From Rockhounding to the Polished Sphere

I put together this video to show you all of the steps needed to take a self-collected rock and turn it into a polished sphere. Enjoy!

[@Davepotnoodle]

This is like a time machine to the early days of youtube. People doing what they're interested in, and sharing it with the world. No ads, no sponsors, no "like and subscribe".

[@spwinaustin]

It’s been my goal to make videos that I would want to watch. I’m glad some people seem to enjoy them because I just love making them! Thanks for watching!

[@newp0rt]

sucks that this a rarity for your youtube feed. most engineering or crafting videos are still like this. most dont even have dialogue. even the high subcount guys. stuff like "maker b" or "shurap". even "AvE". even "adam savages tested" feels like old youtube. honestly a shame you only see ad infested garbage on youtube.

[@Davepotnoodle]

@@newp0rt TBF I do follow shurap actually, and a I get a lot of guitar building videos (i play guitar), and Primitive Technology is one of my absolute favourite channels on here. I guess it's more that the "LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE" crowd are so loud and obnoxious, it feels like there's more of them than there probably are (and they're not all bad, they're just trying to make a living I guess).

[@louiefillet6932]

@@spwinaustin i wish more would! thanks for he upload

[@paulgibbons2320]

Very interesting. So much worth while stuff in the internet.

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks, I appreciate you watching!

[@TheRogueRockhound]

Great video. I was just looking into getting a couple sets of the covington grinding cups, nice to see they worked well. I'd like to see more for sure ^^

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much for watching, I’m glad you liked it!

[@Voicesofjake]

I love it!!

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@TheGreatest1974]

I made carved stone balls with nothing but my angle grinder. I can only dream of having a sphere making machine!

[@spwinaustin]

That sounds most impressive! It’s definitely easier with the machine!😆Thanks for watching!

[@RonLaws]

some people watch paint dry, you watch rocks grind! 😸

[@spwinaustin]

It definitely takes patience Ron!😆

[@Sikutanaka.]

Видео обзор на высоте, все детально и подробно. но все же какой практический смысл в этом от шаров и затеи ?

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks you so much for the feedback! I just enjoy transforming rocks, into spheres and other shapes. It is just a hobby.

[@mxcollin95]

Sorry if this is a dumb question (your video just randomly popped up in my feed and I know nothing about rocks) but are these stone balls used for something or are they just for art/decoration???

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for asking. They are purely decorative as far as I’m concerned. 😁

[@RatsnRods]

Looks like a ball of terrazzo

[@spwinaustin]

Right?!? 😆 Thanks for watching!

[@АнтонЛаркин-у5х]

Круто!!! Они прекрасны,как по мне они крсивее яиц фобирже!

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@confuseatronica]

garmonbozia!

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@rlt9492]

Looks like a chunk of concrete rubble, still beautiful though lol.

[@spwinaustin]

I can definitely see that 😆. Thanks for watching!

[@FoxDog1080]

It's a rock rock

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@Nikedemos]

Forbidden fruitcake ball

[@spwinaustin]

Delicious, but tough to eat!😆 Thank you for watching!

[@tammystoudt5137]

You said it isnt a particularly interesting stone... I think its AWESOME looking! So cool!

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much Tammy for watching!

[@ian020881]

Not that it isn't beautiful but I swear that stone is concrete.

[@spwinaustin]

It certainly has that look! 😆 Thank you for watching!

[@bobroberts2217]

Formations can be found like that in nature. They’re called conglomerates when the stones within the rock matrix are smooth and called breccias when the rocks are angular. If this is natural, it’s likely that it’s some sort of breccia as the pieces within are somewhat angular. I have seen breccias form like this in nature down in the Florida keys. Pieces of rock got trapped and solidified within an old sinkhole.

[@SonySteals]

More like terrazzo

[@micahpilger3534]

It is not called a conglomerate. It’s called a concretion.

[@stillteachin]

agreed

[@coldpond]

I couldn't stop watching the process. Never saw this done before. Thank you for sharing your dedicated work and video time. Can't wait till next time!

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks John, I should have more videos out very soon.

[@theduderollsrocks1843]

Thank you very much for showing that process. Just awesome.👍

[@spwinaustin]

You are most welcome and thanks for watching!

