[Jewelry making - Article 00070] - [Orchid] Rusty, rusty tools/bulk polishing

[jcat]

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    Hello, List! I am a new (just a few weeks now) subscribee who is
    thoroughly enjoying the amazing scope of knowledge I'm absorbing
    from the list. I'm a circumstantially (repetitive stress injuries in
    both wrists)-lapsed jewelry person who, after about 10 years of
    inactivity, now finds herself unemployed and extremely excited to
    get back to the workbench. 

    Unfortunately, during my hiatus, I kept my toolbox in the kitchen
    (don't ask) and nearly all my tools are covered in rust. Before I
    take the dremel to them & attempt to get rid of the rust that way,
    does anyone have any tips for a better way to bring them back from
    the undead? (I first considered just attacking them with steel wool,
    but as my wrists are still quite sensitive I try to avoid as much
    manual labor as possible...especially when it's unnecessary). 

    As a side note on the manual labor issue, a large part of what has
    prevented me from getting back to the bench sooner is the finishing
    process...my wrists simply *cannot* handle the painstaking and
    laborious sandpapering process required. I've read with interest the
    recent threads about bulk polishers...I never even got far enough in
    my work to know there was such a thing! Can they be used for the
    entire process, or just at the end? I just rcv'd the Rio Grande
    catalog yesterday...yummy!...and wonder if any of you could advise
    me on a bulk polishing system for very small quantities of work; at
    this point, I'm only producing for myself so wouldn't ever need to
    finish more than one piece at a time. I would, however, like the
    ability to finish both flat and detailed surfaces, and would like to
    use the system straight from the bench; i.e. no preliminary sanding
    (or filing? Does this method eliminate the need to file edges as
    well?) required before using the system. 

    Please feel free to write me directly if these questions are too
    basic for the list! I've been digging through the archives a bit,
    but if anyone can point me to specific posts they might have up
    there that would be great too. 

    Thanks in advance, and for inspiring me so much over the past few
    weeks! I'm itching to get working again! 

-Jessica (in SF)

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