Tumbler, Rotary vs. Vibrating

[Russ Nobbs]

Hi Steve,

You really want to do 2 different things and at least need 2 different types of "charges" in the tumbler. Steel shot with the right detergents does a very good job with silver or GF pieces. The shot actually burnishes the surface. As you say it hardens it and polishes it.

Some beads (but not all) will be chipped, scratched or dulled by the steel shot. The right detergent will keep the shot from rusting. GF usually requires a different detergent than sterling. Most rock shops or tool suppliers like Rio Grande sell soap mixes for specific metals.

We polish our charms, hand made ear wires and jump rings with a rotating tumbler at Rings & Things.

The vibrating polisher does work faster. I don't think it burnishes silver rings as well as the rotary.

For stone or glass polishing you usually use different types of media, often abrasive plastic shaped pieces. Instead of soap you use a cutting or polishing compound - things like Lindy A, tin oxide, etc. A rock shop, or better a rock hound club could tell you what they use for various types of stones.

If your primary use is silver rings, I'd suggest a rotary tumbler with several barrels. Keep different charges in different barrels.

If you want fast polishing of stones and only occasionally polish silver rings, the vibratory polisher would do both.  You'd need to clean the body and change the grit to shot for silver.

Ultimately, you'll want both types.  If you go for vibratory, look at the flow through type vs the solid barrel.  There are advantages to both. Rings & Things doesn't carry either type. Perhaps other forum members can offer their suggestions?

How about it, members and lurkers!  Anyone else use a tumbler to polish silver, stones or beads?  I want to know what to buy, also.

tia, Lurker22

[Oldbeadr]

Here's some links to articles on tumbling:
http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/9905/msg00737.htm

http://fly.cc.fer.hr/~christ/x001.htm

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[sjm1027]

Hello,
I would like to purchasing some kind of tumbler. I make jewelry usually using store bought beads and sterling silver half hard wire. When my project is complete I am told I can take the beaded piece and put it into a tumbler with steel shot and some dish washing detergent. The Tumbler will toss the steel shot against the wire and harden it.
I would also like to polish stone and glass, using the vibrating style tumbler the rocks or glass will retain it's original shape and also be complete in a much faster time.

So my problem is this, I want to do both functions mentioned above, harden wire and also polish stone and glass to make good looking rocks.

Can anyone tell me if the vibrating tumbler would do both functions or do I need the rotating tumbler to harden wire?

Thanks
Steve
 

[sjm1027]

Thanks for your help, I hope others have something to say. It may look like I need both.
Thanks
Steve

[sjm1027]

Yes please!!!!

[Linnea]

The rotary tumbler with steel will work-harden your pieces. It is actually burnishing the metal, which compacts it and makes it harder.

The vibratory, with plastic or wood media, does not harden. I use it for polishing all the time, but the pieces do not come out hardened.

Rio Grande carries a small softbound book on "Tumbling" in their catalog.  Author is Judy Hoch. It is exhausive, and answers almost everything.

I use a rock tumbler to soften the edges of my beach glass. You only need to do the last two steps. It polishes agates really great also, and you don't need to do all the steps for agates either. '>