Cleaning steel shot

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi, I am looking for a home-made solution for cleaning my steel shot
(not stainless).The shot has served me well for a long time now it is
getting rustyand greasey (why greasey?) I know I can purchase a
special cleaner but I thought with all the resourceful pros out there
some one would .know. It seems everytime I turn around I am having
to purchasing something to complete the job, thats why I am always
interested in ‘home-made’ solutions. Resourcefulness comes from
experience and Im working on that. Replies appreciated. Nancy

** Hanuman’s Note **

Nancy;

Discussions over this topic took place few times over the last
couple of years at the Orchid forums. You can retrieve
the threads by running a keyword search.

Check out the following address to learn moRe:

http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/index.htm

HTH
Hanuman

2

Nancy, we clean our steel in our pin finisher with coca cola. Works
like a charm. We run a couple inches for and hour our so. If your shot
is from a vibratory finisher, fill the container, run the cycle and
check every hour or so. Good luck, Gianna

3

Hi Nancy,

  Hi,  I am looking for a home-made solution for cleaning my steel
shot (not stainless).The shot has served me well for a long time
now it is getting rusty and greasy (why greasy?)

Here’s what works for me. I use about 7 # of assorted shapes of shot
in the smallest vibratory tumbler Gemstone Equip. makes.

When it gets grungy I dump the shot in a colander & rinse it off
under hot water. While the shot is out of the tumbler, I rinse it out
as well & dry it. Then I put the shot back in the tumbler add some
Draino (the dry kind) or lye (sodium hydroxide) & add water until
about 1/2 the shot is under water. Place the lid on the tumbler & run
it for and hour or so. Dump the shot in the colander again & rinse in
hot water. Clean out the tumbler. If the shot still looks grungy
repeat the process. I’ve never had to repeat the process more than
once.

I use a low sudsing household detergent (very little, 10 drops or
less) & household ammonia (2 oz) when I tumble.

Dave

4

Would you use the same methods to clean dulled stainless steel shot
as you would for just steel shot?

AnastasiA

5

Hi Anastasia,

    Would you use the same methods to clean dulled stainless steel
shot as you would for just steel shot?

I’d use my method of draino or lye for both stainless & carbon steel
shot. Have never had a problem with either.

Dave