Cooksongold Barreling Kit - HELP!

[Hannah Jackson]

Hi,

I have just purchased the cooksongold barreling kit, which comes with the tumbler, barrelbrite & mixed steel shot. I have put the steel shot in the barrel, with 1 teaspoon of barrelbrite & filled it half full with water... and my piece has come out DISASTROUSLY PITTED! Ruined and unusable is an understatement, it is almost like a stardust texture (Not even matte!) luckily 400 grit sandpaper gets it out.

I am wondering whether it is a fault with the kit, as the tumbler (Evans) with mixed steelshot & barrelbrite at my jewellery classes works on my pieces perfectly.

Am just wondering what I should I do about the tumbler, I have removed the pins and am still getting a sort of indented appearance to my silver, a huge improvement but still not 100%. The tumbler at my jewellery classes works perfectly on my pieces so I cannot work out why the one I have just purchased it making my silver finish so horrible.

I was thinking of buying smaller 2mm shot from elsewhere, to see if this will help. Should I return the barreling kit, and get a lortone 3A from palmers? Do you have any suggestions of where to purchase affordable shot of a better quality?

The piece on the left has been finished using sandpaper etc and the piece on the right has gone in the tumbler.

Thanks,
Hannah