It’s interesting when I go to various schools, talk to various
jewelers and jewelry students, and most of them are perfectly happy
to keep usingdishwashing detergent for tumbling. As a professional
myself, sellingmy work and doing custom work, I want the best
results I can get out ofmy tumbler. I have always used Rio’s
tumbling soaps and deburring soaps. I found that Super Sunsheen
tumbling soap to give a really bright, nice finish on metal with
steel shot. Strat-O-Sheen, a little more pricy, but still gives a
great finish.
As for using tumbling media, both ceramic and plastic media, nothing
beats Sunsheen deburring compound. I will panic when I run low, for
I relyon it heavily. Supra Galvex (ultrasonic soap) will work in a
pinch but if you after consistency, then stick with Rio tumbling
compounds andsoaps. They seems to have the best range on the market.
As for tumblers, I use mostly clear plastic barrels in assorted
sizes, and one big old steel lined with black rubber barrel for
larger loads (infrequently). My only issues is that when dirty
jewelry goes into the steel shot, it will render the tumbling soap
black and leave the shot oily. My students have learned to degrease
their jewelry before it goes in the steel shot, otherwise, I have to
spend a half hour getting the steel clean with shot cleaner. Since I
have vintage carbon sheet shot (25-45 years old), I have to use 910
or 920 tumbling soap just for the rust inhibitor. I don’t want to
spend $500 to replace with stainless steel shot, for my old shot
works properly, and why replace it?
Joy
