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Turbo
Joined: 30 Sep 2009
Posts: 260
Location: Delaware
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Posted: Dec 25, 2013 19:13 Post subject: Method of Making a Custom Mineral Mount |
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I though I'd share a method of making a custom mineral display mount for those who might be interested.
1) I wrapped the specimen in cling wrap to prevent it from getting messy and to block out the undercuts so that plaster will not lock into them and make the specimen irretrievable from the base.
2) I made a thick mix of plaster and rolled it into a ball.
3) The specimen was pressed into the plaster ball. Wet your fingers to shape the plaster as desired around the specimen.
4) Lift the specimen off the plaster before it sets.
5) Once the plaster is fully set, test-fit the specimen.
6) If it rests nicely on the mounting, trim and smooth the mounting to the desired shape.
7) I then lined the inside with black felt and painted the plaster black.
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Specimen wrapped in cling wrap. |
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Plaster ball. Thick dough-like mix. |
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Initial plaster base before trimming and smoothening, |
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Plaster trimmed and smoothened with sand paper. |
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Plaster painted black to match felt |
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Calcite, sphalerite and galena on limestone matrix Elmwood mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee 11x10x9cm Specimen on the finished custom mount. |
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11323 Time(s) |
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gemlover
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Posts: 211
Location: Easley, SC
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Posted: Dec 25, 2013 19:23 Post subject: Re: Method of Making a Custom Mineral Mount |
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Thanks for the great illustrations for this method.
John
_________________ John
John Atwell Rasmussen, Ph.D.. AJP
Geologist and Gemologist |
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Turbo
Joined: 30 Sep 2009
Posts: 260
Location: Delaware
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Posted: Dec 25, 2013 20:41 Post subject: Re: Method of Making a Custom Mineral Mount |
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No problem! I hope it can be useful to others.
Ed
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Pierre Joubert
Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape
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Posted: Dec 26, 2013 03:37 Post subject: Re: Method of Making a Custom Mineral Mount |
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gemlover wrote: | Thanks for the great illustrations for this method.
John |
I want to echo John's thanks. I will certainly remember this easy and effective method.
_________________ Pierre Joubert
'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. ' |
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vicen
Joined: 25 Aug 2011
Posts: 20
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Feb 06, 2014 04:34 Post subject: Re: Method of Making a Custom Mineral Mount |
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Hi,
Nice and effective but remember that it can be only used in short periods of time. The plaster will shrink as it loses his water!
Always check if the mineral o specimen is strong enough to cope with the wrapping with the cling film and when pressing it into the plaster.
Vicen
_________________ Geological Conservator/Preparator
Natural Sciences Department
National Museums Scotland
242 West Granton Road
Edinburgh EH5 1JA |
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James Catmur
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 1340
Location: Cambridge
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Posted: Feb 06, 2014 06:17 Post subject: Re: Method of Making a Custom Mineral Mount |
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Sugru, in a suitable color, might work too as it is somewhat soft when dry and does not shrink. I have not tried it yet but will do soon. It does stick very well so one would need to use film between them. I believe it is neutral so should be safe.
James
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