threebtop

Frequently Asked Questions


1.	Where do you collect? On remote shores of Maine and its offshore islands -- no state or federal parks.

2.	How do you get to the islands? We travel in a 34 foot Downeast hulled sportfish cruiser and tow a skiff and inflatable dingy.

3.	How long do the collecting trips take? Our longest was slightly over five days, and our shortest was half a day.

4.	How do you find stones with such a wide range of colors and patterns? Each island has a different type of stone. We have learned where to collect to get different shapes and colors all the way from Eastport to Kittery-- the length of the Maine coast.

5.	How do the stones get their unusual shapes? The sea-sculpted shape is the result of a process called mechanical weathering. This process is the physical movement of stones on the beach by wave action.

6.	Do all islands have the same shaped stones? No. The shape is determined by the shape of the beach, the amount of sand on the beach in relationship to the amount of stones, the type of minerals that make up the stones, and finally, the type of wave action.

7.	Do you collect from the entire island? No. The better stones are found on the seaward or windward side of the island where there is more wave action.

8.	How often do you collect? My goal is at least once a week -- and especially after a major storm.

9.	Do you worry about depleting the stones on a beach? It would be impossible. Only a few are suitable for our needs, and we are simply rescuing them before they are ground to sand. New rock is continually being brought up from the sea floor.

10.	How do you know what to make from the stones you collect? That is the easy part. The form of the stone forms tell me what to do do -- I do not have a choice. I know what the stone will be the second I see it.

11.	Do you do anything to the surface of the natural stones? Yes. Since the stone surface is porous, it may host marine organisms and on a humid day may try to 'sprout'. I boil them in a disinfectant solution for several hours. I do not want them to bloom.

12.	Are there any artificial substances applied to the rocks? The holes in all of the vases are heat treated with a marine epoxy so they will hold water and clean easily.

13.	Would a stone not hold water without the epoxy? Many would, but the epoxy is added protection against the porous nature of so many rocks.

14.	How do you polish the rocks? I have developed a 7-step process using diamond-abrasive belts of varying grits, ending with a 14,000 grit belt, and finishing them with metal oxides.

15.	Why don’t you just tumble the rocks? Several reasons. One, I try to preserve the natural shape of the stone and tumbling tends to round them off. Second, many rocks are comprised of several minerals of varying hardness. In a tumbler, the softer minerals are eaten away faster than the harder ones.

16.	Do you do anything to the stone after it is polished? Yes. I seal it with a carnuba oil and beeswax. This helps prevent the natural process of oxidation which over time can give a rock a dusty look. Rocks that are frequently handled will not need any upkeep. However, a rock that simply sets on a shelf in time needs to be polished. This polish combination is available wherever fine furniture wax is sold.

17.	Do all rocks polish up to be perfectly smooth? No. Some may have pits or dings in them --usually quite small.

18.	Why do some rocks have these pits? It is the nature of the rock. Many beautifully-shaped rocks -- often some of the most interesting ones -- will have a scratch or ding that extends slightly below the surface. To remove it would mean changing the natural contour or the piece, something I am loathe to do. These dings are small, and rather than detract from the rock, they add to its character.

19.	Why did you start Maine Rock Designs? I was a commercial fisherman with a crew of divers on my urchin/scallop dive boat, living on it in Tennants Harbor throughout the winter. My boat sank and I was in 40 degree water for over 3 hours before a rescue helicopter found me. I thought it was time to find a new occupation -- a perfect excuse to turn a lifelong interest in rock-collecting into a career.

20.	How do you market your stones? My primary market is through juried shows. We also have a gallery in our home which is open by appointment only. This website is a new venture.

21.	Do you employ anyone to help you? No. With the exception of my wife who helps me collect and works with me at the shows, I do 100% of the work myself.

22.	How did you learn to do this? Trial and error. I am self-taught with the exception of a brief lesson in working with sterling silver. I do go out to the Gem and Mineral show in Tucson, Arizona each February where I pick up pointers and learn about new tools and products.

23.	Is this an art or a craft? It is functional art with few exceptions which makes it a fine art -- no glue guns here!

24.	What do you enjoy most about this endeavor? The opportunity to work with one of the simplest art forms and preserve its present sea-sculpted shape to last forever.

25.	Can I order duplicates of an item? No. No two stones are alike and can never be duplicated. These are truly one-of-a-kind art forms. Nature produces similarities but never duplicates which makes this a wonderful experience.