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Rock Art => Tutorials for the Rock Art Area => Topic started by: jerrysg on June 05, 2016, 05:03:20 PM

Title: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: jerrysg on June 05, 2016, 05:03:20 PM
Hi,  I have seen the reposts of the discussion of (http://)super glue doping of cabs in this folder.  I tried nails once! :dontknow: These old arthritic hands just don't work well with the nails. One of the other monitors at our lapidary club teaches newbies to start with nails and they quickly complain about how uncomfortable they are.

I have switched to using the superglue with flat head wood screws and a short length of dowel as a handle.  Much more comfortable than nails and just as cheap. :icon_scratch:

Since I can only work 1 stone at a time, it's a simple matter to change the dowel from one cab to another.  Maybe not as fast as picking up another nail but what's 5 seconds among friends. And my hands thank me for it. :headbang:

The first photo shows what I use. The second photo show a couple of dowels attached to cabs. The screws are #10 1-1/4" square drive (Robertson) screws that I had left from my woodworking hobby. There are a number of cabs shown with the screws attached to the back. Any flat head wood screw will work and Lowes and HD sell them in small packets. I use the #10 because the heads are larger. Normal slotted screws will probably work best because of the maximum surface area. Just make sure the top surface is flat. Phillips heads are probably the worst.  The screws (as well as the nails) can be reused. An overnight soak in acetone and they are as good as new.

I use woodworking high viscosity superglue and accelerator from a local woodworkers supply store.  It's seems to be cheaper than the lapidary stuff and it works. 

I have 2 sizes of dowels (1/2" and 3/4") and they do need to have the pilot hole drilled in the end. Best to use a drill press for this step but if you're good (I'm not) a hand held drill will work also. I use the smaller dowel with smaller stones but most of my work uses the larger dowel. A three foot length of dowel at HD is just a few bucks and you can get a lot of handles out of it.  Cut the length to fit your hand. I am still using the original dowels that I made 3 years ago and I have given a few away.

Like everyone else, I use alcohol (91% isopropanol [rubbing alcohol] from Walmart) to clean both the back of the cab and the screw head. A drop of superglue on the cab and a spritz of accelerator on the screw head.  After about 10 seconds contact, another spritz of accelerator to set the glue and then a rinse under running water. I always use the accelerator outside with the wind behind me. Don't get it in your eyes! :sad:

Jerry
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on June 05, 2016, 10:05:12 PM
Gotta' love it. I swear, lapidaries and smiths are some of the most innovative people on the planet. I like the look of setting the screws without the handles attached. Looks like this will much easier than dopping them with the handle already attached. The screws look like they sit there easily all by themselves this way.

Thanks for posting this.
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: womanwithatorch on June 06, 2016, 08:31:09 AM
Do you have to use a solvent to release the superglue?
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: Greg Hiller on June 06, 2016, 08:32:41 AM
When I use nails I cover the outside with a piece of flexible plastic tubing to make it easier to hold. 
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: Greg Hiller on June 06, 2016, 08:35:16 AM
When I remove the dops I just heat the end of the nail near the stone with a torch until the superglue softens.  Of course you have to be careful not to heat the stone, but I've never had a problem.  I do use gel type superglue so the layer of glue between the stone and the nail is thicker, and therefore less likely to transfer any significant amount of heat to the stone during this process. 
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: jerrysg on June 06, 2016, 10:58:07 PM
Gluing the screws with the handles attached won't work.  They fall over.  With the gel superglue the screws have a tendency to glide over the surface and not stay put if you just drop them into the glue.  You will notice in the pictures that the screw is off center on the teardrop cab. That's what happened there. Didn't interfere with working the stone, so I didn't reset the screw. With the accelerator on the screw head, it freezes in place quicker than without the accelerator but you should hold the screw in place until it sets. Usually less than 10 seconds.

If you don't want to use heat, acetone will dissolve the glue but never use it on any absorbent stone like turquoise.
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: Greg Hiller on June 08, 2016, 10:25:31 AM
I noticed that some of the screw heads are pretty small compared to the stones.  For large stones I will solder a small circular piece of brass onto the head of my nails to better move the stress of cutting from the stone to the nail. 
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: PhilNM on June 08, 2016, 12:43:03 PM
I use roofing nails. Dop (superglue) up a couple hundred at a time, then simply use a wine bottle cork to swap and hold the nails. Cheap, easy, and comfortable!
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: sulfide on June 08, 2016, 01:33:18 PM
I also use roofing nails; but I hold them with a pin vise that has a swivel on the end.  Very comfortable and quick to change stones.  For large stones I put a cone of doping  wax for support and use super glue to attach the stone.
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: jerrysg on June 08, 2016, 06:51:33 PM
Like the pin vise for use with nails.  Unfortunately I have so much money invested in the screws and dowels  :icon_jokercolor: won't be switching for a while.
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: Matrifi on June 19, 2016, 05:34:26 AM
Thank you for that great idea, I am a beginner and was having trouble with the doping wax will try this .
I also would like to ask the members I just purchase a leather polishing pad that I need to glue to a disk but I do not know which side is the one to use for polishing, can anyone help please?
Thank you in advance for the help

Hi,  I have seen the reposts of the discussion of (http://)super glue doping of cabs in this folder.  I tried nails once! :dontknow: These old arthritic hands just don't work well with the nails. One of the other monitors at our lapidary club teaches newbies to start with nails and they quickly complain about how uncomfortable they are.

