QuestionHi,
I returnedrfrom Beijing a month ago with a beautiful jade brAcelet It is light green, in one solid circle of jade. This morning I dropped it on the tile floor of our bathroom and it broke in 4 pieces. What can I glue it with that will hold strongly enough to be pushed over my wrist bone covered in cream to help it slip on and off on a daily basis. we tried crazy glue today and it did not hold when I pushed it over my wrist Would this Epoxy 330 by Hughes work and will it work now that there is some crazy glue on each piece? i love this bracelet, It was 300.00 and is a great memento from a great trip. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you much!!
Cathy
AnswerDear Cathy, oh that the drop onto a tile floor had not happened! Yes, there is hope and a solution using the epoxy cement you mentioned, Hughes Epoxy 330. That particular product is the best I can think of for cementing the jade sections back together.
First, the super glue will have to be removed. This is done by a good soak in a solvent, which for for super glue is acetone, an ingredient in some fingernail polish remover or available in small containers at hardware stores. The jade will need to be handled gently to prevent breaking off any of the broken ends because you need the tightest fit end to end, allowing the jade to be aligned with the matching sides of each break. First, with a thin rubber glove on your hand and a soft cloth dipped in acetone, gently rub the end of the jade. If this does no good, the jade must be soaked for a while.
ACETONE IS VOLATILE AND FLAMMABLE. Do cleaning outdoors if possible and with good ventilation to avoid breathing the vapor.
Try one section of the jade first and watch it to make sure the super glue is softening and dissolving and there is no damage to the jade. Why? Some jade is stabilized with a plastic which has been pressured into the stone to improve appearance. Odds are your jade is just fine as is but play it safe to begin. Do you have any little zip type baggies? Put just enough acetone into a little baggie to cover one end of the jade with superglue on it. Put the jade into the baggie and zip shut. Set aside a while and check ever so often to see if the glue is being softened or removed. We used the little baggie as described to help prevent damage to the jade should the stone have a plastic impregnation. Acetone could dissolve the plastic. You will be able to tell if any of the end of the jade is being affected adversely.
Ok, the piece of jade came out clean as a whistle and looks fine...relief! Now, you can simple soak all of the pieces to remove the super glue. Rinse well and pat dry. Wash with a touch of detergent if residue remains after rinsing or wipe down lightly with the acetone and immediately rinse again.
To assemble the bracelet, you need to do likely two sections at a time. The epoxy is not quick setting, taking about 2 hours. For the first hour the pieces must be supported and not moved so all stays aligned, neat and clean and close. Do a trial run with two pieces, supporting the jade by what method you can devise or even use childrens modeling clay to support the pieces so the ends fit perfectly together. (Once the epoxy is applied, if you then start to find a way to hold the jade together you are too late and will have to clean off the epoxy, also done with acetone. Avoid this mess with a trial run.) Mix the epoxy half and half with a small tool such as a toothpick. Use the tool to apply a light surface of the mixed cement to one end of the jade. Gently press the two ends together using what support you may have devised, gently wiping away excess which is squeezed out of the joint (also messy). If you have use way too much cement which is a common mistake, wipe well as possible and with just enough glue to touch all surfaces of both ends WHEN JOINED TOGETHER and pushed together slightly. With the jade together, put the toothpick tool back onto the unused cement. When that leftover cures the toothpick will be joined firmly and you will know all is cured without having to touch or move the jade pieces. Once the jade is together with epoxy in the join, the idea is to leave totally alone until the cement is completely cured.
You will likely need to do the other half at the same time. Trying to do two, then three will leave a last piece with no way to go between the already glued sections. If you can actually fine a way to put all the pieces together at the same time, I would say your dexterity is better than mine. It can be done if all is supported very well.
Cathy, this method should work ok for you. Keep in mind: Epoxy will provide a superior repair than super glue. All must be clean of any oils, fingerprints on the broken ends, etc. The ends should not be touched once cleaned of the super glue. A final wipe with alcohol is a good idea prior to the actual epoxy cementing of the sections.
There you go! Best wishes. I would hope you will be wearing that bracelet again soon.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
