Polish Petoskie Stones at Home
The Petoskey stone derives its name from the city of Petoskey, Michigan, where it is found. These fascinating fossils are actually a type of colony coral. The chambers in the complex pattern of the Petoskey stone were once individual organisms called polyps. These fossils are now most commonly found near Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, but glaciers once carried them from the rock beds near the bay across the state. Stones collected from the shore may have a more polished texture and appearance due to exposure to water and sand, while stones collected further inland will be less refined. If you have collected a Petoskey stone, you can polish it to a high shine at home with these steps.
Instructions
1. Sand the Petoskey stone with 220-grit sandpaper until it is smooth and free of scratches.
2. Rinse and dry the stone well to remove the residue from sanding.
3. Sand the stone again with 400-grit sandpaper.
4. Rinse and dry the stone again, checking for smoothness.
5. Sand once more with 600-grit sandpaper. This is the final sanding so the stone should be completely smooth now.
6. Rinse and dry the stone once more. If you see any scratches or rough spots on the stone at this point, you need to go back to Step 1 and do it all again, so be thorough the first time.
7. Sprinkle polishing powder onto a piece of velvet or corduroy cloth and rub the stone all over while you rotate it in your hands to polish it.
8. Rinse and dry the Petoskey stone a final time.
Tags: Petoskey stone, Rinse stone, once more, Petoskie Stones, Petoskie Stones Home
