Studio Journal: Notes on Fordite, Lapidary, & Spiritual Geology

Can You Still Get Fordite? The Truth About Modern Fordite Availability
Can You Still Get Fordite? The Truth About Modern Fordite Availability
Some Contemporary Fordite Polished Face Specimens Can You Still Get Fordite? The Truth About Modern Fordite Availability One of the most persistent claims about Fordite is that “you can’t get... Read more...
Cutting Open a 170g Piece of Corvette Fordite
Cutting Open a 170g Piece of Corvette Fordite
Fordite, sometimes called Detroit Agate, is hardened automotive paint overspray from factory paint booths. Over time, layers of paint accumulate and are repeatedly baked during curing cycles, eventually becoming dense... Read more...
Close-up cross section of genuine Fordite showing layered automotive paint overspray from a Michigan factory, with agate-like bands and baked enamel texture.
What Is Fordite?
Fordite — sometimes called “Detroit Agate” — is not a natural stone. It is layered automotive paint overspray that has accumulated and hardened inside industrial paint booths over repeated production... Read more...
Studio Journal
Welcome to the Studio Journal of DVHdesigns. This is where I write about the deeper story behind the stones—especially Fordite, the layered automotive paint material often called “Detroit Agate.” After more than four decades as a full-time lapidary artist, I’ve come to see that every material carries a history, and every finished piece carries intention. You can explore my current collection of genuine Fordite pieces here. Here you’ll find reflections on genuine Fordite and its provenance, guidance on distinguishing authentic material from modern imitations, notes from the lapidary studio, and... Read more...