Since we are on the subject of steel shot, I have a question...I have run across 2 different opinions on my jewelry travels; those who remove the shot from the tumbler EVERY time they use it, dry it and store it and those who leave it in the tumbler covered with water and tumbling solution. I prefer to leave it in but dont want rusty shot. Any opinions? I have an economy rotary tumbler from Gesswein
Jennifer-
As I said before, we remove and clean the steel shot everytime
that it is used, but we also use several different media to
tumble polish. The soap is in a reservoir that circulates and is
only ocassionally changed and at this time it is sent to the
refiners after going through another process to extract the gold
out of the solution. We also use the ceramic shot for fast
cutting, walnut shells, etc. from time to time. It depends on the
amount of hand polishing the piece will require. The main thing
is to keep your shot from rusting, which ever way that you do it.
I have tried both ways, and this is what works best for me. You
dont have to discard your solution, it can be re-used, so it is
just a matter of removing the shot while it is not in use. Hope
this helps you! Ricky Low