[Jewelry making - Article 01251] - Re: [Orchid] Otec ECO-Maxi

[David Thorn]

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    Have just picked up this item hence delay in replying. 

    I have had an Otec Maxi for a couple of years. We process silver
    items using the magnetic polisher and the wet system. The magnetic
    polisher is great for cleaning up castings to a bright finish (not a
    polished finish) in all those in accessible places. 

    We then grind them in fairly course media Cones and Bowties, in the
    wet barrel to remove the edges and surface. (Half an hour to remove
    casting burrs flashing and up to 3 hours to remove the cast
    surface.) Finishing with some fine cones and pyramids to give a
    smoother finish say 3 hours.- this process takes 12 hours in our
    conventional tumbler. The castings are then tumbled in shot for an
    hour to a reasonably good polish. We sometimes finish off top
    surfaces with hand polishing. 

    The Otec reduces processing time considerably. 

    We have had problems with the wet barrel. The centre spindle rusted
    and damaged the oil seals so that the water leaked through the
    bearings wrecking them. A new spindle assembly had to be fitted at
    great expense - =A3130 I think. We have just had to replace the wet
    barrel rotating disc because it has worn at the edge letting media
    and castings past and jamming it. Again an expensive bit to replace
    at =A365 plus tax and delivery (total =A387) 

    One drawback is that when the Otec machine is that it can only do
    one thing at once! We usually want to do two or three stages at once! 

    The big advantage is that we have cut our hand polishing times by
    possibly 80%. 

    You can see some of our items on:- 
    www.napkinhook.co.uk 

    The Napkin Hooks and Napkin Clips and Cornish Rings are all
    processed in the Otec, with a bit of hand polishing at the end. 

    We have not really got to grips with the dry barrel yet since it
    takes so much longer to produce results. 

David Thorn

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