t know what it is
or where to get it.

What you can do to improve your bond is to get a fairly tight fit
between the post and the hole. Any free play allows the soft epoxy
to flex and fail. On larger pearls I will often drill the hole
deeper. On occasion I have actually tapped a threaded hole into the
pearl to match a threaded post. Overkill can be a good thing.

Overkill can be a good thing. 

I have to jump in here and agree. I have use marine epoxy to glue in
pearls because so many women will get earrings and rings wet in the
shower or pool. The marine epoxy takes longer to set but I haven’t
had any pearls come unglued. Five minute will definitely soften and
let go when it gets wet. I also lightly score my posts with a pair
of cutters to create a mechanical lock.

Frank Goss

On occasion I have actually tapped a threaded hole into the pearl
to match a threaded post. 

I am not an authority on pearls, but what I like to do is make the
pearl peg out of square wire that I have twisted. This turns it
into, in effect, a screw. If the fit is snug, you can screw the
pearl onto it, and the “threads” leave room for the glue so it isn’t
all squeezed out when you put the pearl on the peg.

Noel

Sort of off topic but regarding the HXTAL glue, I recently had a
project where I had a deadline and had to “accelerate” the curing
time quite a bit. Instead of several days, I got it cured in about 8
hours, using judicious heat from a light bulb. It worked fine and
ther were no ill effects. The section of glue was around 1/8" thick,
not just a seam.

Todd Welti

The makers of HXTAL suggests, if I remember correctly, eight days for
a full cure. I think you may be on dangerous ground. And why did you
use HXTAL instead of another epoxy designed to cure in less time?

KPK

And why did you use HXTAL instead of another epoxy designed to cure
in less time? 

I was looking for the best durability. I hate comebacks. Egg on
face. 5 minute epoxy seems to have a useful life less than what I’d
like. I was unaware of the extreme long cure time before I bought
some HXTAL. If there’s something in the middle I’m all ears!

How do you consider this dangerous ground? Have you had some
negative experiences with it?

It’s like using a sledge to kill a flea.

I have had no bad experience with HXTAL. In fact I’ve seen some
amazing things done using HXTAL. My cautionary note was prompted by
the manufacture’s recommendation of cure time. These guys know what
they’re doing.

As a personal thing I would never use 5 minute epoxy. There are other
epoxies like Epoxy 330, if you want quick cure time.

KPK

Hi Kevin,

I have used lots of adhesives over the years, for many applications.
I use epoxies every day and would caution folks thet the 2-part
epoxy bonds, unless specifically designed for it, are NOT waterproof.
Exposure of the 5, 10 and half-hour 2 part epoxies to moisture (as
in “I never take my earrings off”) is a recipe for bond failure. The
epoxy absorbs moisture, swells, and detriorates. HXTAL is a better
product, as are the heat or UV curing products.

Wayne

Hi Folks…

As a personal thing I would never use 5 minute epoxy. There are
other epoxies like Epoxy 330, if you want quick cure time. 

I’ve had good results with Devcon’s Two Ton epoxy…I get the
stuff in the two barrel syringe…

30 minutes to handling, 24 hours to full cure… I usually give it
an extra day…

Stuff cures clear, and one can color it with Testor’s model paints, a
couple of drops added to it about half way through the one minute
mixing…

Cleanup before cure can be done with rubbing alcohol or acetone…

Gary W. Bourbonais
A.J.P. (GIA)

I agree that HXTAL is the better product when used as per
manufacture’s specifications.

KPK

I’m using some half drilled pearls in my latest jewelry designs.
I’ve embedded fine silver wire into the piece, and placing the pearl
on the end of the wire. My question is, what sort of glue or epoxy do
ya’ll recommend for affixing the pearl to the wire permanently?

For my first attempts I used a two part epoxy which seems to have
worked fine, but I’d like to know what others use. Since I’ve not
worked with pearls before I wasn’t sure if there were considerations
I am unaware of.

Thanks!
Pam East