As with the resin mixing test, I took my time and documented every step. The first step was preparing the pieces to be glued.
Using 320 grit sandpaper and the same finding as in the failed 2 Ton® test, I pressed hard to get as much silver off the surface as possible. Above you will see the before and after pictures.
Using the same sandpaper, but in a clean spot, I also forcefully scratched the entire bottom of the jewel from resin test #3, bubbles and all. I got a white powder I did not notice on my previous jewel sandings. I hope that is a good thing. Above are the before and after pictures.
I tore off a piece of wax paper, as I did in the original test. (The 2 Ton® instructions say to use a "clean, disposable surface.") Trying to "squeeze with equal presure from bottom of tubes so that bead diameters are uniform," I squeezed out and weighed the resin (picture on the left) then squeezed out and weighed the hardener (picture on the right). I think the hardener looks bigger than the resin, but the weights are similar.
I took a wooden craft stick (about half the width of a popsicle stick) and began to vigorously mix the two parts together. Counting in my head one one-thousand, two one-thousand, the epoxy became very sticky at about seventy one-thousand. As there is nothing in the instructions on how much time to mix, I decided stickiness was a good indicator to stop.
I went to apply the resin to the surfaces and noticed I hadn't cleaned them of the sanding dust. As quickly as I could, I used alcohol on both and dried them. Using the same stick as I used to stir the epoxy, I applied a very thin coats to the jewel and the finding. They slid around quite a bit, so I decided to apply pressure to the seam. I did this for about fifteen one-thousand.
You can see in the picture on the left how much glue oozed out of the seam on my first attempt. The second picture is my current attempt. There is no oozed glue.
Now is just the waiting game again. All three possible solutions to my previous fail were enacted here. I roughed up the surface more, I measured and mixed more precisely, and I spread the glue very thin. In 12 hours or so, I will discover if this was enough or if maybe the Devcon 2 Ton® epoxy just doesn't cut it as a jewelry glue.
The pictures on the page appear smaller than they are. To see them larger, simply double click on the picture. Also, I always welcome your constructive criticism. Click on the Comment link below next to the icon of a pencil; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.
I took a wooden craft stick (about half the width of a popsicle stick) and began to vigorously mix the two parts together. Counting in my head one one-thousand, two one-thousand, the epoxy became very sticky at about seventy one-thousand. As there is nothing in the instructions on how much time to mix, I decided stickiness was a good indicator to stop.
I went to apply the resin to the surfaces and noticed I hadn't cleaned them of the sanding dust. As quickly as I could, I used alcohol on both and dried them. Using the same stick as I used to stir the epoxy, I applied a very thin coats to the jewel and the finding. They slid around quite a bit, so I decided to apply pressure to the seam. I did this for about fifteen one-thousand.
Now is just the waiting game again. All three possible solutions to my previous fail were enacted here. I roughed up the surface more, I measured and mixed more precisely, and I spread the glue very thin. In 12 hours or so, I will discover if this was enough or if maybe the Devcon 2 Ton® epoxy just doesn't cut it as a jewelry glue.
The pictures on the page appear smaller than they are. To see them larger, simply double click on the picture. Also, I always welcome your constructive criticism. Click on the Comment link below next to the icon of a pencil; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.
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