How do I recolour stone eggs ?

Lindi
by Lindi

I’ve had these (I have around 15) since I was a teenager and don’t really want to throw them away. Does anyone know how to re-colour them to bring them back to life please ?

  6 answers
  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Jan 10, 2021

    Hi Lindi, I found this post that I think can help you.

    https://www.wikihow.com/Polish-Stones

    • Lindi Lindi on Jan 22, 2021

      Thanks Holly, not quite what I’m looking for but I have saved the article as, as well as many, many other things, I collect pretty stones, shells and sea glass so this will actually come in handy at a later date so much appreciated.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jan 10, 2021

    This link might help you, it shows stone on a wall, but it might be the same principle as your stone eggs, take a look:


    https://www.hunker.com/13416082/what-can-you-put-on-natural-stone-to-bring-out-its-natural-luster

    • Lindi Lindi on Jan 22, 2021

      Again Red’, not quite what I’m looking for but have saved the article to use at a later date for my rock and stones collection so thank you.

  • Dee Dee on Jan 10, 2021

    I have a small stone polisher, it holds 3-4 stones looks like a little cement mixer and turns and polishes stone beautifully

    • Lindi Lindi on Jan 22, 2021

      Thank you Dee, guess I will be buying a tumbler for my stone collection.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jan 10, 2021

    I always used artist oil paints as a kid to refresh them.

    • See 2 previous
    • Lindi Lindi on Jan 22, 2021

      Thank you Sharon, think I might give this a go, much appreciated.

  • William William on Jan 10, 2021

    You can use craft paints and sponge paint them to give them a mottled look. Then seal them with gloss spray poly or a spray glaze. You can paint them with nail polish and seal with clear nail polish

    • Lindi Lindi on Jan 22, 2021

      Thank you William but I have the impression that they have some how been dyed but if all else fails then I might try one of your suggestions.

  • Mindshift Mindshift on Jan 12, 2021

    These look like dyed stones. If you want them to be shiny you must polish them first. If they were shiny when you first got them they were likely tumbled, but you could use a Dremel polishing kit to smooth and shine them. https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-684-01-20-Piece-Polish-Accessory/dp/B00005LEXV/ref=sr_1_4?crid=G7D80EEWZHLT&dchild=1&keywords=dremel+buffing+and+polishing&qid=1610497639&sprefix=dremel+buff%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-4

    You can use any type of fabric dye, but it may fade in sunlight or come off when wetted. Spray dyed rock with a clear protective finish to prevent this. This will also give them a little shine if you use a gloss finish.

    To dye rocks, start by heating them on a tray in the oven to 200°F. Mix up a batch of dye while the rocks are heating using boiling water. Gently place the hot rocks in the dye solution, and let them sit overnight. Drain them and rinse off excess dye. Let them dry completely for at least a day (longer is better), then spray them with a clear finish.

    While hot rocks can be placed in a room temperature dye, the rock may crack from the rapid change of temperature. Lapidaries (who work with gemstones) sometimes use the hot into cold technique to cause fractures in the stone that allow deeper dye penetration, but I do not recommend it because your rocks hold sentimental value.

    • Lindi Lindi on Jan 22, 2021

      Mindshift, I think you have hit the nail on the head so I’m thanking you so very much for your reply and ideas. I can see that they have a shiny coat of something that has come off over the years so I will be sure to remove all of that first and then try the dying method and if it works then I will seal them and hopefully that will give them a nice shine again. Thank you my luv, I think you may have saved my eggs from being scrambled 😝😂😭