[@xXNoJokesXx]

That “nipple” sticking out was probably a high point which managed to not get touched by the grinding cups, and eventually got so high and steep that it wouldn’t go underneath the cup to be ground down, and so just bounced around. Great video!

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much for the feedback, and thank you for watching!

[@HPCAT88]

So theres 2 ways to have your Highland Park "on the rocks"?

[@spwinaustin]

Right?!?!😆 I like mine shaken, not stirred 😉

[@Booksaplenty1]

Good thing you didn’t waste our time with the cutting and polishing process, otherwise I would have just had to go back to my favorite channel where the lady just shows progress pictures and then reveals the end product after her slideshow.

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks, I’m glad you liked it, and thank you for watching!

[@Kargoneth]

Nice results. I will certainly check out your other videos. Thanks for the upload!

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@upnorthadventureswithccc]

Your videos amaze me every time 👍 First time watching the making of a sphere. Quite the bit of work with such beautiful results !! Really enjoyed watching another great video😊

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@jacobhoffman2553]

concretion (like concrete but occuring via nature), not a stone, looks awesome im glad ya did it, this runs the risk of flying apart, im not sure what kinda damage such an event might cause unless it happens in your saw

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for the feedback Jacob, I appreciate you watching!

[@Poppysrocks]

Making a sphere machine is on my list. Nice work Scott

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks Chris! They take lots of cutting but are worth it once they’re finished.

[@Kargoneth]

@spwinaustin I wonder if there are efficient algorithms for cutting a n approximation of a sphere of a desired diameter from an arbitrary starting shape with a finite number of cuts.

[@Kargoneth]

@spwinaustin I think that your method is decent. First create a cube at least as thick as the diameter of the sphere. 6 cuts yields 8 vertices, 12 edges, and 6 faces. Then chamfer each edge. 12 cuts yields 24 vertices, 24 edges, and 18 faces. Chamfer each of the resulting edges again. 24 cuts yield many more vertices, edges, and 42 faces. approximate a cylindrical prism along each axis. Decently spherical.

[@JohnnyBeesh]

i'm glad you said 3.5 inches is big enough... i've been saying that for years. amirite??!?

[@spwinaustin]

Good one!!😂

[@TheRogueRockhound]

Where can I get one of those jigs? 3:47 Thanks

[@spwinaustin]

I can’t remember the website but if search for Dirtcleaner on KZbin and check his detailed sphere making video you will get the answer. He says where to buy it and that’s what I did.

[@thomasdykstra100]

Beautiful! Who knew a couple handfuls of crushed limestone would polish up so nicely? THANKS FOR FOLLOWING YOUR HUNCH! Looks like a FINE "head cheese"...yummy!

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you Thomas for watching!

[@billzebub7535]

It’s like only chose to stop recording on the parts we want to see… “Ok now I’m gonna set up the cut. Ok now it’s ready to cut and I’m gonna cut it.. ok i cut it. SHOW THE CUT. It shouldn’t take you like 18 minutes to just say “look what I did.”

[@spwinaustin]

Hi, thanks for the feedback, and thank you for watching!😁

[@Arcelux]

Just like our ancestors used to do it, using power tools!

[@spwinaustin]

Right?!?!😆 Thanks so much for watching!

[@luminousfractal420]

Go back to the 1200 to bring that shine out. I can get a mirror polish on wood and metal with 1200, but you don't always get it if you rush that part and keep going upwards in grit. Those invisible sized scratches just get embedded and you lose all the hard edges which makes it harder to bring to a mirror finish no matter how long you go with the 2000. Honestly take it back down to 1200 and run it for longer before heading up to 2k, that should bring out that mirror finish shine, those rocks were soaking up the light beautifully, it could look truly magical.

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it, and thank you for watching!

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks!

[@klairesprengel9335]

That is a cool machine, the stone turned out awsome, gr8 vid❤❤

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much Klaire!

[@dgurevich1]

A chunk of concrete of interesting color. In mu house i had to lay a pipe over a foundation and for some reason the concrete under the earth was red. I have no idea why.

[@spwinaustin]

That’s odd 🤔. Thanks for watching!

[@Master-n-Teachvirgo8557]

😊 we can do better than that rock in Sa Antonio Texas 👌🤣⚒️

[@spwinaustin]

Yup, you got some good ones down there 😆. Thanks for watching!

