Collecting sea/beach glass is a totally relaxing activity! Walking along the beach or lake looking for that precious piece of glass can make you forget about everyday problems. At first, sea glass was just ordinary glass, usually from a bottle, but after years of being exposed to waves and tossing to and fro, the pieces of glass became smooth, slippery, and frosted, making them the target of collectors. To collect sea glass, you must choose the right time and location, know what to look for, and be able to make use of the treasures you find.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Time and a Place
Step 1. Find a rock-strewn beach
Glass accumulated on the beach filled with pebbles. Look for beaches with scattered pebbles and your chances of finding sea glass will be greater. Pebbles are formed from stone on the same principle as sea glass from a bottle thanks to the help of natural forces such as wind, waves and sand.
Step 2. Select an area that has a population
The best places to look for sea glass are beaches close to towns or industrial/commercial zones. Sea glass basically starts from waste. So you have to choose a location that has residents or has been inhabited in the past. Areas with heavy marine traffic are also a good choice as the sea glass can come from shipwrecks or even war zones which will generate a lot of trash.
Most sea glass started as a simple glass bottle. The sea polishes this man-made object so that it transforms into beautiful sea glass. Therefore, you should choose a place where the bottles are to be thrown into the sea
Step 3. Find a beach with big waves
To polish sea glass it takes big turbulent waves. Areas that are often hit by big waves and wind are the best conditions for creating sea glass. Water acts as a giant rock tumbler that polishes and smoothes ordinary glass so that over time it becomes slippery. The bigger the waves, the better. The turbulent sea conditions will throw the sea glass on the beach so you can find it.
Try to go hunting for sea glass in the months of January, July, August, and September (for areas around Java). In this period the sea most often rages
Step 4. Wait until the sea water recedes
This condition allows you to inspect the entire beach area so that your chances of finding sea glass are greater. You can also go to the beach about an hour before or after low tide as the tide is moving and will likely throw sea glass on the beach.
During the full moon, the tides will be stronger. The tide will help the water drag the sea glass to shore
Step 5. Head to the beach after the storm
During a storm the glass of glass will be thrown onto the shore. Hurricanes are able to move large amounts of glass past making them easier to find. Never look for sea glass during a storm. Wait for the storm to subside first.
Step 6. Visit a beach famous for its sea glass
There are several beaches in the world that are famous for having a lot of sea glass. You can start from there. Fort Bragg in California has Glass Beach because it used to be a dump and is now full of sea glass. The Hawaiian island of Kauai is rich in sea glass because it is close to a network of lava that traps and polishes the glass. Bermuda provides a lot of sea glass from shipwrecks, hurricanes, and bottles thrown into the sea. Vieques Beach in Puerto Rico is also known for its glass of glass.
If you find a location that attracts a lot of people to come looking for sea glass, try to arrive early to avoid competition
Part 2 of 3: Finding Sea Glass
Step 1. Look for a piece of glass that is opaque and smooth
You should look for shards of glass that have been crushed and polished by years of sand, rock, and water erosion to produce irregular shapes with dim colors. If the sea glass you find doesn't meet these criteria, the piece of glass is too new to be considered sea glass. You can throw it back into the sea.
It is important to distinguish between broken glass and sea glass. It takes about 7-10 years for broken glass to become sea glass. If the piece of glass found has jagged edges and shiny parts, then the transformation has not occurred. Sea glass is always opaque in color and has smooth edges because ocean waves drag it here and there so that the surface is eroded
Step 2. Choose the color you like
The most common colors of sea glass are clear/white, green, and brown. Less common colors are sky blue, blue, and navy blue. The rarest colors are red, yellow/amber, orange, and pink. Watch carefully because very small brown sea glass can look orange or amber. It is almost impossible to find sea glass that is 100% black, although dark sea glass can appear black. Sea glass with rare colors will be more valuable if you want to sell it later.
The best sea glass is obtained from old-fashioned bottles, which are usually thicker and have a bolder color. The lighter colored sea glass comes from a wine bottle, which looks pretty, but is very thin. The abundance of blue sea glass is due to the popularity of SKYY vodka. Green, brown and white sea glass comes from beer bottles
Step 3. Use a small rake or stick to look for more sea glass
Some people will stir up rocks or sand with a rake or stick. Using a small tool will help you sort through all the materials on the beach much faster than using your hands. Plus, your hands will stay clean.
