How to Make a Crystal Gazing Ball

Crystal balls can be in different sizes and shapes.

Whether you practice the art of crystal gazing or work with stones as a hobby, anyone can create crystal balls. The tools for creation depend on your economy and desire for perfection. Contrary to popular belief, crystal gazing does not require a perfect sphere, which is costly in comparison to other forms of polishing. Yet, with the right equipment, beginners can form stones into spheres. Either way, you will produce a beautiful polished stone.

Instructions

Rock Tumbling

1. 

   An uncut, unpolished crystal

   Choose a stone according to your individual needs. Crystal gazers will naturally want crystal, and according to Frater Achad from Hermetic, you must use your intuition and almost let the crystal choose you. Otherwise, pick a stone within the weight and size requirements of your choice of polishing tool.

2. Purify the crystal. This step pertains mostly to crystal gazers. Your personal beliefs affect the way in which this should be done. If in doubt, try placing the stone on a cleared clean table. Place your fingertips together forming a circle. Imagine your hand filled with pure cleansed energy. Then, encircle the stone with your hands. When reaching the table, push your hands in opposite directions to release the neutral energy, cleansing the crystal of any negative energy it may have previously acquired.

3. Tumble the stone in a rock tumbler. Obtain rock tumblers from lapidary equipment suppliers or hobby shops. They range from small hobby sizes to large, and multiple rock sizes. The stone will come out smooth and polished, and ready for gazing.

Perfect Spheres

1. 

   Some may feel completeness in a perfect sphere.

   Refer to steps one and two of Rock Tumbling.

2. Saw the stone into a cube. Buy rock saws, and other essential equipment from lapidary equipment stores. Saw off the corners of the cube. Then repeat, cutting off all corners again.

3. Grind the stone with a stone grinder to smooth the remaining corners. Expect only a rough shape at this point.

4. Sand the stone. According to John Miller from Trade Shop, belt sanders are best when working with rounded surfaces. The true shape of a sphere should start to appear.

5. Polish the stone with a sphere machine. This can take a couple of weeks or more, but the result makes it worth it.

Tips & Warnings

• Make approximate spheres on a budget by finding a stone already close to a spherical shape. If necessary, saw or sand lightly, and then use a rock tumbler.

• Rocks 4 You maintains that children as young as 6 or 7 years old can safely work tumblers, and even handle rock saws, but this should be under adult supervision.

References

• Trade Shop: How are Gems Cut and Polished
• Rocks 4 You: Lapidary Equipment, Lapidary Supplies
• Hermetic: Crystal

Resources

• Mac's Sphere Machine Shop: Home