Fordite, also called Motor City Agate, is a unique material made from automotive paint. It comes from the old technique of hand spray-painting cars in large factories. As excess paint collected in the painting areas, it formed thick layers on the tracks used for painting. Eventually, this paint hardened from being placed in curing ovens multiple times.
When the paint became too thick and heavy, it needed to be removed. Some workers saw its beautiful patterns and chose to save it instead of throwing it away. This solid material looked like colorful agate and could be cut and polished. The workers’ call to "RECYCLE IT! " led to its repurposing. However, these older methods are no longer used, as modern cars are now painted using a more efficient technique with little waste. Fordite sources are rare now, so get some while you can!