[Rockhounds] Repairing Herkimer Clusters

[Kitty & Bill Heacox]

"Household Cement," or Duco Cement or Scotch Super Strength Adhesive 
will set up and dry much faster than Elmers.

But I've found the following to be very useful for many types of 
repairs, and it's especially good for glowhounds because the glue 
doesn't respond to SW or LW UV light and distract from fluorescent 
minerals.

Materials: 
1) Superglue: I prefer Instant Krazy Glue, the kind that comes in a 
green and orange stand-up Brush-On bottle is best (don't get the purple 
"color change formula;" it's supposed to change to clear after it dries, 
but in my tests it remained purple).  You can use any type of superglue, 
but I find the brush-on easier to use.

2) "White powder" or "clear powder" or "crystalex ridge filler" 
available in drug stores where they sell fingernail repair and 
artificial glue-on fingernails.  The powder contains acrylic ester 
polymer & benzoyl peroxide, or poly acrylic polymer.  I've got it in a 
small (net wt. 2 grams) plastic vial with a small tip under the cap that 
allows very precise "squirting," tapping or spraying of the powder.  
This has a Kristy Wells trademark.  I also have a 1/4 oz plastic jar 
with a Super Nail brand.  It has a snap-on lid and a jar opening of 
about 2cm, so it's more difficult to shake out the amount you want onto 
a small location, but it's cheaper that way, in bulk (so to speak---if 
you can call 1/4 oz bulk!).  I refill the Kristy Wells small container 
from the larger Super Nail one when needed, using a piece of paper 
rolled to fosm a funnel.

Procedure:  You use the powder to (a) speed up the drying of the 
superglue (it is supposed to be "instant," but on hard, smooth objects 
like quartz, it takes a while), (b) full in chips and gaps, (c) 
strengthen the bond, and (d) actually build up new or replacement areas 
if needed.  The method is to paint on the superglue, put the two pieces 
together, then sprinkle some of the powder onto the seam where the 
superglue is visible.  Depending on the size of the area to be glued, 
you may want to stabilize the two pieces in some fashion:  I sometimes 
use a dab of household cement or even a tiny bit of mineral tack to hold 
the pieces in place, then paint on superglue and sprinkle on the 
powder.  Sometimes I crumple aluminum foil to form props or cradles for 
balancing pieces in place. Modeling clay can work too, but be careful 
not to let the superglue seam touch the clay or it will become part of 
the repair!  When the powdered glue is firm (takes a few seconds or up 
to a minute), blow off the excess powder and see if you may need more 
glue & powder added at a different location, again, depending on the 
size and shape of the item.  If the powdered seam is very visible, you 
can sand it down gently with a bit of sandpaper or and emery board or 
nail file.  A final brush with superglue will make the seam shiny and 
less visible.  Sometimes there may be a gap up to 1/4 inch that should 
be filled in order to add strength:  in this case you repeat layers of 
glue and powder, gradually building up or filling the space.  Aluminum 
foil, waxed paper, or plastic wrap can be used to support the 
glue/powder mix if necessary. 

Caution:  Superglue can stick your fingers together, and is extremely 
irritaing if it contacts your eyes.  When I get a small amount on my 
fingers I just sand it off with an emery board, but it also comes off 
well with acetone or acetone-based nail polish remover, or after a few 
washings with soap & warm water.

Aloha, Kitty

Holly & Darryl wrote:
> Dear Rockhounds,
> Greetings from the Rochester Symposium.  Great Symposium again this 
> year.  It's been a ball hearing the stories from the dealers and 
> collectors.  A lot of great people here.
>
> Here's the question for all of you (now that I'm home and away from 
> the crowd).
> What glue do you all recommend for reattaching a herkimer crystal to 
> the rest of the crystal group?  I tried elmer's (don't think it's 
> going to work; can't keep my hand still long enough).
>
> Any guidance would be much appreciated.
>
> Thank you in advance.
> Darryl Powell
> Manchester, New York