The main trick of polishing amber and similar organic substances
such as acrylics is being careful not to heat the material by the
friction of buffing etc, which will simply produce a mess. Use
wet-&-dry abrasive papers with water then a fine polishing compound
on soft leather glued to a thin wooden strip and polish as you would
buff your nails.
If you really MUST use ether, then make sure you know how to handle
it without problems.
Firstly know that diethyl ether, commonly known just as ‘ether’ is
extremely volatile; it’s boiling point is 34C - not much higher than
room temperature. It is extremely flammable - far more so than
gasolene; The slightest spark will set ether afire when spilt. A
small amount of ether in the atmosphere can cause a very powerful
explosion. The vapour is heavier than air, and if ether is spilt,
in still air the vapour can travel several feet along a bench or
the floor to the nearest flame or spark, causing instant fire. It is
a powerful anaesthetic, and was so used extensively in dentistry and
surgery before better anaesthetics were discovered. If anybody might
be tempted to inhale it ‘recreationally’ they should know it
swiftly induces sleep and severe vomiting when awakened.
Yes, in the presence of air and under the action of light,
potentially dangerous ether peroxides will form and will be an added
hazard if ether is kept in a clear bottle. Standard laboratory
practice is to add a saturated solution of ferrous sulphate in water,
which will sit on the bottom of the bottle as it isn’t very soluble
in ether and will destroy the proxides as soon as formed. Shake well
before use. So if you really MUST use ether; talk to someone who
has used it in their daily work.
Take care and
Cheers for now,
John Burgess of Mapua, Nelson NZ
@John_Burgess2