[Jewelry making - Article 00257] - Re: [Orchid] Removing epoxy

[Peter W . Rowe]

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    there is a specific solvent commercially made for this, called
    Attack.  works like a charm. 

    Or, if the stones are not especially heat sensitive, some can be
    safely removed just by gently heating the piece enough to soften the
    epoxy. it swells a bit when this happens, often partly pushing the
    stones out already, enough so you can pry them the rest of the way
    off. The temps you need are somewhere in the range of 250F, I'd guess
    (well, at any rate, above the boiling point of water), to do this, so
    many stones can stand it.  Pearls, amber, turquoise,  or other highly
    heat sensitive materials cannot always, though pearl posts of often
    removed this way, relying on heat conduction to bring heat to the
    epoxy up the pearl post before the pearl gets too hot... Takes
    practice.... But things like agate, black onyx, or the like, won't be
    damaged, and this is a lot faster than solvents. 

Peter

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