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Thread: Polishing

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    Newcastle Upon Tyne
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    339

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    Ahh ok, it sounds like thats what the problem could be, its just a little worrying as the barrel washer is my most expensive piece of equipment! I'll try it out and get back to you, thanks for the help!

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    18

    Wink

    It could be that the rods that turn have just become a bit too shiny and therefore slippy. They need some friction to help them to turn the barrel. When this happens I just wrap a little masking tape around the rod and it gives enough grip to turn the barrel. You just need to wrap it the right way or it will just unwrap and stick to the barrel stopping it form turning again!
    Hope this helps
    J.

  3. #23
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    Jul 2009
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    Rye Foreign, East Sussex
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    2,221

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    Quote Originally Posted by MuranoSilver View Post
    After Pickling I just stick mine in a barrel polisher the whole thing
    comes out really shiny
    Nic x
    no fair i want one!!1 paddy paddy
    Su' xx

    My FB fanpage -https://www.facebook.com/CintaHandCraftedJewellery
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    One day i will arrive

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  4. #24
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    London
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    Could someone please explain what the fins on a barrel polisher are. And which is best for silver, rubber lidded or metal lidded barrel polisher?

    And is there a guide to what stones will survive barrelling?

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    cotswolds
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    3,383

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    Some barrels have extra bits of rubber inside to help things tumble (bit like the ridges in a washing machine drum).

    I like a rubber inner lid, with a metal lid on top.

    Anything over 5.5 (stainless steel) on the mohs scale should be OK. Not porous stones obviously.

  6. #26
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    Jul 2009
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    London
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    Thanks for that info.

  7. #27
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    Jul 2009
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    1,293

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    Quote Originally Posted by wendy View Post
    Whilst the topic of barrel polishers is being discussed, does anyone know of a supplier of really small stainless shot? When I try to polish items with detail and undercuts that the barreling shot/media won't fit into I end up with an uneven finish and areas that couldn't be reached. Is it worth trying to use smaller shot and is there even any available?
    Ta!
    Wend
    Hi Wendy...It might be worth you looking at this 'nooks and crannies' thread...it came up with a few ideas for reaching those parts you just can't reach!!

    http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    1

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    Hi Guys, I bought a toy rock tumbler on ebay for £20. I use it with Steel Shot, water and a squirt of washing up liquid to tumble pickled silver and Silver Art Clay pieces. It works very well indeed.

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    2

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    Hello. I've got a Manchester Minerals barrel polisher (unused - my husband got it for me for tumbling stones which I've never got around to doing) but didn't realise that I could use it for silver. So this post has been invaluable, thanks. I will have to get a barrel for metals as the ones I've got don't have vanes.

    My question is, how long do you leave it working and can you put in more than one piece of silver at one time?

    Thanks

    Cheryl

  10. #30
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    Jul 2009
    Location
    cotswolds
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    Hi Cheryl and welcome to the forum!

    You don't actually need vanes/fins for barrelling - though a rubber barrel is much less noisy.
    You can put in as many pieces as you like as long as you don't overfill. I aim for no more than a third full including shot, silver and water.

    Polishing time varies. For a quick wash and brush up, 20 minutes is fine. I happily leave mine running overnight if needed, but on average two to four hours seems to do the trick.

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