|
|
Post by liveoak on Oct 8, 2022 9:16:57 GMT -5
My first try putting a wire wrapped item in the tumbler with ss shot.
I figured she was an agate & could handle it, and the small earring
wires seemed too delicate & soft to me & needed some hardening up.
Worked perfectly - fear no more.
In my 3 lb rotary tumbler, I used: 1 lb of mixed stainless steel shot, a handful of plastic pellets (for some cushioning) and a drop or two of palmolive
Amethyst sage agate that I believe I got in a box from oldschoolrocker (nice stuff Michael, Thanks).
Thanks for looking,
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Oct 8, 2022 11:05:48 GMT -5
Beautiful! I think you'll find that your patina will look better after tumbling. I used to tumble everything. Now, I only do it when needed. There are only a few things I won't tumble.
After I put in the shot (1 lb) I add pellets to the top. Glad you took the plunge.  It's hard to convince people that it's safe until they've tried it. |
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2022 11:07:12 GMT -5
Patty, those came out GREAT! I bet you did take a big sigh of relief when you pulled them out!! |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 8, 2022 11:17:58 GMT -5
Very pretty, Patty!
Are you using a rotary tumbler with the shot?
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Oct 8, 2022 11:26:04 GMT -5
Very pretty, Patty! Are you using a rotary tumbler with the shot? Yup, Rotary, that's all I have.
Of course I thought I included all the info, and forgot one of the most important things- duh
Thanks Robin
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Oct 8, 2022 11:28:01 GMT -5
Patty, those came out GREAT! I bet you did take a big sigh of relief when you pulled them out!! You got that right Jason , I figured for sure the little earrings would come apart -
I meant to check them after 15 min & forgot, so after an hour they were still OK, I went 2 hours just for ha-has.
But it firmed up those little wires nicely, so I need to remember that trick.
Thanks Jason Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Oct 8, 2022 11:31:00 GMT -5
Beautiful! I think you'll find that your patina will look better after tumbling. I used to tumble everything. Now, I only do it when needed. There are only a few things I won't tumble.
After I put in the shot (1 lb) I add pellets to the top. Glad you took the plunge. It's hard to convince people that it's safe until they've tried it. Thanks Tela,
Yup I tired your pellet trick too, as cushioning sounded good  . I told myself that if this tumbling trick works for Tela, it will work for me, right & not destroy anything .  I think I held my breath the first 5 minutes & then promptly went back to my business & forgot about them.
Thanks for the push, Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Oct 8, 2022 11:39:17 GMT -5
Beautiful! I think you'll find that your patina will look better after tumbling. I used to tumble everything. Now, I only do it when needed. There are only a few things I won't tumble.
After I put in the shot (1 lb) I add pellets to the top. Glad you took the plunge. It's hard to convince people that it's safe until they've tried it. Thanks Tela,
Yup I tired your pellet trick too, as cushioning sounded good . I told myself that if this tumbling trick works for Tela, it will work for me, right & not destroy anything . I think I held my breath the first 5 minutes & then promptly went back to my business & forgot about them.
Thanks for the push, Patty
Glad I was helpful.
As for the earwires- what I do is make a batch of earwires (making batches, for me, guarantees better matches) and string them on a wire that I shape into a circle to fit the tumbler. Then I run them for flippin hours. Getting them out, cleaned up and put away is easier.
Btw- I don't know if you have heard this or not, but Rio sells niobium hypo allergenic ear wires that are really awesome. Great match for patina copper and heavy duty.
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Oct 8, 2022 12:23:48 GMT -5
I've never tumbled my ear wires- but you're right it would harden them nicely.
I always hammer the front of the round on my bench block to set the shape
I've always been a little anal & I'm sure likely go over board finishing my ear wires.
I use a bur cup with the flex shaft on the end & then a micro finishing paper to be extra sure it's round & smooth.
I've always had the suspicion that badly finished (or not finished at all) ear wires is the cause of some peoples bad reaction to them. The ear wire scratches & irritates their ear lope & then just assume it's an allergic reaction.
Thanks for the link, nice to know there's are a good color match out there.
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on Oct 8, 2022 15:10:21 GMT -5
Lovely! I am always impressed with the patience involved in making earrings, to say nothing of the eyesight. I'm glad your first ss tumble turned out well--I've never had a problem except once a 20 gauge wire (which was a spider leg) got bent a little.
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Oct 8, 2022 15:18:38 GMT -5
Earrings are my wear everyday thing, so I have to tackle them.
Pendants are for fancy dress.
Good thing for optivisors
Patty
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
|
Post by rockbrain on Oct 9, 2022 9:28:14 GMT -5
I was really hesitant to try the tumbling process. I'm using 2 lbs of shot, water level about as deep as the shot. If I'm cleaning I add a drop or 2 of Dawn dish soap and maybe a few drops of ammonia or a pinch of borax. It is really counterintuitive to put wire wraps in rotary tumbler with heavy shot. I've thrown everything I've made in there, weaves and wraps with curly things sticking out all over. Everything has come out better looking. I've had no negative effects on anything. YMMV.
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Oct 9, 2022 9:51:22 GMT -5
|
|
It's hard to convince people that it's safe until they've tried it.
.
