Barreller build up help!

[Lunar Jewels]

First of all, hello everyone my name is Ali and I have just joined.

My problem is this: I have had barreller which I use alongside steel shot and burnishing soap. However whatever I put in there comes out with a white build up in any hard to reach places and is extremely hard to remove. I have tried soaking it in hot soapy water and cleaning with a tooth brush and going over with the green radial discs but niether works.
Does anyone know how to get rid of and prevent this from happening?

Any advice would be most gratefully recieved as I have a ring waiting for a customer and I am stumped!

Many thanks,
Ali

[ps_bond]

Hi Ali - any chance of a photo to go with it? My initial thought would be it's fine silver (possibly depletion gilded) that isn't being reached by the shot (nooks and crannies sometimes respond better to needle shot if you aren't already using them; if you put the end of a toothpick in the chuck of a flexshaft, you can use that with a small amount of polish to get into awkward areas.

[Lunar Jewels]

Hi Peter

Thank you for your quick response.
No I haven't got any of the needle shot, is that the stuff which looks a bit like flying saucers?!
I will certainly try the toothpick, great tip.
Enclosed is a photo as requested (I hope it is anyway if I have done it correctly!)

Many thanks for all your help,
Ali

[ps_bond]

Er... Would you believe it looks like short needles?

Looking at the photo, if what's causing the dismay is in the internal corners in the top right of the photo, then I'd still reckon it's the white you get from freshly pickled silver. Are you familiar with thrumming as a polishing technique?

[Lunar Jewels]

Oh right silly me
I'm afraid not however am very keen to learn!

Many thanks,
Ali

[ps_bond]

It involves stretching a suitable thread from your benchpeg, coating it with polish, then running the jewellery up & down the tensioned thread. Cooksons sell the threads, but James can probably give better tips on actually doing it - it's not one I use all that often. Invaluable for polishing the insides of pierced work though!

[Lunar Jewels]

Ah yes, I have done that before.
Thank you so much for all you help with this matter, I am very glad I joined the forum!

Ali

[Dennis]

Another thing to try Ali, is a fine retractable glass brush (looks like a pencil). The fine ones are best used dry, as they break up with water, but first you condition them by brushing on a coarse file.
Peter has mentioned needles and if you barrel with mixed shot, consisting of balls, satellites and needles, preferably stainless steel, they will reach most places. Regards, Dennis

[Lunar Jewels]

Hi Dennis

Yes I have seen those before but never used one. Will certainly be something I shall try now though. Appreciate the usage instructions too!

Thank you very much for your help.
Ali

[Kathryn Harrison]

There are a few of those glass brushes on cooksons which would you recommend?

Kathryn