Hal, I almost have all my materials together. Picked up the chalk and modeling clay last night. I going to get the epoxy and hopefully a dremel tonight. I will keep you posted on my success or failures. A couple questions though, have you had any problems with the epoxy sticking to the modeling clay? Also, when you make the imprint in the modeling clay, that only gives you "flaking" on one side; I guess the other side you have to use the dremel to match the flaking?
Well if you went so far as to pickup the first materials, you must be serious...Here's the last
of the very minutest details, some cover your queries..
Harbor Freight has the Dremel brand equivelent...$19.99 stock number 40457.....DONT BUY the good looking 'rotary tool kit' for $9.99....It's a one speed of about 30,000 RPM....you can hardly hold it when running.
Epoxy does not eat into the clay mold but some sticks to both flint & Epox when removed...I use a tooth brush dipped in mineral spirits ( or turpentine ) to remove, then soapy water to remove oily film.
RG is using the 5 minute epox then painting...to mix and blend in coloring your going to need every minute of the THIRTY MINUTE cure time ( starts to become unworkable in about 9 minutes )
The emory wheel cutoff disc does 94% of the heavy final trim ( using a sidewise action, not like cutting off a piece of pipe ) DONT use the drum sander.
The final flaking pattern is purely hand crafted...Just think " if Dr Golmer can do it...'I' can do it " ( I got a lot of artistic respect for Gomer, look back at his featured icon on the front page....All the largest of his repairs are hand tooled )
Right from day 1 I have used the Lapidary discs for the final finish...its rubber with grit in it. Three different grit sizes. Final finish is critical, I have tried the finest diamond dust bits but they leave minute gouge lines.
Some repairs are very small, the small epoxy quantity needed the more careful you must be with the 50-50 mix ( the last little bit on the mixing surface is NOT usable it doesn't get properly blended. )
To make swirls or different pattern colors, just seperate some mix into a seperate pile and color as
needed.
No matter what the color may be, even translucent, I am continually surprised how much GRAY tone is needed.
I have been busy knapping and trying to heat treat rock and thats a c**** but I think i might have to give the epoxy a run and try and do some more repairs i got a few worth trying
I hate to change the subject, but don't know how to contact you directly.
Joshua, do you have a brother named Danny??? If so I have met you and ridden your horses! I didn't know you were into this arrowhead business. You do very nice work.