What in the world is Fordite?

Reposted from www.fordite.com

"Fordite, also known as Motor Agate, is a unique automotive enamel material with an interesting history. The original "rough" slag consisting of layered automotive paint was created by the now extinct process of hand spray-painting cars in automotive factories. The over sprayed paint gradually built up on the tracks and skids that the car frames were painted on. Over time many colorful layers built up and were repeatedly hardened in the paint curing ovens. Some of the deeper layers were baked hundreds of times. Eventually the built up paint became obstructive and had to be removed.

As the story goes, some workers with an eye for beauty realized this unique byproduct was worth salvaging. It was super-cured, patterned like psychedelic agate, and could be cut and polished with relative ease! “RECYCLE IT!” seemed to be the resounding sentiment. And so it was...

As word got around about this remarkable material, rock hounds began showing up at auto factories, offering to help remove the problematic paint.

Sadly the techniques that produced this great rough years ago are no longer in practice. Cars are now painted with an electrostatic process that essentially magnetizes the enamels to the car bodies. This leaves little, or no over spray. The old factory methods that created this incredible material are long gone. The Fordite “mines” are dry, so get some while you still can!"

I got mine this weekend at the Spring Gemboree in Cuyahoga Falls.... :-)