[Jewelry making - Article 00435] - Re: [Orchid] Surely mild steel shot isn't all THAT bad?

[Stephen Walker]

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>     I've been told that I should stick with stainless shot because the
>     mild steel shot is just too hard to maintain. -snip- Is the rust
>     issue so insurmountable?" 

    The trick with steel shot is to keep it under solution all the time.
    Forget about drying it. Mine has not been dry in 15 years. I think
    it also helps if you use it regularly, say at least every 2 weeks,
    since running it cleans it. I have some cleaning solution, but it
    has not been used for several years. If it gets rusty from
    mishandling, cleaning it up is a hassle. But if you always keep it
    covered with the right solution, that will not happen. I use the 950
    compound from Rio. 

    I also keep the same solution for 3 or 4 cycles, changing it when it
    starts to look a little dirty. If your parts are very little this
    might not work out so well, since it is a lot easier to sort out the
    work when the shot is well rinsed. 

Good luck,
Stephen Walker

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