|
|
Post by broseph82 on Feb 2, 2015 12:45:32 GMT -5
So my wife took a wire wrapping class put on by a local. When she was done with her wrap he put it in a Thumler rotary tumbler with steel shot and water (cab included). Ive read that you shouldn't put the stone in with the wire for polishing.
Should I buy her a tumbler of her own (the teacher recommended this to her) and use the same method he did? Also, would a vibe work better? How do you all polish your pieces?
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Feb 2, 2015 12:51:37 GMT -5
broseph82, you may want to purchase your gal her own tumbler for tumbling her jewelry pieces. Rick has a UV-10 that he uses for polishing brass, and I am 'not allowed' (paws off for me, lol) to use it. He purchased the AR-2 for me to use for tumbling rocks, lol. Cannot answer your question about whether you should or should not place wire-wrapped cabs in the tumbler with steel shot. I'm sure our experts may answer you questions.
|
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Feb 2, 2015 13:52:37 GMT -5
I don't wire wrap, but I do put stones I set in sterling into a small vibe with steel shot and a burnishing fluid. I use a Mini-Sonic and find the capacity about right. (It would take me a long time to have enough pieces to go in a UV-10.)
Mostly I do pieces to clean and surface harden before I set the stone, but plenty of times I run some again with the stone. I like the variable speed on the Mini-sonic because I can set it to more gentle with the stone in place.
|
|
TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
|
Post by TByrd on Feb 6, 2015 13:54:05 GMT -5
Most stones are ok to tumble with steel shot. When you tumble your piece with steel shot you are 'tumble hardening' your piece, this hardens the wires to prevent the wire from being pulled out of place if it happened to snag on anything.
Best of luck,
Tammy
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on Feb 6, 2015 13:59:39 GMT -5
Most stones do fine in the SS tumbler. I've run everything from agates to lapis lazuli in it. The only stone I would certainly not put in a SS tumble is precious opal...not worth the risk.
|
|
|
|
Post by fantastic5 on Feb 6, 2015 14:42:24 GMT -5
Most stones do fine in the SS tumbler. I've run everything from agates to lapis lazuli in it. The only stone I would certainly not put in a SS tumble is precious opal...not worth the risk. what do you put in with the SS shot? I've bought some shot, but haven't tried to use it yet. |
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Feb 6, 2015 16:02:14 GMT -5
You can just use a little non-sudsing soap, but I recommend you get some burnishing powder (or pre-mix fluid) form Rio or someplace.
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on Feb 6, 2015 16:54:55 GMT -5
|
|
TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
|
Post by TByrd on Feb 6, 2015 16:58:45 GMT -5
I use Ivory snow, have not had a problem.
|
|
