We’re going to refine the finish over the next few steps. Don’t worry if the sanding isn’t perfect at this stage. Keep going until you’ve covered every part of the rock. You want to rotate it just enough that the next unsanded portion of the rock is visible. When you’ve ground the whole face, reposition the rock in the vice. Now begin by sanding the largest face of the rock. Slide the band of sandpaper onto your Dremel.
You’re now ready to get to work on your rock.įor this first stage of sanding, you’ll need low grit sandpaper – 600 grit is ideal.
Pro tip: Position your rock so that the largest surface area is facing upwards. Rock dust can be dangerous and the Dremel is sharp – so don’t skimp on this step. Now put on your work gloves, protective eyewear and mask. Place the sanding attachment in your Dremel. When the clamp is in place, insert your rock, ready to begin sanding. You can pick one up very cheaply from any hardware store. The clamp doesn’t need to be huge either – just large enough to hold your rock securely. Just make sure your chosen surface is stable, and the right height for you to work comfortably. You can purchase small vice clamps that can be fixed to pretty much any flat surface. To begin with, find a large, flat, work surface and attach your vice clamp.Ī work bench is ideal, but don’t worry if you don’t have one. There are two elements to the preparation needed for sanding. This has some advantages, as they will produce less dust. You can also sand your rocks while they’re wet. Then leave them to dry out before moving on to the next step. As before, use hot soapy water and a brush or scouring pad. Are there any remaining specks of dirt? If so, now is the time to get rid of them. When they’re completely dry, inspect them carefully. If you want to speed things along, you can pat them dry with the towel. Now leave them to air dry on a clean cotton towel. Remove your rocks from the container and give them a final rinse under running water. This will ensure the dirt goes into the water, rather than just being moved across the surface of the gemstones. Rinse the rocks in the soapy water every few seconds. You just want something abrasive enough to get rid of the dirt. If you don’t have a toothbrush, a nailbrush or scouring pad will work just as well. When the time’s up, take your old toothbrush and use it to scrub all over the surface of the rocks.
Now leave the rocks to soak for about five minutes. This will encourage loose dirt to leave the surface.
Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap and then place the rocks inside.Īgitate the water gently with your hands. The first stage of the process is to remove any dirt and debris from the surface of your unpolished rocks.įill your container with enough hot water to fully submerge all the rocks you’ll be polishing.
Step-by-step guide on How to Polish Gemstones with a Dremel Step 1: Ensure your rocks are clean Small piece of denim, or other tough fabric.Protective glasses – make sure they’re ANSI rated.Large bowl – it needs to be big enough to submerge all the stones you want to polish.