tumbling disaster

[robin hallett]

Hello! I am new to the forum. I recently purchased a Lortone tumbler to tumble my sterling silver findings. I purchased stainless steel shot. I have used the tumbler twice. First time, my findings came out beautifully shiny, then I used it to tumble about 12 small adventurine rocks - and the water and the stones became black. Yesterday I used the tumbler for a third time to tumble silver, and all of the silver components have turned black.  I rinsed everything thoroughly between uses...

If you can help me out at all I would be very grateful!

Thanks,

Robin

Were you tumbling the aventurine with steel shot or switching out the media?  Not sure what you were doing there...you should keep tumblers for just one media (the cannisters).

Some folks have used coca cola (let the fitz go away first) and tumbled their shot in that for hours to thoroughly clean it. rinse really well.  Then try your silver again with a squirt of dawn.

I've not yet had a problem with mine at all but all I do with it is burnishing with steel shot.

Donna:)
www.designercabs.biz

[Metalman]

Thanks Donna,
The Cola tip is great - I love lowtech like that.

Robin - send us more details of how you were working and we can continue to try and figure it out.

[robin hallett]

Hi Donna, Thanks for your reply, I am not sure what I was doing with the adventurine either, just playing I guess. I tumbled it in the shot.  That is when the reaction happened, the water and rocks turned black.  At least I learned by doing something stupid early on, and now I will never do that again. I also understand now why you need separate cannisters.

I rinsed everything thoroughly with water- however next time I tumbled the sterling findings, everything turned black- the black rubs off, it is like a greasy residue. Like it comes from the black rubber inside the cannister.

I have washed the silver with soap and water- some of the residue has come off, but the silver (sterling) is very dull.

Someone mentioned to me that my water (tap) may have caused the reaction... But I am sure it was my dummy thing with the adventurine. I will try to cocacola. Thanks for the tip!

Does anyone think the silver can be saved? After rinsing, it is dull and still a bit grey looking.  

Thanks again for the help! Robin

Try tossing it in some vinegar or lemon juice until clean (warmed solution is best)...they should clean up.   Poor man's pickle should get rid of any funkiness.

Donna:)

[robin hallett]

I will try that. Thanks so much, Donna!

[N2O]

I am also new at this and am thinking of purchasing a tumbler.  When you say change out the cannister. what does that mean?  Does that mean just dumping the shot out or literally changing the container?  Also, is there an advantage to vibritory vs. rock tumblers?  And, is there one name that is better than others?  Thanks in advance....  '>

[tease_designs]

Rotary tumbler containers tend to be made of a rubbery material. Sometimes the tumbling media (like pin shot) causes damage to the inside of the tumbler drum. This causes small particles of rubbery dust to form which can resettle on the items you're tumbling causing the black/grey residue. Once the media is either switched out or well cleaned (most commonly with blue Dawn and water) the blackness problem is solved, but you still have the blackness on your already tumbled pieces. These pieces either need to retumbled with cleaned media (or new media) but sometimes tumbling in a soap and water mix can be enough.

[Metalman]

To a certain extent, buy/use the tumbler you can afford.
There are a variety of types and qualities.  We need someone of lapidary experience to chime in with brand names here.
If you wish, we can research and special order tumblers as well as other equipment for you through Rings and Things. [Contact Kurt at 1 800 366-2156, ext 120]

You will not want to throw out the stainless shot because it is not exactly cheap. So cleaning will be the direction there. If the rubber won't come off the shot you may need to contact your vendor;  or you may need barrelling compound, sometimes called galley compound, which is a special solution used to keep the barrel and shot clean. This also lubricates the tumbling,  assists polishing action, and minimizes the rust.  The low tech solutions [coke, vinegar or lemon juice would be a place to start]

[Ronnie]

'> Hello!! I am new to this forum also.
I have had a simular problem with my tumbler and SS braceets turning black.
I cleaned my shot using dawn and tumbled by its self.
I cleaned the tumbler and rinsed my shot real well, then tumbled it again with my braclets.
Nothing!!.
I then pickled my braclets. Then tumbled again with a little more dawn and the cleaned shot.  
 IT WORKED!
 If you have any pickle you might want to try that after a super cleaning of your shot.
Good luck
Ronnie

[Polly]

fyi ~~ for readers new to jewelry-making, it's this type of pickle.