How do you glue a stick to a stone to polish it?

Answer 1

There are as many ways of fastening a gem to a dopstick as there adhesives, all have their pros and cons.

Facetting or cabbing???

Epoxy, CA, wax - (red, green, or black) - wood glue, water glass, Goop, etc.

The factors are ease of use, ease of removal, and whether the stuff will hold or not. None are perfect.

Old school is wax. New school is gel CA (Cyanoacrylate - superglue) and epoxy.

All I can say for sure is that metal dopsticks and epoxy work great for my cabbing. Heat the metal, well away from the stone, with a very thin flame from a micro torch, when the glue gets warm, wiggle the stone off, clean up with a razor blade. Practice makes perfect. Epoxy & wood dops = major pain. Wax is a joke. Using solvents? Read the label carefully, watch for the word "carcinogen".

For best results, consult local lapidaries, try different stuff, and learn from experience.