What epoxy to use?

[ScarlettoSara]

I have used a stone burnisher on silver to push the bezel setting.
I really liked it much more than the metal burnisher.
If you could figure out a way to make a bunch of these for a good price maybe you could go around or call pottery places/pmc studios and ask them about stocking in their places.
Maybe even some bead shops since they many of their customers are into silver smithing.
I am member of a PMC guild here in KC so they probably got them out there too.
I think they would be kinda cool just as a lipstick. I bet you could find some old lipstick cases in yardsales and use the base to set the stone and hang from leather or chain and there you go:)
Interested in seeing how this is going to evolve:)

[Enchantra]

There is certainly a market for agate burnishers.  I wouldn't mind having one.  I could order one through FMG or Rio, or even IJS, but why do that if I could get a handmade one?

[Helene]

Tipical search for this material online

psylimolane
phsylomene
phselomelaine
presolomelene

Oh heck,  crown of silver.
Have a nice slab could send you to try.
You will have black fingers and fingernails.

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

I have used a stone burnisher on silver to push the bezel setting.
I really liked it much more than the metal burnisher.
If you could figure out a way to make a bunch of these for a good price maybe you could go around or call pottery places/pmc studios and ask them about stocking in their places.
Maybe even some bead shops since they many of their customers are into silver smithing.
I am member of a PMC guild here in KC so they probably got them out there too.
I think they would be kinda cool just as a lipstick. I bet you could find some old lipstick cases in yardsales and use the base to set the stone and hang from leather or chain and there you go:)
Interested in seeing how this is going to evolve:)

I'm not interested at this time in selling anything. That would make it work. Work == stress. Stress makes me very ill (I have an immune condition not terribly unlike lupus but in many ways probably not as bad - maybe in some ways worse, hard to say - but similar in stress response; my body turns on itself so - no stress allowed). Perhaps if I get so good at it I can whip them out in my sleep I'd consider it but that's not for now.

But - if you, Amanda and/or Helene are interested in helping me figure out what these are (In my background burnishing meant something entirely different - this is totally greek, cool greek, to me), and where the overlay lies between desireable designs and functionality and what I like making then I'd be happy to send you my results to try out (and keep of course).

I'm not going to be doing any metal working (no equipment and I gotta be honest - no interest) but if someone else IS interested I'd be more than happy to work on incorporating that and we'd then have a joint functionally working project and maybe you'd get something you'd be happier with than a monolithic design. I have some foreign silver coinage I'd be glad to toss in the fray for casting or contorting or setting or whatever (some of the netherlands pieces would actually probably be tiny enough for setting).

Wood - not much I can do here in the crafting department. If I had a lathe I couple probably make some passable handles but honestly, if wood is desired, I'd be better off hitting up goodwill or some such and buying cheap stuff from which to liberate handles when possible (I don't drive - my health again - just so you know, I don't get out nearly as often as most of you probably do).

Rock - I do have a lot of agate right now, so that isn't an immediate problem for sure. After reading a bit last night it seems that hematite is also very desirable. True? It's pretty messy to work with but if matters as much as my reading made it sound like it does then I'm game. I made need a little help regarding quality of material. For example - I see large 6lb'ish hunks of the stuff selling on eBay right now for $5/lb and less. How do I know if it's the right purity - or is it like the agate and most is acceptable if not too impure or soft (for example I made a moss cab awhile back that was easy to scratch with other agate - so in that regard, agate is not always agate if 'hard' is what we want)?

Let me know if the interest is there - if so - let's start reaaaaally simple (no stress allowed) and see what develops - fair enough?

Helene - are you kidding me? Hell yes! Seriously? Hell yes! Should I PM you my address? You're not playing a school prank on me are you? No kids behind me laughing and whispering, "that Frank is SOOO gullable...!"?

---- UPDATE ----

I just ran across a baggie full of small paintbrushes. They're hobby lobby cheapies I keep around for one time use when I re-glue sandpaper to a wheel (I use a super-sticky version of rubber cement that's re-stickable several times - this way I can just cut a wheel, stick in on, sand, peel it off and stick another one on; it lasts quite awhile). The is so sticky and glopy that it pretty much renders the brush useless (I suppose a very long soak in a solvent might work - easier and safer just to buy cheap and dispose).

Anyway, there's all different sizes - if this is a possibility let me know and I'll post a picture of them.

[Enchantra]

Frank, I don't want to cause you any stress..

So if you just want to play and putter and see what comes of it that's fine.  I'm Sure Sara, Krystee and the gang and I don't mind playing with your experimental pieces.  I believe it needs to be a hard agate, no porous places.  I would prefer agate over hematite myself.  Agate seems better when working with polymer clay, beads&glue, and metals.  Hope that helps Frank.   