[@maniachill3069]

Looks like peanut-butter fudge with crushed walnuts. Hello from Maine.

[@spwinaustin]

Mmmmmm, now I’m hungry for something sweet!😆

[@tompowers8495]

Looks like a volcanic Brescia

[@spwinaustin]

Wouldn’t that be interesting 🤔. Thanks for watching!

[@rabbithowls71]

Mysterious Nipple, a good band name.😂

[@spwinaustin]

I love it, I’d definitely go see their show!!😆 Thanks for watching!

[@frozenwalkway]

could you do a sphere machine build / tutorial video?

[@spwinaustin]

Hi, thanks for watching! My build was accomplished by ordering a machine from Highland Park Lapidary!😆 It would be fun to build a sphere making machine from scratch and I promise if I ever do I’ll definitely make a video about it 😁.

[@warrior4christ777]

That is horible stone maybe concrete a wasted project

[@spwinaustin]

Definitely not one of my prettier sones 😆. Thanks so much for watching!😁

[@hamiltonseger]

Its called Terazzo Concrete 🤣its not actually a rock

[@spwinaustin]

I definitely see the similarities!😆

[@Kargoneth]

The sphere grinder is like a three-cup spherical-lens grinding machine.

[@spwinaustin]

Interesting 🤔

[@tio.lacrios6085]

I mean... 6:30 "Another hand touches the beacon"

[@spwinaustin]

Cool, thanks for watching!

[@viorp5267]

neat a guy who just likes to make rock spheres

[@spwinaustin]

Among other things!😁 Thanks so much for watching!

[@jonjoyce9641]

This is awesome! Just found your channel, would love to see more sphere videos

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you! If you check my playlists you’ll find at least one more under the “Lapidary Adventures” section. I will do more in the future. They take lots of time to make 😢.

[@Tathbubs]

I enjoy rock themed codys lab

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for the info, and thank you for watching!

[@cartoonhead9222]

Damn, I would love to ponder those orbs.

[@spwinaustin]

Yup, sphere making can be very thoughtful 😆.

[@Fabrice1970]

So, this is a ball of old concrete

[@spwinaustin]

Very old I suppose, as in millions of years 😆. Thanks so much for watching!

[@xguesswho2224]

6:18 A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON!

[@spwinaustin]

Nice observation 🤔. Thanks for watching!😁

[@peterlandbo2726]

A piece of bathroom floor😆

[@spwinaustin]

Right?!?! 😆Thanks for watching!

[@Ally4Gamer]

Where can I buy those?

[@spwinaustin]

Hi, thanks for watching! The sphere machine comes from Highland Park Lapidary. The sphere itself is not currently for sale but you can usually buy them from and rock shop.

[@KeepDoingGood-K]

Mind Blown! Of all the videos I watched today, and there were a lot, that is THE coolest thing I've seen!

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much for watching! I had fun making that one. I probably need to make another one out of a stone that will shine better.

[@KeepDoingGood-K]

@@spwinaustin I found a few large, light pink quartz rocks that would be great projects. part of my yard used to be a creek so they are fairly rounded, but more of an oval shape. I looked up that machine after watching this video but I couldn't quite justify the price just to make spheres out of these big river rocks bc I wouldn't be selling selling them. who knows though. one day I might.

[@KOWKA_MAPOWKA]

18:10 planets

[@spwinaustin]

Interesting observation 🤔. Thanks for watching!

[@s0ul305]

the forbidden jawbreaker

[@spwinaustin]

It C would definitely do a number on your jaw!😆 Thanks so much for watching!

[@gunkanjima3408]

So you like spheres?

[@spwinaustin]

I do, but they do take lots of work 😩. Thanks for watching!

[@t.schilz7968]

Nice piece of concrete

[@spwinaustin]

I can definitely see why you would say that 😆. Thanks so much for watching!

[@j.lietka9406]

If you have a large enough piece of quartz, can that be shaped into a sphere as well? Thank you

[@spwinaustin]

Absolutely, I’ve not done it myself but I’ve soon some and they look good. Thanks for watching!

[@j.lietka9406]

@@spwinaustin very welcome! I sometimes catch a video or 2 of Dan Hurd!

[@TamponTea]

I live on long Island we have a lot of quartz here. I can send you some if you pay the shipping.

