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 enough to cut and polish like a gemstone.
In this video I cut open a 170 gram piece of genuine Corvette Fordite to see what patterns were hidden inside. The rough was first sawn into slabs on a 4" diamond lapidary saw. Even using a very thin blade, about 18 grams were lost during the sawing process alone.
After grinding, sanding, drilling, and polishing, the material ultimately yielded 23 finished cabochons, beads, and pendants with a combined final weight of 75 grams. In other words, about 56% of the original rough disappears during the cutting and shaping process. That loss is typical in lapidary work, where the goal is not simply to maximize weight but to reveal the most interesting shapes and color patterns hidden within the material.
This particular Fordite comes from Corvette production at the GM factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Each slice reveals a different cross-section of layered automotive paint history. Every finished piece was hand cut and polished in my Portland, Oregon studio.
The original 170g piece of Corvette Fordite before cutting.
Fresh slabs revealing the layered automotive paint structure.
The finished yield from the original piece — 23 pieces totaling 75 grams.
See all available pieces in my Fordite collection of jewelry, beads, specimens, and cabochons.
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