Step 4. Check around the tide line
The best area to find sea glass might be wet sand, but pay close attention as some colors of glass (eg white) are barely visible when wet. This area is perfect for finding green or blue sea glass. Dry sand near wet sand is perfect for finding white or brown sea glass. In addition, the red color that is difficult to detect becomes more pronounced in this area.
Some sea glass is easier to find wet and some dry. White will be easier to find in a dry state. Chocolate is easier when wet. Blue can be found in wet or dry conditions, but will look almost like black in dry conditions. Red is easier to find when dry. Amber is easier to detect when wet. Black will always be hard to find
Step 5. Look for sea glass not just on the beach
In the dry sand far from the beach can also be found sea glass. You will have the added advantage of not having many people searching in this area. You'd be surprised how much sea glass you can find where other sea glass hunters don't.
Step 6. Examine the rock groups
You can comb along the coast looking for groups of rocks. If necessary, you can squat or sit. Do not rush. The key is to choose a small area and observe it carefully. Collect the sea glass you find. Then, move on to the next promising area.
Step 7. Turn away from the sun so the rays can hit the sea glass
This will help you see the sea glass more easily and prevent the sun's rays from blocking your view. The sea glass will reflect the sun's rays and sparkle in the sun.
Step 8. Store your selected sea glass in a small pouch or pocket
If you only find a few, you can keep them in your pocket. If you want to collect a lot of sea glass, bring a small bag and you can fill it up as you search.
Part 3 of 3: Using Sea Glass
Step 1. Read a book for information about the type of sea glass you find
After collecting a lot of sea glass, you may not know which one is the most valuable. You can learn all the intricacies of sea glass from specialized literature or specific websites. The Pure Sea Glass book by Richard LaMotte can help you learn the specifications of your sea glass, including its origin.
Step 2. Make jewelry with sea glass
Popular jewelry that can be made with sea glass include rings, necklaces, and earrings. You can glue sea glass to rings or studs. Use hot glue to securely attach the sea glass. You can even punch holes in the sea glass to slip a necklace chain or attach it to a pendant. Jewelry made of sea glass has an elegant and beautiful appearance, and you can also sell it.
Step 3. Make sea glass as decoration for ordinary things
You can beautify various household items with sea glass. Attach sea glass to mirrors, candle holders, or drawer handles. Try decorating around the photo frame with sea glass. Sea glass is perfect for a wide variety of arts and crafts.
Invite the children to do this activity. They will enjoy not only looking for sea glass, but also making crafts with this beautiful glass. Help them stick them on the pictures they made as additional decorations
Step 4. Display the sea glass artistically
If you collect a lot of sea glass, try attaching it to a clear vase, lamp base, or bowl in a pretty arrangement. You can choose the same color to make it look uniform or create a colorful composition. Glass tumblers are beautiful decorations and look expensive, even if you get them for free!
You can even put sea glass at the bottom of the aquarium to make it look more colorful and attractive
Step 5. Sell your sea glass
Sea glass is in high demand and people are willing to pay for it. Rare colors like red, navy, and orange usually cost more, maybe around IDR 300,000, while more common colors like white, green, and brown only cost around IDR 50,000. Another factor that affects the selling price is shape. Some shapes like hearts and triangles are very popular for making jewelry. You can make around $200/hour by finding sea glass and selling it on sites like eBay or Etsy.
To attract buyers, take attractive photos in bright light. Try to avoid shadows or other objects that could distract from the focus on the sea glass in the photo
Tips
- Take a break. Do not let you injure your back or neck.
- One of the best tips for beginners is to look for areas frequented by “experienced” sea glass collectors to find their treasure and when they hit the beach so you can get up early and beat them the next day.
- Don't forget to wear sunscreen.
- Collecting stones can attract enthusiastic collectors. Because sea glass can be obtained for free, some people tend to be possessive and obsessed. In addition, some people use it to make jewelry or crafts and make it a source of income. Try to avoid people who will think you stole their “sea glass”.
- Wear trousers with deep pockets.
- Do not force the eyes too long because it can cause headaches.
- Bring a pouch to carry and store any sea glass you find.
- Take your pet dog on a sea glass hunt if you're sure you can leave him on a leash.
- Wear glasses or better yet, polarized glasses.
- Bring a music player, but don't set it too loud for safety's sake.
Warning
- Never turn your back to the sea. Pay attention to warnings about the waves of sleep that can come suddenly without notice and endanger yourself. Warning signs like this are usually installed on the beach.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Don't get so focused on looking for sea glass that you don't pay attention to what's going on around you. Watch out for stray animals, stray dogs or strangers.
