Is This The Ultimate Rock Polishing Hack? (NOT For Purists!)

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Jump to The Video To See the Hack

WARNING: If you’re a rockhound purist, it might be time for you to just close your browser and walk away. Because this polishing hack is going literally rub some folks the wrong way.

But if you’re like me, aren’t a purist and are looking for hacks that can make things a little easier for you…then you’ll like this hack! (Note: Be sure to read my warning about treating rocks and mineral with oil.)

Let’s be honest, we all have a few rocks or minerals lying around that we’d like to polish up just a little. Sure, you can bring out the colors and designs by getting it wet, but that will only last for a minute, at most.

So what can you do if you don’t have the time or the tools to properly tumble and polish your specimens but still want to bring out all of those hidden colors and designs that you know are there.

What’s The Hack?

Youtuber MeMiner posted a video sharing this rock polishing tip.

What he says to do is to simply add a very small amount of automotive Armor All to your rock or mineral specimen and spread it around evenly.

After evenly spreading the Armor All, he lets it sit for about 5 minutes. After the 5 minute wait, he takes a clean cloth and wipes away the Armor All. And what happens after that is pretty incredible!

The Result?

In the video, MeMiner applied Armor All to a variety of rocks and minerals, including amethyst, agate and jasper.

Take a look at the video and you can see that the specimens MeMiner treats with Armor All look as if they’ve been painstakingly polished!

What Is in Armor All That Creates This Polished Effect?

After watching this video, I was curious as to which ingredient in the Original Armor All give the rocks that shiny and polished look. Is it a wax, an oil or something else?

So, for fun I took a peak at the Safety Data Sheet for the Original Armor All, which is the same of product used in the video. And from what I can see, it looks like there is a silicone compound that is in Armor All that creates the desired shine.

There are, of course other ingredients in the Armor All, most of which are surfactants and preservatives, none of which create the shine that the silicone does.

But Will It Damage The Specimens?

According to MeMiner, “I have been happy with it. It is easy (spray on, wipe off), seems to work on most rocks and more important has not caused any harm to those I have played with. I have tried other products and oils and personally like this the best so far.”

Important Note About Using Oils and Waxes To Polish Rocks and Minerals

If you are planning on selling or trading any of your treated specimens, it’s very important to disclose to potential buyers that you’ve polished the rocks or minerals with any oils or waxes. There’s a few reasons for this:

1. Most collectors prefer natural, unaltered specimens and may be less interested in buying rocks that have been “polished” using an oil. Disclosing that treated the rocks with anything allows potential buyers to make an informed decision.
2. Polishing rocks with oils or waxes can have lasting effects and change their value. Disclosing this information allows potential buyers to accurately assess the value of the specimens.
3. Ethically, it’s important to be transparent with potential buyers about any treatments or alterations that’ve been made to the specimens. This helps to ensure that buyers are truly aware of what they are purchasing and can make an informed decision about whether or not to buy.

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