Question regarding Cholla cactus.

[Mark]

Does or has anyone soaked the cactus in "liquid" and does that make is somewhat pliable? I should mention the Cholla is stabilized already, so I may not be able to make it pliable.

I have a piece that has started to come apart. Actually it is apart. I want to glue the pieces directly to a tube and try and salvage as much of it as possible. Then I'll cast it in PR using a resinsaver mold. Or fill it with Brass filings if need be, then cast it.

Suggested liquids that may work to make it pliable - would be much appreciated. Maybe I'm going down the wrong path with it too.

If I can't get it pliable, I can't mold it to the tube and I'll likely not have enough pieces left to finish covering the tube.

Thanks in advance....

 

[bruce119]

Hmmm I got got a whole bunch of cholla don't know about making it soft. I can see cutting it and fitting/gluing to a tube then casting. BUT a resin saver mold I don't see that happening not much room in there. I wish they were a little bigger you got about 1/16 more or less depending on kit and the cholla is going to take a lot more than that.

You may have to use a deeper straight square mold.

Good luck

 

[Mark]

I'm willing to try that. I was thinking about making one anyway. I'm thinking a double mold - to cast 2 larger 3/4" blanks.

Thank you Bruce. That's a very good idea.

 

[concho_joe]

I have turned one cholla pen, and it was not cast. I used ca and tru stone turquiose from drilling a pen blank. I fit the cholla on the tube and ca in a few places so that it would stay in place. Then the long process began! I put a small amout of crushed material in one to two holes and add ca......until done. Sorry I dont have a picture, my sister in law took it too quick!!! Any ways dont know if this is an option for you, but it worked well for me!

 

[jason_r]

Does or has anyone soaked the cactus in "liquid" and does that make is somewhat pliable? I should mention the Cholla is stabilized already, so I may not be able to make it pliable.

Thanks in advance....

I did an experiment trying to color cholla using dye like I did in my Dye penetration tests.

Basically, I took a bunch of cholla and dumped it into a bucket of orange dye for a week.

Observations:
1) Cholla is dense enough it sinks. (which is why I didn't use the vacuum).
2) The dye doesn't seem to penetrate. It colors the surface, but doesn't penetrate.
3) I didn't notice them being at all soft or pliable when I removed them.

Conclusions: Even if it wasn't stabilized, you probably can't make it pliable by soaking. Maybe heat. Since it's stabilized, I'd look to plan B.