( A How To / DIY Guide )

... ok, a lot of people have been asking me for this, so here goes! I tossed together a video on my iPhone explaining how to hand polish the way I do it. And yes, that is my voice. :)

I am adding one pre-step to my method that I just started using and have found very useful!

Before starting with the 100 grit, do an initial rough polish with some 80 grit wet/dry sandpaper. It really lets you see what you have underneath the rough raw exterior for your stone(s)! You can even try 60 grit on particularly rough stones. Then, I would bump up to 80 grit before proceeding on with the rest of the steps as stated in the video.



* UPDATE: November 15th, 2020

Some addition clarity on how to use the Sunshine polishing cloths for those who need it - - Once you dry the stone after the hand polishing is done, you just apply some pressure and rub the cloth over the stone (or rub the stone against the cloth in your palm - whichever suits your fancy).

Because you are no longer using water for this part of the process, if you are rubbing vigorously, the friction you create will cause your petoskey to heat up. So to avoid any potential heat cracking (I’ve had that happen once or twice when I’ve gotten overly zealous), just rub for a little while until you notice the stone starting to heat up. Then, take a break until it cools down. Repeat until you’ve got the desired shine.


Don’t necessarily like a shiny stone? If you would prefer a matte finish on your petoskey (little to no reflective shine), simply stop the polishing process once you reach a point you are pleased with in terms of how your piece looks. If you see many visible scrapes from your hand polishing (which happens if you tend to do a lot of back and forth motions), just go back with your current grit and gently do some light circular motions in that area to help alleviate the marks.

If you find that your petoskey is a little dusty or gray looking once dry, try rubbing a little bit of mineral oil or Vaseline into the surface to temporarily bring out the details. The oils will eventually evaporate and need to be replenished in order to revitalize the vibrancy of the pattern in your fossil. That is the disadvantage of a matte finish, and the advantage of completing the hand polishing process all the way to a finished reflective shine. The reflective shine does not fade. It can scuff if you decide to keep your petoskey in your pocket with your keys, loose change or other hard objects, and thus may need to eventually have the polishing process touched up to bring the shine back. But if it is simply on display somewhere, all a finished (to shine) piece will ever need is to occasionally be dusted. :)

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