[@j.lietka9406]

@@TamponTea I live in NC! The quartz is kind of common!

[@Kargoneth]

The jump from 1200 grit to 4000 grit is rather extreme. Do you have a 2000-grit to bridge that gap? With lenses, the abrasive size is approximately halved at each step.

[@spwinaustin]

I don’t have that but I usually get good results with the grits I use, especially on the harder stones. I appreciate your feedback!

[@car5car5]

drill holes for fingers

[@spwinaustin]

I like it, a tiny bowling ball!😆

[@mxcollin95]

Super interesting! I’ve never seen this process before. What is the machine called with the 3 opposed grinding cups/wheels???

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks so much for watching my video, I appreciate it! The gadget is called a slow speed sphere making machine. HP Lapidary also makes a much more powerful high speed version of it.

[@dogedog2447]

Nice

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks, and thank you for watching!

[@mxcollin95]

Just a thought, I wonder if once you got down to the finest grit if you then slowly reduced the bungee tension in steps while continuing to run the machine if you’d get it even shinier? Or maybe even adding in something like baby oil at the end of the process to reduce the grinding/cutting action even further to thereby getting it even shinier than in previous steps?

[@spwinaustin]

That’s an interesting thought, I honestly don’t know if it would make a difference. In order to polish you still have to scratch out ever finer lines in the rock so you definitely still need pressure for that.

[@Allicrocogator]

Maybe the colors don't pop a ton, but I think it looks really interesting! Love seeing the different types of stones embedded in it.

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks, and thanks so much for watching!

[@richardtemby4358]

Definitely a lump of discarded concrete. Just sayin!!!

[@spwinaustin]

It definitely has that look!😆 Thanks for watching!

[@Abdul-KaderGameeldien-pi3ms]

Hi just a suggestion do you think a turnbuckle between the motors will work instead of bungee cords

[@spwinaustin]

Hi, thanks for watching! I have never tried that but it sounds like a pretty good idea. Maybe a combination of springs and turnbuckles?🤔

[@jacknesbitt240]

That sphere right behind this one on the right at the end is gorgeous, reminds me of planets

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks! I can see that as well.

[@nerfzinet]

Have you ever tried using core drills? Seems like you could save a lot of time just drilling out a core, then drilling through the core perpendicular to the first cut. Or maybe just drill out a core then cut it lengthwise and proceed to the sphering step.

[@spwinaustin]

That would definitely speed up the process but I do not have the ability at this time 😥. Thanks for watching!

[@spetkovsek57]

Scott where did you buy your sphere cutting jug? I'd love to have one of those as I can't afford a coring machine.

[@spwinaustin]

Hey, thanks for watching! I can’t remember the website off the top of my head but I learned about it from a sphere making video from “dirtcleanervideos”. Search for his video and you’ll find the answer therein.

[@spetkovsek57]

@@spwinaustin Thanks for the info. I was able to find the video, watch it, and I've ordered the sphere jig. Thanks again.

[@littlehills739]

im doing this by hand with sand cast brass ball single cup every time i watch a movie i random turn it

[@spwinaustin]

Wow, that sounds most interesting, and challenging 🤔. I hope it turns out great for you. Thanks for watching!

[@Michelle-TB]

Kitty bat 🦇 This must be how they made stone aged sports ball bats 🦇

[@spwinaustin]

I would hate to get hit by one!😆 Thanks for watching!

[@StephPoffenberger]

He Scott! West Texas gal here, found your channel looking for West Texas rockhounding. Brand new to the hobby! I found a little Rock with lots of other rocks in it.(my favorite find so far) Tried using the rock identifying app and it just called it a conglomerate. Google lens called it a pudding stone. How would you suggest I identify stones as a newbie! Have learned SOOOO much from your videos!

[@spwinaustin]

Hello West Texas girl! I’m heading back out your way in less than a week for some more rock hounding 🤞. I’m no rock expert but I’ve learned a great deal about how to identify them through KZbin videos. Look up Shawn Wilsey and find his rock identification series. It was very helpful. Good luck and congrats for living in such a great rock area!

[@StephPoffenberger]

Thanks for the info!!! Good luck! I think you go a little more West than where we are. We are more in the Permian Basin. Hopefully I can venture out more West haha! This is a very addictive hobby! Thanks for the reply and happy Hounding!

