I just started making jewelry a couple of months ago. I have made
some simple pendant from soft colored/enameled 20 and 22g wire and
beads I bought at a local craft store. The pieces are pretty and
similar to ones I’ve seen for sale online. However I am afraid they
are too soft to sell.
They could be easily deformed from rough handling. I bought a cheap
rotary tumbler and attempted to work harden some of the pieces. They
were no more sturdy after 4 hrs of tumbling with ss shot. I then
exchanged the tumbler for a cheap vibrating tumbler to attempt the
same process. However the manual says this vibrating tumbler is not
suitable for ss shot. I am wondering if most people go ahead and use
shot despite the manufacturers recommendations (and if so do I put
water in with the shot which the manufacturer also advises not to use
in this tumbler)? I am not sure if I should just return this tumbler
and scrap the idea of selling these pieces because they are not the
quality of jewelry I want to sell or I should continue to pursue a
way to work harden them (most of the pieces are too twisted to work
harden with a hammer).