I have switched to using the superglue with flat head wood screws and a short length of dowel as a handle.  Much more comfortable than nails and just as cheap. :icon_scratch:

Since I can only work 1 stone at a time, it's a simple matter to change the dowel from one cab to another.  Maybe not as fast as picking up another nail but what's 5 seconds among friends. And my hands thank me for it. :headbang:

The first photo shows what I use. The second photo show a couple of dowels attached to cabs. The screws are #10 1-1/4" square drive (Robertson) screws that I had left from my woodworking hobby. There are a number of cabs shown with the screws attached to the back. Any flat head wood screw will work and Lowes and HD sell them in small packets. I use the #10 because the heads are larger. Normal slotted screws will probably work best because of the maximum surface area. Just make sure the top surface is flat. Phillips heads are probably the worst.  The screws (as well as the nails) can be reused. An overnight soak in acetone and they are as good as new.

I use woodworking high viscosity superglue and accelerator from a local woodworkers supply store.  It's seems to be cheaper than the lapidary stuff and it works. 

I have 2 sizes of dowels (1/2" and 3/4") and they do need to have the pilot hole drilled in the end. Best to use a drill press for this step but if you're good (I'm not) a hand held drill will work also. I use the smaller dowel with smaller stones but most of my work uses the larger dowel. A three foot length of dowel at HD is just a few bucks and you can get a lot of handles out of it.  Cut the length to fit your hand. I am still using the original dowels that I made 3 years ago and I have given a few away.

Like everyone else, I use alcohol (91% isopropanol [rubbing alcohol] from Walmart) to clean both the back of the cab and the screw head. A drop of superglue on the cab and a spritz of accelerator on the screw head.  After about 10 seconds contact, another spritz of accelerator to set the glue and then a rinse under running water. I always use the accelerator outside with the wind behind me. Don't get it in your eyes! :sad:

Jerry
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: olgguy on July 12, 2016, 10:17:57 AM
Hilandpark Lapidary was showing Screw and mechanical handle kit for dopping at the "Agate Expo" show.
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: jerrysg on April 01, 2019, 11:49:48 AM
Just a little update to my original post.  I am now buying the superglue and accelerator from my local hobby shop. Cheaper than the woodworking supply. 

More importantly, I am not spraying the accelerator. Rather, I am using the dip tube from the sprayer to apply the solution both to the screw head to start and to the joined stone and screw to finish. Can do this inside without worrying about where the spray goes. Once the parts are joined, just a quick rinse with water to remove any excess accelerator.

Jerry
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: Orrum on April 02, 2019, 04:48:05 AM
Great ideas, lots of interesting variety.
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: Michael on April 02, 2019, 10:31:44 AM
Baking Soda sprinkled on the Super Glue works as an accelerator, without all those nasty fumes.  A little more messy, I agree, but those fumes bother me.  I also use flat head nails and use and re use those rubberized wine corks, which I and friends have given me over the years.  I use an alcohol lamp to warm the nail to soften the glue.  I really like the screws and dowel idea mentioned above.  It seems easier to glue the screws on the backs of the stone and then re-insert the screw into the dowel.  Thanks for all these ideas!
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: bilquest on April 02, 2019, 11:44:35 AM
Gotta chime in here with my tried and proven dop method... basically, dowel sticks of various width, cut to about 5" lengths. Painted with some colorful enamel paint to waterproof the wood. Then the secret sauce, E6000 glue. Put a dab of glue on the end of the dowel and press onto the back of the cab. It's sticky enough that it will stand up straight until it dries (coupla hours). When you're done cabbing, simply use your thumb to pry the stone from the stick. It's a rubbery glue and if any sticks to the stone, simply scrape it off with a razor blade or you can even peel it off with a finger nail. I guess the only downside is the wait for the glue to dry.
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: kenny on April 03, 2019, 08:23:39 AM
I make and use these they are aluminum dop handles with a set screw that holds the dop head of various sizes. Nails and bolts will also work. I have made handles up to 1" diameter. The normal dop heads are 1/4" stem with 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inches heads. I can make them to any desired size

(http://dl.dropbox.com/s/4zrsxdi1rhu3gou/dop.jpg)
Title: Re: Super Glue Dopping - Screws instead of Nails
Post by: rocks2dust on April 04, 2019, 10:08:21 AM
Somebody used to sell aluminum dops for cyanoacrylate glue. They had flat heads in various sizes with notches and holes drilled through so that the acetone could get into the interior and dissolve the glue much faster. Not sure what happened to them, as I haven't seen them for several years. Was a good idea.