DSC_0999_Ocean jasper with Sharpie mark
Let this be a lesson: don't use red or purple Sharpie to mark your cabs -- especially if you are going to change your mind later. A few ago, I started marking out my slabs in red Sharpie, so that the outlines would be easier to see when I was grinding. The problem is that red ink, for some reason, penetrates deep into the stone -- more than 3mm, sometimes. When is fine, if you have a thick slab and you don't change your mind, because the marks will be cut away as you dome. If you change your mind, you're screwed though.
This piece, prior to being cabbed was already soaked in acetone, to liitle effect. Which is odd, because in the lab, red Sharpie is a problem because it has no resistance whatever to any solvent... even 50% alcohol, so I figured that it would be easy. Wrong.
I guess I'll try soaking it again. I'm not confident that it'll work, because in the 6 years this piece sat, the ink probably set, if anything. If it doesn't work, I guess I have a choice: nastier solvents, or grinding through the ink. Luckily, I have a thick slab, but I hate to lose the little druzy/fortification spot.
This probably does not exactly qualify as a wabi-sabi element. Other than that, I love it.
Sigh. First World problems.
DSC_0999_Ocean jasper with Sharpie mark
Let this be a lesson: don't use red or purple Sharpie to mark your cabs -- especially if you are going to change your mind later. A few ago, I started marking out my slabs in red Sharpie, so that the outlines would be easier to see when I was grinding. The problem is that red ink, for some reason, penetrates deep into the stone -- more than 3mm, sometimes. When is fine, if you have a thick slab and you don't change your mind, because the marks will be cut away as you dome. If you change your mind, you're screwed though.
This piece, prior to being cabbed was already soaked in acetone, to liitle effect. Which is odd, because in the lab, red Sharpie is a problem because it has no resistance whatever to any solvent... even 50% alcohol, so I figured that it would be easy. Wrong.
I guess I'll try soaking it again. I'm not confident that it'll work, because in the 6 years this piece sat, the ink probably set, if anything. If it doesn't work, I guess I have a choice: nastier solvents, or grinding through the ink. Luckily, I have a thick slab, but I hate to lose the little druzy/fortification spot.
This probably does not exactly qualify as a wabi-sabi element. Other than that, I love it.
Sigh. First World problems.