lapidary is a fun hobby that yields beautiful results.If you want to polish rocks by hand, you can use a spring or a rock tumbler.You can show off your new skill by arranging the rocks in your house.
Step 1: Pick the right rock.
There are certain characteristics of a stone that will make it easier to polish.If you want an easy stone to polish, choose a stone that is a bit softer.It will take more time to polish stones that are very hard.Hard rocks are more shine than softer rocks.If a stone is soft, scratch it with another rock.The stone is soft if the scratch is dull.Try to pick a rock with a roundish shape.
Step 2: The rock should be washed.
If you have a dirty rock, wash it with soap and water.You can use a scrub brush to remove dirt.After washing the rock, pat it dry.
Step 3: Take care of the rock.
You can chip away at the stone with a small hammer or chisel.If you wish, you can wear safety gloves and put on safety glasses.There are outcroppings or sections that jut out.Don't worry about shaping your rock if you are happy with it.Rub the stone over the concrete to break it off.
Step 4: Rub the rough grade sandpaper on the stone.
50 grade is the toughest grade of sandpaper, and is great for further shaping your rock.If you want to smooth the rock, use the sandpaper.If you're happy with the overall shape of the rock, you can smooth it out with 50 grade sandpaper.
Step 5: To remove scratches, use fine grade sandpaper.
The stone should be rubbed with the 150 grade sandpaper.If you notice the scratches on the rock, you should use the 150 grade sandpaper to smooth them out.
Step 6: The sand is 300 to 600 grade.
The rock should be sanded with a grade of 300 to 600.If there are scratches in the rock, focus on them.This grade of sandpaper will not cause scratches, but it can correct scratches left by the other grades.
Step 7: The stone should be rubbed with a piece of leather.
Leather and tube polish should be used after you finish sanding your rock.Purchase a tube of polish and a sheet of leather from a hardware store if you don't already have them around the house.Put some polish on the leather and rub it against the stone.It will give the stone a lustrous shine.Don't buy colored polish if it will stain the stone.
Step 8: Purchase a rock tumbler.
Rock tumblers are great for polishing because they give the rock a more defined shine than hand-polishing, and they can polish dozens of rocks at once.Specialty sites or Amazon can be used to buy rock tumblers.If you want to buy one in accordance with your needs, keep in mind that the price of rock tumblers varies dramatically.For rock polishing in coarse, medium, and fine grinds, you should purchase the designed grit.If you only want to use it a few times, a cheap plastic tumbler is a good option.If you can see rock polishing as a new hobby, spring for a more expensive tumbler.
Step 9: Pick and sort your rocks.
Before you start polishing your rocks, make sure the rocks you put into the tumbler are the same shape and hardness.The harder the rocks are, the harder they will wear down and scratch the softer ones.The rounder rocks will get polished faster than the irregular rocks, so you don't want to put in different shaped rocks.Try to put in different sizes of rocks.The rocks will be able to achieve a more uniform shaping with this.
Step 10: 12 - 34 full of rocks can be filled.
You should wash your rocks with soap and water.Drop the rocks into the tumbler after they've been washed.Take the rocks out of the tumbler and weigh them.Put them in the tumbler after weighing them.
Step 11: Go for it with the tumbler.
For every pound of rocks, measure out.1 pound.Wait until the water reaches the bottom of the rocks.Turn on the tumbler by closing the lid.If you want to check on the progress of the rocks, open the tumbler for 24 hours.Put the lid back on and start again.Check the rocks every 24 hours to make sure everything is going well.The shape of the rocks can be smoothed out with coarse sand.It should take about 3 days to get a nice shape for rounder rocks.It will take about 7 to remove the jagged rocks.You can see the progress of the rocks by checking every 24 hours.Either they are ready for the next step, or you want to keep tumbling them for another day.
Step 12: The rocks need to be removed from the tumbler.
Place the rocks in a pan after 3-7 days.The inside of the tumbler needs to be cleaned as well.Don't wash the sink because it will cause a problem.Throw it in the trash.Don't wash your rocks until they are clean.The next part of the process can be disrupted if there are even small amounts of coarse grit left over.
Step 13: Medium grit is what you should run the tumbler with.
The rocks should be in the tumbler.You should put in the same amount as before.When the water reaches the bottom of the rocks, fill the tumbler.If you want to turn it on, seal the lid.Go for four or five days and check every 24 hours.Stop the machine after a few days.Take the rocks and put them in a container.Again, make sure that the rocks and container are completely clean, and throw out the grit instead of throwing it away.
Step 14: It's a good idea to tumble with fine grit.
The rocks need to be put back into the tumbler.You should put in the same amount of coarse and medium as you did fine.The water should touch the bottom of the rocks.Put the lid on and begin the tumbling process.The cycle is expected to take about 7 days.You can check the progress every 24 hours.Don't cut the cycle short until you are happy with the smoothness and shininess of the rocks.When you are looking at the progress of the rocks, you may need to clean a rock off.
Step 15: The rocks need to be cleaned.
Clean the rocks.The nooks and crevices of the tumbler can affect its performance in the future, so make sure you remove all the dirt from them.You can see that the rocks are shiny and brilliant when you remove the grit from them.
Step 16: It's time to do a final polish.
It is possible that soft rocks don't get the brilliance you need.Leather and polish can be used to add a finishing touch to rocks that need more shine.Make sure to use the polish on the entire surface when you rub the rock against a sheet of leather.This will give the rock brilliance that you want.