[@kennetik61]

Love it. But I think it looked better not polished. Kind of like moonish.

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for watching! I definitely see what you mean by “moonish” 😁

[@davidconiglio7577]

The piece sticks out can be a hard stone like diamond.

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for watching David!

[@MichaelZarklai]

construction concrete with rebar nubby sticking out of it :)

[@spwinaustin]

Makes a heck of a sphere!😆

[@PatiD13]

Seriously??? There is a jig to cut and then an alien massager to make round rocks???? OMG! I am totally amazed!

[@spwinaustin]

And there are even easier ways to make spheres than the way I do 😁. Thanks for watching!

[@PatiD13]

@@spwinaustin dang! And I’m using my slant cabber. I am so in the dark!!

[@TVGUY333]

I liked looking into the patterns of stone to see archaic picture art.

[@spwinaustin]

Rocks can be so interesting. Thanks so much for watching!

[@Rich_1]

That was awesome!

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@Kargoneth]

@11:12 It looks like a planet.

[@spwinaustin]

I can definitely see that!😆

[@HunTer3600]

6:20 A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON

[@spwinaustin]

Interesting observation. 🤔 Thanks for watching!

[@kordova2143]

This is great! :)

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you for watching!😁

[@bogey19018]

Do you sell them?

[@spwinaustin]

Hi, thanks for watching! I currently do not sell my items but I’m thinking about setting up some type of online store at some point.

[@chrisparker8539]

that was cool

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!

[@bradc4292]

Very cool!

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you!

[@Добряк-о8д]

это кусок древнего бетона. Сейчас такой не замешивают.

[@spwinaustin]

It certainly has that look. Thanks for watching!

[@nickdegroot222]

So cool!

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@munroboice1542]

see ya round

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for watching!

[@canadiangemstones7636]

First concrete sphere I’ve seen, pretty cool.

[@spwinaustin]

It definitely has a concrete look 😆. Thanks for watching!

[@zekiah2]

Yeah it is definitely concrete. Old concrete which is neat

[@GoldenBoy-et6of]

​@@zekiah2it's not concrete it's called a tektite it's cause when a fault explodes and the shattered pieces are filled with ultramasic fluid

[@zekiah2]

@@GoldenBoy-et6of quoting Wikipedia Tektites (from Ancient Greek τηκτός (tēktós) 'molten') are gravel-sized bodies composed of black, green, brown or grey natural glass formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts. The term was coined by Austrian geologist Franz Eduard Suess (1867-1941), son of Eduard Suess.[note 1][1] They generally range in size from millimetres to centimetres. Millimetre-scale tektites are known as microtektites.[2][3][4]

[@o0Ric0o]

@@GoldenBoy-et6of incorrect, its is concrete tektite is dark in colour almost black

[@roydoucet7697]

Well done, very informative!

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you Roy, I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@mattman3495]

👍

[@spwinaustin]

Thank you for watching!

[@Vicctor_Franca]

@manualdomundo

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for watching!

[@NesredepEvo]

I'm pretty sure this is just an old slab of concrete. no?

[@spwinaustin]

It’s definitely a conglomerate rock of some sort. There are lots of them in that area. Thanks so much for watching!

[@quentonmarkley3164]

It's a pudding stone made by glaciers

[@1966jcar]

concrete ball

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for watching!😁

[@davidrosinsky9912]

No oil in the saw ?

[@spwinaustin]

Hi David, thanks for watching! There is definitely cutting oil in the saw. I even use the EverClean system to keep it fresh and clear.

[@davidrosinsky9912]

Omg. U need oil for that saw. Ur killing ur blade and spraying silica dust

[@spwinaustin]

Rest assured there is plenty of oil in the saw 😆. Thanks so much for watching!

[@MakesCache]

You mean that wet saw with a lid and water/coolant mixture? Or the wet sanders with a water drip? Serously wth are you talking about also unless its pure granite i doubt its super high silica content. seems like a mixture of rock types which i think he spoke about.

[@TiffMcGiff]

Typical couch expert 😂

[@GrannySoupLadle]

This isnt your first time crying wolf

[@Kargoneth]

@GrannySoupLadle Says the wolf ladling soup made from Granny! I jest.

[@bryanmiddleton4445]

THE DEMENAZI'S

[@spwinaustin]

Thanks for watching!