Any Suggestions how to make a Cholla Cactus Blank loaded with crushed Turquoise>

[KMCloonan]

I had a customer send me these photos that are of knife scales he purchased, and wanted to know if I could make a pen blank with similar materials (Cholla cactus and crushed Turquoise). I guess I could get some crushed turquoise, mix it into some clear or black resin and pour it into the cactus, but I think that would be hit or miss if enough of the turquoise was visible in the finished blank.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[1080Wayne]

The only way I could be sure of getting a pen with that appearance would be to cast it black without the turquoise , drill and glue tube/s in , turn nearly to desired size and shape , carefully grind out small holes in exposed black areas , medium or thick CA the turquoise into the holes , and proceed from there .
The thicker the pen wall , the greater the chance of success . I would not want to have any turquoise at the tube ends . A lot of work , but the final result could be striking .

 

[mark james]

Many years ago I hand filled the gaps. I sifted the turquoise sand in several tea holders to get very fine grains that would seep easier into the cavaties. I sifted the sand in and dripped CA over the top. It actually went quicker than I had anticipated. Drilling and turning was the real concern. I forgot the name of these blanks, but they were not stabilized, so it made for several 'exciting' possibilities, but all went well. We still have and use this pen.

 

[jrista]

I wonder, if you have stabilization gear, could you fill the Chilla with the turquoise, wrap them in some kind of gauze or something, then stabilize them with something like cactus juice?

 

[Monty]

If I were doing it, I'd first stabilize the cholla with thin CA. Next I'd drill and tube it with the tube being painted a turquoise color. Then I'd fill the openings with crushed turquoise and glue the turquoise with thin CA, slowly rotating the blank from one side to the next. Once filled and dry turn with carbide tools filling any voids with more turquoise. Finish with CA and polish.

 

[KMCloonan]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I spoke with Kenny Durant earlier today, and he suggested something similar to what Mannie (Monty) suggested above. I like Mark's suggestion to use some different screen sizes to collect smaller granules of similar sizes.

I will work on this and post any photos if it turns out like something I would want to show.

Thanks again all!