Help Preserving this Rock/Stone

[ppratt]

Hey guys I need help preserving this rock. I found it some time ago and now I would like to preserve it. Its made out of some ironore, and is very brittle. I never seen anything like it. Its been worked on you can see the markings.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[Atlantis0077]

Morning,

Well honestly I cant tell what your rock is, but I will tell you what I do with similar pieces that are cracking or exfoliating. Its a simple cure really. I am sure some would be appalled at my method but it works. Take Elmer's glue and either thin it with a little water or just smear it on the piece with your finger. It will dry clear...will also have a little shine, but I can live with that. It will sink into cracks both small and great and seal your piece against further damage. The glue remains slightly flexible so cracking will stop. I use a water based glue such as Elmer's in the even that I ever want to remove it. Polyurethanes, varnish etc are more difficult to remove should the need arise. Just a suggestion....I am certain there are others with different cures. Your problem is fairly common....we have a lot of tools made from iron ore or limonite here.....if they have spent much time in the water such as in a lake, when they start drying out....they bloom cracks and the outer layer falls off like an onion skin.

Happy Hunting,

Atlantis

 

[archaeon]

Dr.Gomer has a bath that he uses to preserve artifacts mad of bone, shell, etc.....here's a post from another forum dealing with the acetone/duco mix:


"We use Duco glue and Acetone for all our sealing needs both personally and for customers in the majority of situations. I am sending our sealing recipe for dried artifacts. The mixing can be changed if one prefers different finishes. The finish we prefer is basically obtained by mixing one tube of glue per a pint of Acetone. One gallon of Acetone plus 8 tubes of glue should give you enough solution to dip this artifact in. You leave the artifact in the solution until it quits fizzing or bubbling. When you take it out it will dry very quickly and can even be held while it dries. If one has any whitening to appear from moisture still trapped inside one can lightly wipe the areas with Acetone to get rid of. This sealing will not change the looks of the artifact. So however it looks now that is how it will look when done. Only if it is dipped more than once will the outside finish change. Hope this helps. If it ends up being more than you bargained for we can do it for you".....Gomer

"The Duco glue is sold at Wal-Marts, etc. It is in a green and yellow colored tube and costs about $1.29 a tube. This gives pretty much exactly the same results as Butvar and Acetone that Universities use. Butvar leaves a nasty shiny look to everything you use it on! Use the duco acetone mix!".....

 

[spot]

Morning,

I'm unfamiliar with the second posters technique. I'm sure it will work, though it would be quite difficult to remove as the first poster pointed out. It will also be the more expensive of the two techniques. Again, I have not tried this technique so my comments are founded in reason and not experience.

However, I have used the first posters technique on occasion and it is cheap and does a fine job.

In closing, good luck with the technique either way you go and good luck with that "rock".


Thanks for sharing,

spot

 

[archaeon]

one of the main reasons we use the duco method is the finish. the elmers technique leaves a shiny finish on artifacts that we don't particularly like. the duco method leaves no finish. basically, the acetone thins out the duco glue, so it absorbs into all the cracks. to get rid of it later, if you wish, all you have to do is put it into a bath of straight acetone.....
the elmers technique has been the tried and true technique for a long time, along with beeswax, but both leave a shiny coating.
the duco technique is used by Dr.Gomer, one of the best artifact restoration guys out there.
i hope this helps

 

[spot]

Afternoon,

Yes, the Elmers method does indeed leave a shiny finish; it's toned down some by the water dilution.

What ever happened to Dennis Bushey? Is he still around? He has been considered the "king" of restoration by many. I just recently heard of another restorer by the name of Gomer on this board. I only have three restored points and don't require the services of a restorer but am curious about Bushey. Anybody know if he is still in business?

Thanks for sharing,

spot

 

[Cannonman17]

Dr.Gomer has a bath that he uses to preserve artifacts mad of bone, shell, etc.....here's a post from another forum dealing with the acetone/duco mix:


"We use Duco glue and Acetone for all our sealing needs both personally and for customers in the majority of situations. I am sending our sealing recipe for dried artifacts. The mixing can be changed if one prefers different finishes. The finish we prefer is basically obtained by mixing one tube of glue per a pint of Acetone. One gallon of Acetone plus 8 tubes of glue should give you enough solution to dip this artifact in. You leave the artifact in the solution until it quits fizzing or bubbling. When you take it out it will dry very quickly and can even be held while it dries. If one has any whitening to appear from moisture still trapped inside one can lightly wipe the areas with Acetone to get rid of. This sealing will not change the looks of the artifact. So however it looks now that is how it will look when done. Only if it is dipped more than once will the outside finish change. Hope this helps. If it ends up being more than you bargained for we can do it for you".....Gomer

"The Duco glue is sold at Wal-Marts, etc. It is in a green and yellow colored tube and costs about $1.29 a tube. This gives pretty much exactly the same results as Butvar and Acetone that Universities use. Butvar leaves a nasty shiny look to everything you use it on! Use the duco acetone mix!".....

This technique is SUPER effective on very brittle pottery.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Dr.Gomer has a bath that he uses to preserve artifacts mad of bone, shell, etc.....here's a post from another forum dealing with the acetone/duco mix:


"We use Duco glue and Acetone for all our sealing needs both personally and for customers in the majority of situations. I am sending our sealing recipe for dried artifacts. The mixing can be changed if one prefers different finishes. The finish we prefer is basically obtained by mixing one tube of glue per a pint of Acetone. One gallon of Acetone plus 8 tubes of glue should give you enough solution to dip this artifact in. You leave the artifact in the solution until it quits fizzing or bubbling. When you take it out it will dry very quickly and can even be held while it dries. If one has any whitening to appear from moisture still trapped inside one can lightly wipe the areas with Acetone to get rid of. This sealing will not change the looks of the artifact. So however it looks now that is how it will look when done. Only if it is dipped more than once will the outside finish change. Hope this helps. If it ends up being more than you bargained for we can do it for you".....Gomer

"The Duco glue is sold at Wal-Marts, etc. It is in a green and yellow colored tube and costs about $1.29 a tube. This gives pretty much exactly the same results as Butvar and Acetone that Universities use. Butvar leaves a nasty shiny look to everything you use it on! Use the duco acetone mix!".....

This technique is SUPER effective on very brittle pottery.

Plexiglass, acetone, and a 1 gallon zip lock bag will do the same thing. All you have to do is get about 1/2 cp. of plexiglass finings, mix with acetone, and put everything in a plastic zip lock bag. Let it soak for a few hours. Then ... take the piece out and let it set up over night. When you get it out it will be as hard or harder than when it was originally made. This is how they preserve brittle bone. Cheap and inexpensive. Any plexiglass will do.

 

[tomclark]

Use the duco/acetone mix boom