River rocks and beach pebbles look beautiful when wet but dull when dry. In this tutorial I show you how to give your gathered rocks that shiny wet look with a natural oil finish.
How To Make River Rocks Shiny With Oil
You’ll need:
- gathered river rocks, beach pebbles, sea glass or sea shells
- oil*
* I used jojoba oil. Jojoba oil which is actually a liquid wax doesn’t become rancid like other vegetable oils.
Wash Rocks
Wash the rocks with soap and water and let them dry.
Oil Rocks
Then oil the river rocks with jojoba oil or cooking oil to give them back their wet look.
Wipe Off Excess Oil
After some minutes wipe off excess oil. Now the river rocks are more colorful and shiny.
Re-Oil Rocks
After a couple of weeks or months it’s usually necessary to re-oil the stones.
Related: How To Make An Oil Lamp With Vegetable Oil & DIY Wick
By the way, if you decide later that you don’t want shiny river rocks, just wash off the oil with soap and water!
Please Pin It!
Lovely technique! Thank you for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Thanks, Cecilia!
This is awesome! My kids always collect lots of rocks and sea glass at the beach, but at home they never look as nice. Does this work on sea glass, too?
Yes, the oil makes sea glass see-through and brings out the color, it’s no longer matte or whitish frosted. The little piece of green sea glass in the pictures has an oil finish.
What a clever tip, thanks. Would it be possible to add a drop or two of scented oil ? I’m imagining them helping to make a room smell nice – do you think that would work?
Yes, I think I’d work to scent the oil with a drop or so of essential oil. Thanks for your great idea! 🙂
This would work really well, with rocks that are more porous.. sandstone, lavarock, etc. They will absorb the fragrance, making it last longer.
Lina my house if full of pebbles from the beach. Each one is so unique you cannot help but want to bring them home. I use olive oil because we have an abundance.
Did the olive oil become rancid on the rocks? Does it last?
Thanks,
Bonnie
Thanks so much for the tip! I’m going to do this! Pinned to share. You will be one of my features this week on Snickerdoodle Create-Bake-Make Link Party today!
Thank you for featuring me. 🙂
So pretty. Thanks for sharing at To Grandmas House We Go!
Thank you, Stephanie!
Such a great idea!
#handmade Monday
Thanks, Caroline!
What about using baby oil?
Sorry, I don’t know if it works with baby oil.
I have tried baby oil but it only lasts for a few days; quickly soaks into the stones and the dry look is back. Definitely going to give the jojoba oil a try.
Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Just wondering about beeswax or car polish…anyone?
Beeswax or a mixture of oil and beeswax should work too. 🙂
I use mineral oil. It works great!
Would this work for outdoor rocks?
The rain probably washes away the oil but I haven’t tried it yet.
Could you use coconut oil
I think melted coconut oil should work.
OMG! thank you so much i was about to get a tumbler! that is super expecive! but i saw this and this helped sooo much i love how my rocks turned out! THANK YOU! that is such a good idea! and also are there any oils that would not work for this?
Thank you! I’m glad you find it helpful. 😀 I always use jojoba oil because it doesn’t become rancid like other vegetable oils.
I use mineral oil.
Thank you very much I tried it on my arrow heads they are beautiful.Then I tried baby oil and they smell good.
Thank you! I’m glad you like it. 😀
will all vegetable oils work
So far I’ve only used jojoba oil because it doesn’t become rancid like other vegetable oils.