1. Make a polishing plan according to the shape of the original stone.

This is an experienced step. Often planning and actual operation cannot be unified. Beginners can consult DIY experts around them (it is recommended that novices practice their hands with poor materials first, and then start with good materials, hehe). It must be made according to the size and shape of the material. If you just plan to make it into a certain shape, the loss of materials will be great! Amber is made of a special material, which may drop slag during grinding. If you carve it with a knife, it may blow to pieces. (If there are many modifications, it is recommended to use other tools first, such as files and saw blades. )

Step 2 design shapes

Draw the shape of amber on the paper, and then draw a conceived shape (such as a safety buckle) within the drawn outline. Cut out the conceived figure with scissors. According to this picture, use a pencil to gently draw lines on amber. If you make wheel beads, you can directly draw circles on the original stone with compasses. (PS didn't draw a sketch when it was just polished, but it was polished by feeling, and the material became smaller and smaller, and finally ~ ~ ~)

3. Start polishing amber.

First, shape and peel with the coarsest sandpaper, and polish it to the line just drawn. There are two kinds of polishing. One is to hold amber, put sandpaper on the platform, put a soft cloth sandpaper under the sandpaper and polish it with water. One is holding amber in one hand and sandpaper in the other, which is suitable for fine grinding. It is important to polish in one direction, so it is easy to remove the polishing marks. During grinding, it can be washed with water. Sandpaper grinding is a patient job.

Sandpaper for grinding, the higher the mesh number, the finer the sandpaper. Grind from coarse to fine according to the mesh number of sandpaper. Use 240 mesh to shape and peel, and then use 400 mesh to polish off 240 mesh wear marks. Use sandpaper with higher mesh to continue polishing, and use 800 mesh to polish off 400 mesh abrasion marks. 1200 mesh polishing 800 mesh polishing mark, 5000 mesh polishing 3000 mesh polishing mark. Until it is as smooth as a glass surface (polishing can be achieved by sanding with 3000-5000 mesh sandpaper). It is suggested that vertical grinding and horizontal grinding should be carried out alternately, such as 240 mesh vertical grinding, then 400 mesh horizontal grinding, 800 mesh vertical grinding and 1200 mesh horizontal grinding, which must be polished in one direction. In addition, there may be black lines on amber during polishing, indicating that the sandpaper has not been dipped in water to dry, and the gravel has been polished into polishing marks. It doesn't matter if this happens. Continue polishing with the coarse sandpaper used last time, while polishing, rinse off the amber powder with water, and then replace it with high-mesh sandpaper after there is no black line.

There are often some gullies or potholes on the surface of amber. Let nature take its course when polishing (if necessary, the sandpaper can be torn into small strips and wrapped around toothpicks or convenient chopsticks). Don't grind off a large piece of amber just to smooth a small pit. It's not cost-effective.

About loss: the loss of amber is inevitable in grinding. Whether amber itself is fragile or not is very important for polishing. The loss of fragile amber during grinding is much greater than that of fragile amber. There is also a polished shape. Polishing will reduce wear and tear. If you want to do styling, you will lose more. Look before you leap. Amber is a gift from nature. It's worn out and gone.