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How to Bring Back the Shine in Stones

Different stones are polished in different ways depending on what kind of stones they are and whether or not they are hard or soft minerals. Some stones will require that you scrub them with a harsher grain of sandpaper until the shine comes back, while others may need only a few brushes with some fine-grain sandpaper and a little polish to bring back the shine. Whatever process your stone requires, it is important to use safety gear so that you do not get hurt while polishing your stone.

Things You'll Need

Safety goggles
Mask
Gloves
50-grit sandpaper
Fine-grain sandpaper (150-grit to 600-grit, depending on the stone)
Denim cloth
Stone polish

Instructions

- 1
  Put on your goggles, mask and gloves. Rub the entire stone with 50-grit sandpaper until all rough spots are smoothed.
- 2
  Select a grade of sandpaper depending on the hardness of the stone. For example, stones like talc and calcite will take finer-grain sandpaper initially, while diamond or topaz will take a rougher grain at first.
- 3
  Rub the entire stone with finer sandpaper until the stone is smooth to the touch. Use a denim swatch to rub over the entire stone and wipe away dust from the sanding.
- 4
  Clean the stone with water and rub away any remaining dust. Let the stone air dry, then coat the stone with a stone polish, which you can find in most hobby stores.
- 5
  Allow the polish to dry. Reapply more polish to the stone, if needed.

Rocks & Minerals