Free Tutorial! Tumbling Magic Introduction. Author: Patti Bullard

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1 Free Tutorial! Tumbling Magic Introduction Author: Patti Bullard Tumbling your handmade metal jewelry with a rotary tumbler is a simple process, yet it produces magical results. Tumble polishing can remove unwanted marks on your metal. Also, it is a great way to work-harden items such as head pins, jump rings, and ear wires. Jewelry makers get their tumblers from the lapidary world, but rock tumblers do not include instructions on how to use them to polish jewelry. This tutorial is designed to provide basic tumbling information for jewelry makers. The tips that we are providing are based on our tumbling experiences and what we have found to work for us here at Wired Up Beads. The first question that people ask is, What can be safely tumbled? Here s what our experience and research have taught us: Copyright Wired Up Beads LLC, All Rights Reserved

2 It is safe to tumble polish solid metals such as sterling, fine, and argentium silver; gold-filled; brass and bronze; and, copper. Plated metals may be damaged when they are tumbled. Avoid tumbling pearls and gemstones. Soft gemstones such as turquoise or malachite can be easily damaged. In addition, it is possible that tumbling will change the color of your gemstone. Some people report that jewelry containing some of the harder gemstones can be tumbled, but great caution is advised. Once a set stone is marred or loosened from its setting, it is difficulty to replace or repair. Quality, annealed lampwork glass beads that are included in a piece of jewelry may be tumbled briefly (about 30 minutes) as long as they are not placed in a load that is exceptionally heavy or bulky. Also, we have successfully tumbled jewelry that has Swarovski crystals, even AB coated, for brief periods of time. At Wired Up Beads, we often tumble copper and sterling pieces together in the same load for relatively short periods of time (i.e., about 1 hour). However, we have found it best not to mix sterling with brass or bronze in the same load because the golden metals tend to take on a greenish cast. Let s get started! Step 1 To ensure a flawless shine, clean heavily oxidized or tarnished metal prior to tumbling. For pieces that have noticeable marring, scratches, or roughness, prep them with a thorough brushing using a Euro Tool Soft Brass Brush. This will create an even surface on your metal, which can be transformed into a perfect, uniform shine. To prevent the small pieces of shot from being permanently lodged in hollow beads or small openings, block or plug the holes using a pipe cleaner or by tying a piece of heavy string or cord through the bead. When tumbling tiny objects such as jump rings, you may wish to thread them on a pipe cleaner or a piece of scrap wire to make it easy to retrieve them from the shot.

3 Avoid tumbling multiple chains or pieces that can become easily tangled in the same load. Step 2 Decide on the amount of Premium Jeweler s Mix Stainless Steel Shot to use and place it in a clean tumbler barrel. Vary the amount of shot based on the load you are tumbling. For example, use a larger amount of shot (up to 2 pounds) for larger loads that have multiple pieces of jewelry and to achieve faster results. A small amount of shot (sometimes as little as a half pound or less) is adequate for lighter tumbling jobs, such as a single piece of jewelry. Stainless steel shot is highly recommended because of its ease of care and it will not rust. The original Dawn Dishwashing Liquid works well for cleaning the barrel as well as for cleaning the stainless steel shot. Step 3 Place the items to be tumbled in the barrel and add water until it is approximately one inch above the level of the shot and the items to be tumbled. Add only 3-6 drops of undiluted Shine Brite Burnishing compound.

4 Brite Shine Brite Burnishing Compound is a great way to ensure consistent results and a brilliant shine. It is formulated to act as a lubricant that will help the stainless steel shot move freely across the surface of your metal while producing minimal amounts of bubbles or foam. We like to store undiluted Shine Brite in a small dropper bottle. Using Shine Brite will help keep waste particles suspended in the water rather than deposited on your jewelry or the shot. Gauge tumbling time by type of metal and also the type of the piece. For example, sterling can be tumbled 4 to 6 hours, with the exception of pieces that have very fine detailing or subtle texturing. Copper tends to oxidize or turn dark if tumbled too long, so you might want to limit this metal to about 2 hours tumbling time. Fine silver such as PMC is very soft, so excessive tumbling may tend to erase or burnish away the details. Often 30 minutes to an hour is sufficient to bring a lustrous shine to fine silver pieces. To be safe, check the progress of your project often to make sure that you are achieving the desired results. Step 4 Place the lid liner, then the metal lid, and the large washer onto the barrel and screw down tightly with the nut. Place the barrel on the Lortone Tumbler and plug it in to start the tumbling process. After the tumbling time is complete, loosen the nut and remove the large washer. Use the washer to pry off the metal lid.

5 Step 5 Pour the contents of the barrel into a fine mesh stainless steel strainer, discarding the liquid (it is safe to pour it down the drain). Set the strainer on top of the barrel to continue letting the shot drain. Remove the jewelry from the shot and dry it with a soft, lintfree cloth. When you notice the water in the tumbler looking particularly dark and dingy, thoroughly clean and rinse the shot with the original Dawn Liquid Dishwashing Liquid. Spread damp shot out on a cookie sheet or pan covered with an absorbent cloth. After allowing the stainless steel shot to dry, it can be stored in the barrel until the next use. That s it! You ll swear it s magic!