BY RUSS KANIUTH

Making cabochons on a daily basis, I find myself always looking for new materials or new ways to cut the same materials. I like to continue to challenge myself creatively. For years, there have been many companies or individuals that have created either man-made, reconstituted or composite materials. Combining materials tends to always add an eye-catching flair, but even those tend to get redundant after awhile This past month I decided to make a few of my own and challenge myself to create something new in hopes that I can share this knowledge and see if others will attempt their own as well.

There are so many different ways to make composite materials, and in many cases the cost of equipment is substantial. After researching variations thoroughly, you’ll see there are a few ways to make the material at minimal cost. One method includes using a vacuum chamber, and inserting a small container of your choice of mixed materials and epoxy resin, and vacuuming out all the air to remove the air bubbles and compact the material tightly.