Polishing

**agent_44** · 09-09-2009, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Cheryl

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

I have a plastic barrel on my tumbler with no vanes/fins and it does the job fine! Though I am pondering getting a rubber barrel purely because I am not a fan of the lids on the plastic ones, they can be a pain to get on and off and can be a bit leaky sometimes.

**EmmaRose** · 09-09-2009, 09:41 AM

I got my pickle pot (aka slow cooker) from Argos for under £20. The rubber barrel and mixed shot is greatl, don't forget your barrelling compound- it seems expensive but lasts for ever!
Em

**snow_imp** · 11-09-2009, 02:41 PM

This may be a silly question, but I'm going to ask anyway.

How can I polish a length of sterling silver wire?

The 1mm wire I bought from Cookson's seems "dull" compared to the pre-cut and polished jump rings I bought and I want to polish the wire to a shinier finish before using it in a piece of work.

**mizgeorge** · 11-09-2009, 03:01 PM

Grab one end in a pair of pliers and just run along the length with a bit of 0000 wire wool, or a polishing cloth. It will harden the wire a little at the same time, so you might not want to pull too hard.

**Di Sandland** · 11-09-2009, 03:04 PM

I ordered this one yesterday (The Express) and it looks like I might have got the last one!

**MuranoSilver** · 11-09-2009, 03:16 PM

I've got another version of that one Di - tis brilliant!
Make sure you turn it off at the plug though as the timers eventually wear out
mine went do lally and turned itself on in the middle of the night (Howard thought we had ghosts

)
Petras are all checked though so it should be fine, you only need speed 2!

Nic x

**mizgeorge** · 11-09-2009, 03:28 PM

Ooh, lucky you Di. It's the first one I've seen that makes me almost want to give up my Lortone

**Di Sandland** · 11-09-2009, 03:29 PM

Thanks Nic.

**snow_imp** · 11-09-2009, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by mizgeorge

Grab one end in a pair of pliers and just run along the length with a bit of 0000 wire wool, or a polishing cloth. It will harden the wire a little at the same time, so you might not want to pull too hard.

Okay, thanks George, next stupid question (I really am a noob at this it appears

) but are these easily available items?

**mizgeorge** · 11-09-2009, 05:22 PM

You ask away petal!

Wire wool - Liberon Steel Wool 0000 250g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools (or many other places!)

Polishing cloth - Silver Cleaning Cloth Impregnated With Tarnish Remover - Cooksongold.com

Both are extremely useful if you do any wirework. The wire wool is great for polishing back after oxidising as well. A polishing cloth is the easiest way of putting a final gleam on any finished piece, and also for a quick repolish of anything that looks a bit dull after being stored.