Hello - and a (possibly crazy) Question

Hello all, I'm delurking after several years of reading your wisdom and inspirational thoughts and ideas, so thank you for that!

I started silversmithing in my late teens, because it had called to me since being a kid. I did a bit, gave up because of various life things, and took it up again in 2018. I've spent the last three years building up my kit, albeit very cheaply - I'm not wealthy!

I've got the chance to have a small section of a stall in a craft fair in two weeks time. I really want to do well. I've been producing nice pieces for around two years, and just gifting to friends, so I have a little stash to put out on my bit of stall. My question is just coming up, btw! One bit of kit that I've always loved the idea of is a polishing tumbler (I know they're not essential, I've just always liked the idea). I was just looking through my cellar to find things I could sell on eBay to try to buy a Vevor one (I know it's not it's not the best, but I've got to start somewhere), and saw my old bread maker and pasta maker. They're both already second hand and I've used both to almost destruction, but they still function.

So, my question (be gentle, I know it's a bit nuts)...could I possibly press either into service as a makeshift jewellery tumbler? With liquid, soap and shot, the action would agitate the contents, and (I thought) MIGHT work. Is that completely crazy? I'm not going to use either for food again.

Thanks for any comments and help, I might duck and hide now!

Mine is just an old children's rock tumbler I got off freecycle. As long as you clean the grit out thoroughly so it doesn't scratch the jewellery it works just fine. Jewellery and shot is much less of a strain on the motor than rocks and you don't expect it to run continuosly for weeks on end either.

The biggest cost for me was a decent tumbling shot - you need a non rusting stainless steel one and I use mixed shapes.

Hello, I'm afraid the kitchen appliances won't do for various reasons, but primarily because they will damage you specious pieces. So a tumbler it is.

As Caro has already said, you will also need mixed stainless steel shot, preferably small, to minimise the texturing effect of the needles. There are some less expensive offers on line, but they still will set you back some £15.

Looking at the Vevor, I note that it has a 60second timer. That is far too short a time for jewellery and you might have to keep resetting it. It needs 3-6 hours, or be left tumbling overnight.

Sorry to be so negative, but good luck for your first craft fair. Hope you sell out. Dennis.

Thank you very much Caro and Dennis, I appreciate your wisdom. I had given myself a little shake in between posting and now, and worked out what a bad idea my breadmaker-as-tumbler was. My even more brilliant idea was to remove the jingly-jangly roller thing from my toddlers push along stick and replace it with a jam jar containing steel shot and my trinkets, and then let her do 50 circuits of the kitchen :D Necessity is often the mother of invention, but perhaps not here.

I'll wait for Cooksons to have a spectacular sale (Easter, maybe ??), and in the meantime, keep polishing by hand. I've recently discovered Dialux Blanc, which seems to work well.

Thank you again, and for the good wishes. Here's hoping!

Well hello Dolly (not often you get the chance to say that in context).

I just got a kids rock tumbler at a car boot for £2. I had a 5v power brick already and of course I had to buy the shot and soap, but I would need to get them no matter what tumbler I bought. Haven't given it a run yet but as it is designed to run for days I just have to remember to come back in the morning and turn it off.

Keep your eye out for them at car boots, freecycle or gumtree.