[Jewelry making - Article 00010] - Re: [Orchid] Buying my first tumbler

[Judy Hoch]

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>             I would like to be able to use it mostly for burnishing
>     with steel shot but also be able to cut down castings and test out
>     some other applications of the machine.... I'm also  worried about
>     noise because my studio space is small and I would be  sleeping
>     near the machine or working all day even closer to the machine. I
>     still have some questions that I can't find the answers to... Do
>     you think that the vibrating tumblers are right for me? Will a
>     tumbler create a problem for my 26-28 ga sheet cutouts? Am I going
>     to have a problem dealing with the noise? Do you know of cheaper
>     uppliers for vibrating tumblers besides Rio and Mettaliferous 

    Kerri - there are lots of things to think about when you buy a
    tumbler. 

    First - tumblers do different stuff with different media.  Cut down
    is done with abrasive media, and is best done with a flow thru
    system.  If you buy a closed system, you can run it wet, but you
    need to check it often to assure that the cleaning liquid is still
    working.  A vibrating tumbler is the best choice for this as your
    research shows.  An inexpensive small vibrating tumbler can be
    readily purchased from a gun supply shop for under $100.  It will be
    a closed system. 

    If you want to do burnishing with stainless steel shot, it will not
    work with the cheap vibrating tumbler.  The least expensive tumbler
    that will move steel is a small rotary one.  Putting steel shot in a
    cheap vibratory tumbler will over heat the motor and it won't roll
    the media properly to burnish.  A more expensive vibratory tumbler
    will do both if it is specifically rated for steel. 

    If you wish to burnish with ceramic beads, you can make that work in
    the vibratory tumbler.  Also the vibratory tumbler will do a very
    nice final polish with wood chips, wood pegs and chrome oxide or
    simichrome paste.  Rio sells a good charged media called green buff.
    
    What's more important is to make sure that your work can rotate
    freely in the tumbler that you choose.  When I started making cuff
    bracelets, I went to a TV25 size flow thru tumbler and that  has
    served me well for 10 years.  I use a big rotary for steel. 

    As to noise - I put the big vibratory tumbler in the garage for
    noise and mess reasons.  I usually run it at night because the noise
    drives me nuts.  You could make some kind of baffle box to quiet it,
    but it does require air movement for cooling.   Maybe you could
    convince yourself that it is white noise to help you sleep. 

    If money was no object, I'd suggest that you look at a magnetic pin
    finisher.  They are small, quick and not particularly noisy.  But
    they are expensive.  They give a nice sparkly finish on non flat
    stuff.  They do not do cut down. 

    Blatant promotion  - There is a lot of stuff that might be useful to
    you in the book I've written, "Tumble Finishing for Handmade
    Jewelry"  Rio, Gesswein, and OttoFrei sell it. 

    Good luck, you have zeroed in on a major time saver, and a healthy
    alternative to finishing. 

Judy  Hoch, G.G.
judy at marstal.com
www.marstal.com

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