Hi all
The best method to keep shot from rusting is to:
1 remove shot from bowl and place on a bath towel
2 using standard hair dyer … blow until dry … 3 to 5 min
3 place in container and store
no liquid to handle … no possible rusting in storage �.
takes about 5 minutes
The real trick is to keep the shot clean during the tumbling
action ! The best for this is to use a commerical flow thru
system �. expensive for small volume.
I used a kitchen baster (for cooking) to remove dirty water �
placed in bowl (bottom) during tumbling� draw suction and a good
portion of water is sucked into baster . Empty and remove
water till clean �… worked ok .
Recently I devised a home made partial flow-thur system: Drill
hole in side of bowl near the bottom of unit � smaller then the
threaded item to be used
Screw a threaded fitting (with one side male threads x other
side with tubing connection) into the hole �. may seal with
material that is compatible
with your bowl material.
Attach tubing ( any type ) to the tubing connection and route to a
bucket of any size that is handy .
Place a valve in the tubing line to bucket (1/4" works fine ) .
Create a shot spotter by inserting some folded thin wire into
fitting on water inlet side of the bowl. This will prevent shot
passing thru with the water.
With the valve closed … may charge the bowl to your liking .
When the water becomes dirty � open valve to drain dirty water
into bucket . Pour in new charge (clean water plus whatever)
during tumbling. The commercial units use a pump to recycle and
filter the water.
Have been using this setup � and it is working great � improved
finished on the tumbled metal
A possible improvement is to place a submersible pump w/filter
(small volume$20) in the bucket and route tubing to the top of
bowl � continues water recycle.
Bottom line � shot most be super-clean to get consist good
results from the tumbling polishing method .
Lou
Lou N Goldstein
Metallou@aol.com