[Jewelry making - Article 00913] - Re: [Orchid] Polishing of intricate pieces

[Thackeray Taylor]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

>     In your reply to this topic, you mention using a rotary tumbler
>     with mixed steel shot for up to 2 hours. How to avoid the black
>     rubber tumbler barrel interior from discoloring the metal? 

    Ah, this is always a tuff one. First let me say people do so many
    different things with their tumblers and there are so many different
    tumblers with different barrel types I don't know if I can answer
    all the issues, but I can address the most common pitfalls. 09 1st,
    keep your steel shot and barrel clean! Dump that water after EVERY
    use, then rinse the barrel and steel shot. Your equipment is an
    investment so take the time to maintain and clean it. 

    2nd, use a burnishing compound, burnishing compounds are engineered
    for this application, soap is not. Don't over mix or add more
    burnishing compound than is recommended. 

    3rd, and this is probably the biggest error people make with a
    rotary tumbler and steel media. Do not burnish more than 6 hours.
    You can only work harden the surface of metal so much, after that
    you're doing more harm than good. Compounds break down and become
    ineffective, your work starts to flake microscopically and those
    flakes immediately oxidize and then imbed themselves to the barrel,
    steel media and your work, making quite a black or gray mess of your
    work. This also happens when the solution is not changed out and the
    barrel/media is not regularly cleaned. 

    4th, take the time to educate yourself on the mass finishing
    process, Judy Hoch has a wonderful book, and we carry a great video
    as well. Remember it's fun to play with all that cool equipment. 

Hope this helps.
Sincerely,

Thackeray

Thackeray Taylor
Rio Grande Technical Sales and Support
Please feel free to contact our Technical Sales and Support team anytime
technicalsupport AT tbg.riogrande.com


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________