Crystal Help URGENT!!!

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

I just did a crysstal making experiment and it went a little wacky. I used Magnesium Sulphate and created a super-saturatedd solution. Let it crystalie for a couple of weeks, and I have HUGE GREAT CRYSTALS.
However, there is also a HUGE problem. He crystals are sooooooooooooooo fragile, that even if I ligtly touch them, they seem to fall apart.
Is there any way tat I can preserve the crystals. Could I coat them with something, to make them stifer?

please help me preserve these beuties!!?

[YT2095]

nice pic! and well done

it looks like they were grown a little too fast hence all the small ones attatched, but at this stage they are reusable

but if you want to keep these specific one in the pic, you`ll have to let them dry naturaly in a cool but very dry area for quite some time, there was nothing in the pic to give it scale sadly so I can`t esstimate how long to dry, but a week at least to be on the safe side.

there are several clear varnish sprays you can purchase from most hobby shops that will do the trick for you, it`ll also provide a level of water resistance from air moisture. you will however lose some of the color reflection from such perfect crystal facets, but the over stability will improve, they will still be VERY delicate though, maybe you could put them in a small glass case to keep the dust off them too if you want to have them as an ornament

again, Nice Pic!

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

Scale wise, the big one is about 4 to 5 inches long, by about 1.5 inches, and and inch or so high. The smaller ones are roughly an inch by an inch, to 1 X 2 inches.

Will the varnish sprays not dissolve the crystals, or will they do it so little that it wont be noticable?

And thanks for the comment.

[YT2095]

varnish sprays are non ionic (petroleum or alcohol based usualy) they will not dissolve your crystals

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

ooooh, thanks YT, very knowledgeable

[YT2095]

you`re more than welcome

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

Oh one more thing YT

Would hair spray do the same thing as the varnish sprays???

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

COuld a stiff hair gel, and maybe spray help the crystals stay together?????

[Dave]

Nice crystals - I suggest you read up on the back of the bottle of hair spray to see what's in it before trying to stiffen the crystals with it though.

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

good point thanks dave

[YT2095]

hair gell is water based, so that`s a no. hair spray is water soluble, so I wouldn`t use it either.

if you goto a car body shop or a hardware store, they sell clear cellulose varnish, that`s the stuff you need, it`s only about £1.50 and will last you ages

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

thanks YT

[YT2095]

my pleasure

 

just remember to do it outside though, despite being very flammable it`s also likely to give you a bad headache if you breathe the fumes in!

besides, it`ll dry better with a good air flow

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

ouch, nasty fumes huh:)

[YT2095]

not really "Nasty" exactly, some folks find it quite pleasurable, I actualy like the smell myself, I just don`t like the headache if it`s done indoors.

if you do it in a garage or a shed with the doors open, you`ll be just fine

 

{edit} just do what it says on the tin

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

Arent those fumes harmful though?? Like drugs???

[YT2095]

they can be exploited for their intoxicating effects, yes. but it`s a fools game to even try it, solvent abuse is responsible for many deaths per year, even now

[aommaster]

I actualy like the smell myself

 

pardon me, but, isn't that solvent abuse?

[YT2095]

well there is a difference between liking the smell if it comes your way, or sticking the stuff in a plastic bag and shoving your head in it