How to Dye Quartz

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Things You'll Need

  • Quartz

  • Fabric dye

  • Bucket

  • Water

  • Metal spoon

  • Blow torch

  • Steel or iron tongs

  • Heavy work gloves

Use fabric dye to color quartz stone at home.

Quartz, a glass-like mineral used for jewelry, décor and metaphysical purposes, can be dyed to fit your color needs. Quench crackling is a method of heating stone, like quartz, and then cooling it quickly. The heating and cooling process creates tiny cracks all over the stone that soak up dye. Dyeing quartz doesn't require any special dye; fabric dye from the craft store or supermarket works fine. Make custom quartz items by dyeing them at home.

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Step 1

Mix the fabric dye in a plastic bucket according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a metal spoon to stir so you don't stain any wooden or plastic utensils.

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Step 2

Put on heavy work gloves to protect your hands from burning and turn on the blow torch to a medium setting.

Step 3

Grasp the quartz crystal with the metal tongs and hold it in the flame for one minute for small crystals or up to two minutes for larger crystals.

Step 4

Place the hot quartz in the bucket of dye. The water will instantly cool the stone, causing cracks to form on the surface, which will then soak up the dye. Quench crackled stone isn't uniformly colored; it has a crackly appearance, hence the name.

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Step 5

Remove the quartz from the bucket and allow it to dry.

Step 6

Repeat the process with another color to add multiple color dimensions to the crystal.

Tip

Double the amount of dye per liquid used to achieve a deeper color in the quartz.

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