[ScarlettoSara]

OK I am into this project now:)
Frank if you make some agate tips and send to me I will make polymer clay handles for them.
Here are some examples of agate burnisher tips:
http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=17033
Here are some examples of polymer clay handles for needles and such: I am not saying this is the best example since the possibilites are endless but it will give you an idea of what I am talking about.
Do a search for polymer clay crochet handles.
http://crochetme.com/blogs/kim_werker/archive/2010/10/13/handmade-handle-helps-hurting-hands.aspx

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

These are the same thing, right? They have sizes next to them.

http://www.stonehouses.co.uk/gilding.php

I could also use a side and/or bottom view or a description in terms you'd want for yourself if you were making something you'd never seen before.

They look to me like they come to thin but rounded edges but I could more info here.

And I assume the inside curve is just ornamental, right? It looks like that outward facing edge is the business side? This is important because I can't create concave curves or inverted/inset corners on a flat lat. Everything is ground against what essentially looks like a phonograph record.

This guy has some examples that I'm guessing might be the shapes they arecause he's using a flat lap also (not sure - didn't read - but notice no concaves).

http://www.classicflytying.com/index.php?showtopic=44564

I think I can do nicer than these (I think he focused completely on functionality - not much elegance going on there). If he's a member of this forum - no offense intended, I get it - I would just prefer a smidge more ornate looking (more curvature in the non functional areas).

To do concave I would have to carve them then hand sand them which takes forever, is labor intensive and can get expensive because you go through a lot of sandpaper. I may give this a try at some point but - let's start simple.

Also, how much nib coming off these do you need to form a body around? I can leave that part unpolished and even rough it up or put a few shallow cuts here and there so they'll stick to your material better?

I think that's all I need for now - talk to me - put some imagery in my head and I'll get started.

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

Frank, I don't want to cause you any stress..

So if you just want to play and putter and see what comes of it that's fine.  I'm Sure Sara, Krystee and the gang and I don't mind playing with your experimental pieces.  I believe it needs to be a hard agate, no porous places.  I would prefer agate over hematite myself.  Agate seems better when working with polymer clay, beads&glue, and metals.  Hope that helps Frank.   

Nice of you to volunteer me - no no, I offered you, Helene and BatWoman - more than that right now would be stressful. No stress Bess ;)

No problemo - I have very hard agate.

[ScarlettoSara]

Give me a bit:)
Senior Prom night and the whole house is in an uproar:) LOLOL

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

Prom night! Wow... seems like my prom was a lifetime ago. It was memorable though 

[Helene]

Would love to send you a slab of crown of silver, just e-mail adress.  Won't be able to send till the end of May.  Out of town for the next three weeks!  You don't even know how much I miss working in the studio and believe it or not cleaning house.

Is there another Helene - I only posted the 330 epoxy and crown of silver on this topic.

[Enchantra]

Nice of you to volunteer me - no no, I offered you, Helene and BatWoman - more than that right now would be stressful. No stress Bess ;)

No problemo - I have very hard agate.

I have ways of relieving stress....
*cracks her knuckles and digs the balls of her hands into your shoulders to start massaging...*

Follow the KISS principle with the burnishers Frank.  A simple one like the following is perfectly fine for most applications:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H201730TL  (It's metal, but same shape and design)
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H202025TL

http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203069TL  (Simple agate, mount it in the end of a piece of copper piping with doweling out the other end and presto, an agate burnisher!)

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

Would love to send you a slab of crown of silver, just e-mail adress.  Won't be able to send till the end of May.  Out of town for the next three weeks!  You don't even know how much I miss working in the studio and believe it or not cleaning house.

Is there another Helene - I only posted the 330 epoxy and crown of silver on this topic.

Nope, I was referring to you. It's not manditory  but if you're interested you're welcome in on the project (alll ya gotta do is share knowledge - in exchange you get the product of my interpretation of that knowledge - could be neat, could be something you'll regift to that relative you disike).

Anyway, if interested join in - if not nobody's going to die or anything.

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

Nice of you to volunteer me - no no, I offered you, Helene and BatWoman - more than that right now would be stressful. No stress Bess ;)

No problemo - I have very hard agate.

I have ways of relieving stress....
*cracks her knuckles and digs the balls of her hands into your shoulders to start massaging...*

Follow the KISS principle with the burnishers Frank.  A simple one like the following is perfectly fine for most applications:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H201730TL  (It's metal, but same shape and design)
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H202025TL

http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203069TL  (Simple agate, mount it in the end of a piece of copper piping with doweling out the other end and presto, an agate burnisher!)

First one looked round - agate one looked flatter (about 3 or 4mm thick maybe?) and many look tapered. ?

[Enchantra]

First one looked round - agate one looked flatter (about 3 or 4mm thick maybe?) and many look tapered. ?

Any of those styles would work fine Frank on your flat lap.  No weird angles.
Yes, some are tapered, some are rounded with a flat surface.  Whichever one you chose to try is fine.  They all work equally as well in application.