Satin finish, was: flawless chains/brass brush

Hi Dave,

I recently bought a couple satin finish wheels (from Rio) for my flex
shaft. I bought medium and fine. They seem kinda like Scotch-brite
with some abrasive. I refinished a piece recently, and really liked
the effect. It’s a sterling bear silhouette overlaid on black onyx.
For some reason, the satin finish on the face really works better
than a high polish. I left the sides of the setting highly polished
for a nice contrast. Maybe the polished onyx and polished silver
were too much…

Anyway, I like the wheels, you might want to check them out. I’ve
always had my eye on a bead blaster, but have never had a chance to
play with one yet!

See ya,

Dave Sebaste

Dave and others,

If you havn’t tried a bead blaster, you should (maybe you shouldn’t!)
as you will most likely then have to get one. I have a very large
cabinate unit for the bronze castings I do, but what a joy to clean
any jewelry castings of the investment and if silver, the fire scale.
Fast, easy, very clean, and ready for soldering or setting or
polishing. Just be sure to turn the pressure down to as low a
pressure as gets the job done. Also, be sure to use beads and not
sand as the beads peen the metal, the sand will remove it. I find
more and more things to do with the blaster the longer I have it…

John

John Dach and Cynthia Thomas
Maiden Metals
a div. of Strength of vision is important,
MidLife Crisis Enterprises but so is the ability
PO BX 44 to see things as they really are.
Philo, CA 95466
707-895-2635(phone/fax)
mlce@pacific.net

Hi Dave,

I recently bought a couple satin finish wheels (from Rio) for my flex
shaft. I bought medium and fine. They seem kinda like Scotch-brite
with some abrasive. I refinished a piece recently, and really liked
the effect. It’s a sterling bear silhouette overlaid on black onyx.
For some reason, the satin finish on the face really works better
than a high polish. I left the sides of the setting highly polished
for a nice contrast. Maybe the polished onyx and polished silver
were too much…

Anyway, I like the wheels, you might want to check them out. I’ve
always had my eye on a bead blaster, but have never had a chance to
play with one yet!

See ya,

Dave Sebaste

Dave and others,

If you havn’t tried a bead blaster, you should (maybe you shouldn’t!)
as you will most likely then have to get one. I have a very large
cabinate unit for the bronze castings I do, but what a joy to clean
any jewelry castings of the investment and if silver, the fire scale.
Fast, easy, very clean, and ready for soldering or setting or
polishing. Just be sure to turn the pressure down to as low a
pressure as gets the job done. Also, be sure to use beads and not
sand as the beads peen the metal, the sand will remove it. I find
more and more things to do with the blaster the longer I have it…

John

John Dach and Cynthia Thomas
Maiden Metals
a div. of Strength of vision is important,
MidLife Crisis Enterprises but so is the ability
PO BX 44 to see things as they really are.
Philo, CA 95466
707-895-2635(phone/fax)
mlce@pacific.net

what size air compressor do you use for bead blasting? That
does sound interesting, maybe better than the abrasive wheels.
Have you tried masking areas and blasting? How does one do it,
if so? Does anybody send out their casting to be done? I’d like
to try a few pieces that way…who does individual pieces well, and
for a reasonable price?

thanks,

Anne Stickney

Dr. E. Aspler
Managing Director
Ganoksin Jewelry Co.,Ltd.
aspler@ganoksin.com