Store tools dry
Put a tool away only when it is completely dry. Water left in a notch, between ridges or in a roller joint can leave marks on stone and can rust metal frames. If you washed it at night, leave it on a clean cloth until morning.
Use a pouch or a lined box
Most tools come with a soft pouch, and it is worth using. A pouch keeps dust off and cushions the tool if it falls. A small box lined with cloth works just as well. Wash cloth pouches now and then, since they pick up oil from the tool.
Keep stones apart
A harder material scratches a softer one. Quartz, at about 7 on the Mohs scale, can scratch jade, and both can scratch obsidian. Metal tools and rings can also mark stone. Store each tool in its own pouch or section rather than loose in a drawer together.
Out of strong sunlight
Rose quartz and amethyst can fade when they spend long periods in strong sunlight. Dyed stones can fade too. A drawer, a cabinet or a shelf away from the window keeps the color. A few minutes in daylight during use does no harm.
Bathroom or bedroom
A steamy bathroom is fine for stone, but it is hard on rollers with metal frames and on cloth pouches, which can stay damp. If your bathroom gets very humid, a bedroom drawer or a dressing table is the better home. Wherever it lives, keep it off the edge of the sink, where a tool is most likely to be knocked onto a hard floor.
If you keep it in the fridge
Some people like a cool tool and keep it in the fridge. Use a clean, closed container, away from food. Let a cold stone warm a little before washing it in lukewarm water, and never put a stone in the freezer, since sudden temperature changes can crack it.
Packing for travel
- Wrap the tool in its pouch, then in a soft item such as a sock or scarf.
- Pack it in the middle of your bag, away from the edges and from hard items.
- A small hard case adds protection if you travel often.
- Bring a little of your usual slip product rather than trying a new one on holiday.
A quick check before each use
Storage problems show up on the edges. Before every session, run a fingertip along each working edge, look for fine cracks, and make sure a roller turns smoothly. If anything feels rough, see when to replace a tool. For daily care, see the cleaning guide, and for which stones are softer or more brittle, the materials guide.