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Baltic amber is a very soft substance and easy to work with.
Grinding: The surface of the amber piece can be ground with wet
sandpaper that you can buy at any Home Depot or hardware store. Start with
100 or 120 grit to grind away the surface and make the form you desire.
Use 400 grit to grind away the heavy scratches, then use 800 grit for
the finishing. Now your amber piece looks tough and is ready for polishing.
Polishing: The amber piece can be polished with toothpaste. Take a piece of cotton and a dab of toothpaste and polish the piece until it shines. Beeswax, non-oily furniture polish and car polish will also work. Avoid the use of any type of oil.
Cutting: To cut or drill amber it is important to remember that amber is layered and to avoid fracturing the piece, as it will shatter like glass into small pieces under too much pressure. A fine metal saw is useful for cutting the pieces. Avoid applying too much pressure during sawing movements. Make sure the blade is stable.
Glueing: Broken amber pieces can be repaired with Super Glue.
Drilling: Amber can be drilled with a regular drill at low speed but should be drilled from both sides to prevent the opposite side of the hole from breaking out.
