is there anyone with experience in this area?
I’ve bought a cuff-link with a loose gem-stone (sodalite). It was sold for a reduced price because of this. Now I want to glue it properly: if it would unstuck, I’d probably lose the stone and not notice until it’s too late to find it.
A quick google got me this site which mentions lots of glues, ordinary as well as special. Since I’ve already got super glue and epoxy (two components) glue, I’d prefer to just use either of those. However, if the results would be mediocre, I’d rather buy a special kind of glue.
Do you think I can use ordinary super glue or epoxy glue?
Silicone bath tub caulk is one of my favorite glues, get the clear.
Epoxy will work better than anything else, but:
Glue is not the right way to hold many stones in place. There should be mechanical mounting, like little metal fingers. If you glue a stone in place that relies on refracted light (like a diamond) the glue on the back of the stone will ruin the refraction. Sodalite is opaque, and glue is OK.
Make sure the back of the stone (where the glue will adhere) is CLEAN and preferrably not slick. Sliding it over fine sandpaper will make sure of this. The metal of the cufflink must also be clean, even of oil from your fingers. Nail polish remover is a good cleaner.
Try not to get the glue on the face of the stone, as it will be hard to clean off.
Thanks for the replies. I’ll go with the epoxy and follow gcarroll’s tips.