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Cerflun Designs
03-04-2012, 06:36 PM
Hi Everyone,

I have just managed to save up for a tumbler, so that I don't have to wait for college to clean my pieces. In class, we use teh mixed shot, a tablespoon of water and 3 shots of the foaming hand soap by the sink. What soap should I use in it at home? I've got some Dreft because I couldn't find any Lux. Is this OK? I have literally £0 in my bank a/c for the next few weeks, so I can't go out and buy any specialist Burnishing Soap etc.

Also, what period of time should I leave the pieces in for, given that an hour and a half at college isn't enough for a full clean?

Any advice on the above, or anything else to do with tumbling is gratefully appreciated!

Many thanks,

Vikki

Dennis
03-04-2012, 08:00 PM
Hi Vikki, If you put Tumbler, or Barreler,or Barreling into the search box above, you will find all our recent discussions on the subject. What you need is a cheap soap, with as little oil and fragrance added as possible. You can try your Dreft on some test pieces, but it might leave a deposit on them and on your shot.

I know one member has suggested Ecover washing up liquid. However if your shot is not stainless it will need to be rinsed and dried afterwards. As for length of tumbling, It varies with load and barrel size, but you could start with two hours. Dennis.

Cerflun Designs
04-04-2012, 06:59 PM
Thanks Dennis. I'll give the Dreft a go, and will search for Tumbler etc.

I'm about to run it for the first time, so I think I'll do a test run before I put my latest piece in!

Dennis
04-04-2012, 08:37 PM
Put in bits from your scrap pot then?

Cerflun Designs
04-04-2012, 11:10 PM
Put in bits from your scrap pot then?

Yup, got them ready to go tomorrow. Thought I'd give it a spin for half an hour then test out my scrap in it whilst I take the youngest offspring to speech therapy. Time management: as taught by hospitals and children, lol!

Thanks, Dennis. I'll let you know how it went. If all else fails, I have some Asda SmartPrice plain washing up liquid!

Cerflun Designs
06-04-2012, 06:08 PM
I tried half an hour to clean the barrel with 1 level teaspoon of Dreft and half-filled the barrel with water, cleaned fine.

I then tested a scrap ring with 1 level teaspoon of Dreft and 5 tablespoons of water. It was OK. I ran the pendant below, but it didn't clean it brilliantly. The seams in between the hearts in the middle, where they've been soldered, still seem to have some of the pickling skin on it, which I've never had a problem with at college. The shot is mixed shot from Cookson's, but is about 3/4 round to 1/4 discs & needles. Would it be worth using a pointed felt head on the Dremel to try and get in the seams, then tumble again for a universal finish? Not sure if it's a tumbler issue or a Me issue! The other pendants came out OK, not super shiny but still cleaner than when they went in.

Any advice, gratefully received, and Happy Easter!

Vik



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Dennis
06-04-2012, 08:43 PM
If they are not cleaned enough after 2½ - 3 hours, then it's because the spaces are too narrow for your needles. Here are two things to try:

1. Thrumming is done by dressing thin enough thread or string with suitable abrasive (? wet scouring powder) or polishing compound (? metal polish). Then the piece is clamped and the string, pulled tight, is rubbed vigorously along the grooves. Alternatively the string is tied between two objects and the piece is rubbed on it.
2. Rotary tools are apt to spoil the contours of your pieces, but you could try a length of cocktail stick or sharpened wooden skewer which has been run on polishing compound first.
The only problem is that if it breaks off in your motor, you will have a remnant to fish out. Dennis.

Cerflun Designs
06-04-2012, 09:11 PM
Thanks Dennis. I'll give a cocktail stick in rouge a go. I may try it manually first, and wrap some fine cotton around it for polishing. Ooh! I have pointed cotton buds, I'll give those a whirl! I don't think thrumming will work due to the shape of the piece...

Hope you're enjoying the double bank holiday!