Dopping adhesives

[Aussie Sapphire]

Malachi makes a good point.


A good idea to store your two part epoxy glues in the butter section or crisper section of a fridge if you can as storing under a cool and stable temperature environment does significantly extend shelf life. 


cheers
Leah

[Rusted]

To give your standard Epoxy extra strength (for dopping) mix in a bit of plaster. So a match head of part A, a match head of part B and a match head of plaster of Paris, mix, and it looks and performs pretty much like Tite on.
Plaster works much like the aggregate (gravel) in concrete.

[dughug]

Rusted is on the mark with his recommendation re plaster of Paris. I use talcum powder which does the same thing.

[Lefty]

I'll have a go at that, cheers Rusted. I did pick up my JB-Kwik yesterday and used it - yes, much less runny that Araldite, glue glob stayed exactly where I put it and did not bury the stone or run away down the dop.

[MakkyBrown]

Just a heads up, do not use super glue gel when transfering for light stones like topaz. Farout, I thought I'd be smart and speedup my transfers but I just created a problem The glue dries clear, the stone is bright and it's so hard to see meets compared to black epoxy.
Be great for darker stones but not clear topaz. Used a texta and 10x, atleast with my encoder I only have to hit the meets once

[FlashGP]

Makky

I've commandeered my wife's floor stansing craft light she bought at a craft fair.  With it over my left hand sholder I can see the meets on light material easier, especially the meets at the girdle.

Regards
Gordon

[Aussie Sapphire]

I've commandeered my wife's floor standing craft light she bought at a craft fair.

There are also desk lamps that are magnifying as well - perhaps they might be useful for this sort of thing.  Can get them either as a stand or clamp to the side of a bench or desk.

[MakkyBrown]

Makky

I've commandeered my wife's floor stansing craft light she bought at a craft fair.  With it over my left hand sholder I can see the meets on light material easier, especially the meets at the girdle.

Regards
Gordon

I haven't tried light from behind me yet, I use a 28w twisted fluro bulb in a lamp shade roughly above the dop. It works well but it is a bit hard on the eyes when using a 10x. Good with 4x face shield.  I've never hard trouble to see the meet until the super glue gel.

[FlashGP]

Makky

I had been using an Ikea LED light reading light fromleft or behind left of the work with an 11w twisted fliro on the ceiling.  Works well when checking for scratches.

A 28w twisted fluro should be brighter than a 100w incandescent bulb.  It is a wonder you haven't damaged your eyes.  Judges only use a 40w incandescent bulb or are now allowed to use a LED of equivalent brightness.

Have you tried putting the 28w in a battpn on the ceiling above your gaceting machime?  In my study it would give plenty of light to work by.

Regards
Flash

Have you

[MakkyBrown]

I'll have to get more light higher up, but it the best thing I've tried out of a lot of different glodes for scratches. When angled right I don't miss much. It's under a shade on an moveable arm so I sort of bump it round a bit to get it right. Using a head shield I don't get direct light from it but when I get closer and use 10x/12x I noticed it a bit in the eye I use the lens on after a few hours.