Benny Posted June 20, 2002 Report Share Posted June 20, 2002 i have been trying to stick rocks together using silicone with no luck. Has anyone stuck rocks together before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted June 20, 2002 Report Share Posted June 20, 2002 Yes, we have stuck rocks using silicone on a number of occassions, we have found that rocks must be very clean and non-porous to sitck sucessfully. We use the same silicone as we use for aquariums, an acid curing silicone that is suitable for use in aquariums. Another product that is suitable is an epoxy resin, available from most fish shops, will cure under water, but is a little bit more expensive than silicone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 20, 2002 Report Share Posted June 20, 2002 As well as making sure the rocks are very clean and non porous, as Fee suggested, it also helps to make sure there is a reasonable amount of contact area between the two rocks. If You are trying to join very thin areas (sharp points and edges), it does not work so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted June 20, 2002 Report Share Posted June 20, 2002 Hi Benny, Just a suggestion, and far cheaper than ANY option is: Lay your rocks out on a table in approx the position you feel they will look best. Mark the spot where they touch. Grab an electric hand drill and a masonary bit of suitable size. (more than likely the rock will be pretty soft) Drill a 5 to 7mm hole in each piece where you marked them. Next ram a plastic wall plug into one of the holes, then position the other rock and force them together. (Tip: Old felt pens with the innards removed will work and can be cut to any suitable length.) Unlimited designs can be achieved, even rocks balancing on others by using this method, and the beauty is, that if you don't like it, just drill another hole, plus you have no cement/glue/epoxy to remove later, or to contaminate your tank. Hope this helps. Happy Days. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas Posted June 20, 2002 Report Share Posted June 20, 2002 I used this method to stick some rocks together once. Except as well as putting the plastic dowel to hold them I used some silcone as well. I had problems in that the rock seemed very hard. They were grey river stones, not sure what they were made up of exactly. Using a hammer drill and masonary bits of various sizes the fastest I could drill through them was about 1cm an hour. I gave up after only a few rocks. But never the less the ones that I did persist with and stick together worked very well. Hope your rocks are softer if you try this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny Posted June 20, 2002 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2002 thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted June 20, 2002 Report Share Posted June 20, 2002 A few things to success, Slow Speed, (Lowest) High speed will kill the drill tip in quick time. Consitant Pressure, (But intermittant, eg, Short periods, Don't overheat the drill) Use a new drill if possible, Patience. You can drill with the rock submersed in a shallow bowl of water to avoid dust, or use a cup formed of plasticine stuck to the rock with some water in it. This will cool the drill slightly, and keep the dust down. Use a drill press if you have one, (If you don't mind the dust) Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nico Posted July 1, 2002 Report Share Posted July 1, 2002 Dumb question time, What is the name/brand of the silicone used to glue the rock together. I mean can I use any all purpose silicone?? Nico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny Posted July 1, 2002 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2002 I pretty sure you cant use all purpose silicone as they say do not put below water line. The two I have are the selleys glass silicone, and selleys marine silicone. But they dont adhere to rocks! Just about the drill method- it is almost impossible! I consider the drill I have being quite large( 9.6v) and it only makes a dent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas Posted July 1, 2002 Report Share Posted July 1, 2002 I have used the selleys glass silicone to glue rocks and it seems ok. Sticks a lot better to some rocks than others. I find it works quite well with smooth river stones as long as they are really clean. About the drill method, you really need an electrical 240V drill, preferably with a hammer setting and a using masonary bit. I know when I was doing drilling the rocks I had, I was using a hammer drill etc and it was still pretty tough going. I didn't even bother trying with my 12V hand held drill as it probably would have only made a dent, like you have probably found with your 9.6V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted July 14, 2002 Report Share Posted July 14, 2002 What type of rocks are you trying to stick together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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