Ooh, I’m so excited!
After researching and discussing at length the pros and cons of a rotary tumbler with the excellent and helpful technicians at Rio Grande Jewelry Supply Company, I took the plunge and ordered my very own rotary tumbler. I’m eagerly anticipating its arrival and will be sure to post a before and after picture (of the finished jewelry – not of me). My dream and hope is that I can cut a HUGE amount of time from the polishing and finishing process at the bench.
The anticipated benefits (if all goes as described) will be significant…namely, I can bring you pieces at the affordable price points I’m striving for, I won’t go around with black grease under my fingernails, AND I just might live longer (at the very least, I hope not to be done in by breathing in the silica dust present in the polishing compounds I currently use.)
I hear that rotary polishers work beautifully with chain. Here is an earring rendering done tonight with my new toy in mind:
Tumblers are ok and have their place but not in final finishing of jewellery.
They cannot do what a polishing mop can.
40 + years of bench work and a lot of compound under the nails the gleam of a hand made piece after hand polishing you cant beat.
Final hand polish is still necessary .
Hi John,
Thanks for writing and sharing your experience with me. I guess at the very least if I can narrow down the number of steps to getting the mirror finish I’m after, I’ll be better off. (I usually use a sequence of blue, black, red and green rubber wheels followed by rouge, then black silver compound.) With the compounds I’ve been using bristle brushes followed by muslin buffs. Since I don’t have a polishing cabinet, all of these operations are done with the flex shaft. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Joana