I’ve been reading the posting for about 2 weeks now and I’m enjoying
the variety very much, thank you. In reference to a posting on
ammonite ‘steel epoxy’ was mentioned, and I am unaware of it. Could
you explain the properties of it, and give a source? Thanks, Kim
Get to you local large auto store or better yet a brearing house, or
one of the large Wal Mart type stores, and look for J B Weld or
Devcon products. Look over the products for the metal filled items.
Soem are hight temp, good for underwater, fast set/slow set, etc.
What you are getting is basically a (hopefully) high grade epoxy
resin tht has been “filled” with fine metal dust. I use the Devcon
products as I think they are the best but my wife likes the JB Weld
products. Generally the strongest resins are NOT the fast cure ones.
This material can be drilled, tapped and worked just like metal, I
just won’t take the high heats metal can (the resin burns).
Just take some time and look over the different choices of these
products and get the one that sounds best for your installation.
John Dach
MidLife Crisis Enterprises
C.T. Designs
Cynthias sculptures are at: http://www.mlce.net
Maiden Metals,
Hi Kim, Steel epoxy is a product developed for industry to fill in
badly worn sections of machinery to effect a temporay repair until a
new part can replace the worn one. As with many other products, many
other uses developed over time.
Basically, steel epoxy is an epoxy to which powdered steel has been
added. When properly mixed, applied & cured, it can be machined just
like 100% steel. It’s physical characteristics are similar to mild
steel.
In the US many hardware stores carry it. Many industrial suppliers
carry a larger assortment of sizes.
Dave
Kim - You can get this material at almost any hardware or auto supply
store, from many different manufacturers. Duro makes one kind; the
kind I use is Devcon. The better ones are real epoxies - two parts you
mix - with steel filings mixed in for body. The cheaper sort of
material is called liquid steel, and is one-part with no mixing. The
stuff is made as a body filler for autos and other machinery; it’s
original lapidary use was backing thin vein turquoise so it would be
thick enough to cab. That’s why it is sometimes recommended for
backing thin ammonite before cutting and setting.
Jim Small, SMALL WONDERS
I thought I’d throw in a bit more testimony about the JB Weld
product. I use it for adhering thick snake chain into the end caps of
my pieces. It works great and I’ve had no problems to report on the
pieces disconnecting. A well known jeweler who inlays stone and grinds
to the finished flat surface told me about this great stuff.
Good luck,
Rebecca, San Diego.
Kim,
There are many good brands–we (The Jewelry Equipment Dr) use
Devcon–it has good shear strength and fair tensile strength.
Adhesion to metal depends on how porous the surface is; we find it is
dependable where machining is required. This kind of epoxy is not
intended for wear characteristics such as bearing surfaces. Hope this
helps you. John Cranor, The Jewelry Equipment Dr
(www.equipmentdr.com)