Agate paper creasers ~ folders

Most craftworkers have a favourite folder ~ usually a bone folder made from the thigh bone of cattle. Softer folders are made of wood ~ bamboo is tough ~ or plastic. I have a strong one made from the prong of a stainless steel gardening fork. Now I have an even harder one made of the 50-million year old stone called agate. Agate is so hard that even a sharp craft knife will not scratch it.

Agate folders are a fairly new addition to the papercrafter's toolbox ~ and would make an ideal gift to yourself or even to the friend who otherwise has everything.

I have been able to obtain a small supply of different sized stone folders ranging from 7cm to 14cm. They are all natural products ~ cut and shaped from the natural minerals with a diamond saw and then polished with diamond dust. They are nicely balanced and a pleasure to hold and work with. They all have a longer straight edge. The shorter edge tapers to a point.

The colours and patterns within the stone are caused by dissolved mineral salts ~ formed in the volcanic mix of past millennia. Agate folders such as these use the commonest and most plain colours. Richer colours and patterns are separated and sold for much higher prices as gemstones for work by jewellers.

Nearly all stones have weaknesses. I cannot vouch for the response of these stones to severe misuse. I suspect they might shatter if used as screwdrivers ~ or  if they fall onto a stone floor. I have not heard it happening. There is pleasant ping when they knock against each other or some other hard surface ~ it suggests to me that there is a secret brittleness waiting to escape. Gemstone collectors value properties such as those possessed by agate ~ but I do not know a lot about that.