BONDING BILLETS TO FROSTED SLIDES: USER GUIDE

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1. Mix one full pump of EpoTek 301 part A and part B into a weighing dish.
   1. The ratio is 3 to 1. The pumps are preset to this.
   2. Make sure pump is primed first or there will not be the right ratio.
2. Stir the resin slowly with wooden stick until there are no trails of the two mixing (Fig. 1) and go slow to avoid bubbles.

                          Figure 1

Make sure no wood particles fall into the resin; pick them out if they do.

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1. Once the samples are completely dry clean the surface off with a kim-wipe and isopropyl alcohol.
2. Place the billet on a Teflon puck.
3. With the wooden stick slowly draw an X with the resin on the sample (Fig. 2).

                                   Figure 2

          a. If the first stroke is discolored it means the resin is soaking in the vesicles.  This is one way to tell if surface impregnation is needed.

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 5. Let it sit for a minute or two and watch if any bubbles form.  If there are bubbles get them out with the metal point tool (Fig. 3).

                                Figure 3

SURFACE IMPREGNATION

1. If the billet is soaking up resin, it is a good idea to surface impregnate it.
2. Hook up the vacuum hose to the impregnation stand (Fig. 4).
3. Place the billet under the bell jar (Fig. 4).
4. Check the vacuum oil level. Refill if it starts to run low.
5. Turn on vacuum pump by turning on the power strip connected to the wall (Fig. 4).
   Image Modified
                                                    

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1.                                                Figure 4

6. Close the valve on the upper right side of the Logitech VS2 (Fig. 5) and make sure the valve on the impregnation stand is open (parallel with the vacuum hose) (Fig. 4).

                                             Figure                                                             Figure 5

1. 1. Watch the gauge on the left side; it should be in the green around 25 in/Hg.
   2. Press on the bell jar to get a good seal.

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1. Make sure the frosted slides are clean.
2. Hold the frosted side up to the sample to measure how large it is. Draw two horizontal lines with resin to outline the size of the sample (Fig. 6).

                                Figure 6

3. Fill in the space between the two lines with resin.  Put more resin on the right side.

4. Place the slide with resin side down onto the sample from left to right (Fig. 7).  Lay down very slowly to prevent making bubbles.

Figure                                    Figure 7

5. Press on the middle of the slide moving any bubbles out to the sides (Fig. 8).

Figure                                 Figure 8

     a. If there are lots of bubbles take off the slide. Wipe off the resin and clean the sample off with isopropyl alcohol then start over again.

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     a. Squeeze the spring and remove the Teflon puck to begin lowering.

                       Figure 9

7.  Let the resin cure for about one hour.

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1. Impregnation should be done on samples that are soft, water soluble or vesicular billets (ex. pumas, sandstone, mudstone, and clay stone).
   1. These samples should all be dried first. Refer to the Freeze Drier user guide.
2. Once the samples are dry mix up 3 pumps of both part A and B of EpoTek resin.
3. Place the billet into a clean plastic mold that is best fit it.
4. Label the mold with the sample number.
5. Cover the billet with resin (Fig. 10).

                                Figure 10

6. Hook up the vacuum hose to the impregnation stand (Fig. 4).

7. Place the mold with the billet under the bell jar (Fig. 11).

                                                                                                                        Figure 11

8. Check the vacuum oil level. Refill if it starts to run low.

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Original document created Emily Fisher  

4/27/2013

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