Re: Need tumbling

Where'd you get it? I am in the market, too...

Deirdre

I really, really, like you.

Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right.." -- Counting Crows

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Deirdre S. :

]Where'd you get it? I am in the market, too...

uhm - actually, i think my "local" ordered it from [shoot now my mind has gone blank . . . it's a place that sells wire and tools and starts with an "A"] it was pretty expensive, but from what i've been able to find out, it should last practically forever! you have to be careful, when you're rinsing things off, tho, not to drop any down the sink!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

I got something from PMCsupply.com that was only $30, but it turned out to be a toy, really. I'm probably going to return it or sell it and try this one:

You can get a ver nice SMALL tumbler at Harbor Freight for about $30 (I think, it might have been less). It's not as fast as some of the fancier ones, but it gets the job done. All you need is tumbling media (steel shot or walnut hulls) from Rio Grande.

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

I need a tumble too! Time to let husby know eh?<

LOL I thought that too! But, um, well...I had a really really good birthday weekend. Amazing what some desert air and having the kids 2000 miles away will do for you!

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Sooz - I'd be happy to do this for you! I'll be off at a one week PMC course next week, but could get them done the week following. E-me

Susan in Canada

When I worked in a production shop, we used walnut hulls, but I would not say they gave the bright finish that steel shot does. We had to do considerable buffing to get them shiny. I was surprised at class to see they came out of the steel shot bright enough you can just polish them. Maybe that was the burnishing compound the instructor used.

• TL *

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Tante Lina" :

]I got something from PMCsupply.com that was only $30, but it turned out to ]be a toy, really.

well, that's what mine is for now - and it still does a hell of a job. my nephew didn't want it any more . . .

]What I can't believe is the price of ]stainless steel shot!

AMEN! but as long as you don't lose it down a drain, it does last forever.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Tante Lina" :

]I was surprised at class to see ]they came out of the steel shot bright enough you can just polish them. ]Maybe that was the burnishing compound the instructor used.

i just put mine in the tumbler with the shot, water, and a tiny bit of liquid soap. nothing else. bright, shiny, and work-hardened in a couple of hours.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :

]Precious Metal Clay. When you fire it, the "clay" part burns up and you're ]left with fine silver.

AH-HA - THE LIGHT IS BEGINNING TO DAWN!

and the mind is whirling with the possibilities - trust me!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

It takes about a week to tumble with the walnut hulls.

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Thanks Karen. - TL

Hi Susan,

How much does IJS want for their stainless steel shot? Rio wants 20.00 a lb.

• TL *

Actually you can tumble polymer clay - instead of shot, you use tiny pieces of high-grit sandpaper.

Especially the garbage disposal, I suspect. The cat dumped a flower pot into the sink a couple of weeks ago, and getting the small rocks that were part of the potting mix out of the garbage disposal was an adventure.

What I have read suggests rinsing it in a sieve, which makes sense.

OK, I'll do an online search for it. Just wondered if I could get a hint from an experienced user :-)

Deirdre

Is that for polishing only, or can the hulls work-harden wirework as well? That is my main purpose in trying that method. Polish and strengthen in one step... sounds good to me.

Deirdre

Can't wait to see the results of what you learn there...

Deirdre