I have finally got round to ordering an extra barrel for my Lortone tumbler this morning. I would like to try tumbling rather than always acid etching my organic beads. Please could someone advise me what grit I need to use, where to get it from and how long the beads need to be tumbled for?
Thank you!
Kazx
Funny, I was just looking at CherryHaven to get another barrel for mine after reading the etching thread on LE ???
Here's (http://www.corinabeads.com/pages/tumbling.php) Corina's take on it but I haven't yet tried it as don't want to use my jewellery barrel.
1000 grit seems a bit fine to me though so maybe we need someone who's actually done it successfully to confirm grit size.
I use a rubber barrel for tumbling glass, plain glass beads as tumbling media and 400 grit. I have tried plastic pellets, but they broke down and got stuck in the bead holes, so then tried pipe cleaners in the holes to keep the pellets out, but didn't get as good a finish.
I originally bought a stone tumbling plastic barrel from ebay, but the noise drove me (and the cats) nuts as I had it on in the utility next to the kitchen. The rubber one is much more quiet! I usually tumble for a few hours and then check - sometimes it takes much longer.
You can buy the grits from UKGE:
http://www.ukge.co.uk/UK/grits.asp
I got mine from ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILICON-CARBIDE-400-GRIT-POWDER-CERIUM-OXIDE-LAPIDARY-STONE-TUMBLING-POLISHING-/251330991149?pt=UK_Collectables_RocksFossils_Minerals_EH&hash=item3a847e942d
If you do an ebay search you can find more supplies.
Hope that helps, I'm sure there are others who tumble on here that have equally good solutions.
Jane
I use 1000 grit, silicon carbide, Kaz - it is very very fine - but gives a beautiful velvety smooth finish! And I tumble for about 4 hours!
The alternative is to cut up bits of wet and dry paper (you can work through the grades if you like) and throw them in with some water. Does the job beautifully without any grits to clean up at the end.
I've been tumbling beads for a while now. I like the variety of finishes you can get with different grits - from smooth velvet with fine grits (eg 400 or finer) to grainy sea-glass effect with coarser grits (eg 120). I recommend experimenting to see what works best for you. Experiment with timing as well - some strange effects can be achieved with a half-hour tumble that just takes part of the shine off and leaves some ordinary glasses slightly sparkly - other times I've left big nuggety "sea-glass" beads for 24 hours or more for an authentic finish.
A few observations:
1. Recessed areas, including bead-hole dimples, may be missed with tumbling, so in some cases you might need to "finish" them with a chemical etch. On the other hand, some interesting effects can be achieved. Try tumbling melon beads for example - the outer lobes take the bashing and while the inner grooves remain untouched and shiny...
2. I like Corina's idea of "pony beads" or similar - I always have a load of my own simple spacers in with the main beads. If you don't have enough bulk in the barrel, you don't get a good rolling tumble and the beads don't get an even finish.
3. I use silicon carbide grits for preference - have tried aluminium oxide, but I don't think it works as well. I get them on eBay - not too expensive as a little goes a long way.
4. Don't try tumbling beads with silver or delicate protrusions as they get scraped/knocked off.
5. Grits and ground glass can clog sinks - use a bit of common sense when cleaning out and disposing of waste.
A friend of mine has been using builders sand....
I have been using 80 and plastic bb gun pellets, gives a textured effect on transparent
you can see the texture on these
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/9252158742_68a6df77c1.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92473610@N04/9252158742/)
for sandra 003 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92473610@N04/9252158742/) by Flowerjasper2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/92473610@N04/), on Flickr
but the same 80 grit works well on opaque glass
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/9355531952_5be35f1870.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92473610@N04/9355531952/)
tumble 004 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92473610@N04/9355531952/) by Flowerjasper2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/92473610@N04/), on Flickr
I tumble for a few hours and then add a little oil to the beads,
I am going to give the 1000 a go.
sandy
Quote from: JanieD on September 02, 2013, 10:47:17 AM
I use a rubber barrel for tumbling glass, plain glass beads as tumbling media and 400 grit. I have tried plastic pellets, but they broke down and got stuck in the bead holes, so then tried pipe cleaners in the holes to keep the pellets out, but didn't get as good a finish.
I originally bought a stone tumbling plastic barrel from ebay, but the noise drove me (and the cats) nuts as I had it on in the utility next to the kitchen. The rubber one is much more quiet! I usually tumble for a few hours and then check - sometimes it takes much longer.
You can buy the grits from UKGE:
http://www.ukge.co.uk/UK/grits.asp
I got mine from ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILICON-CARBIDE-400-GRIT-POWDER-CERIUM-OXIDE-LAPIDARY-STONE-TUMBLING-POLISHING-/251330991149?pt=UK_Collectables_RocksFossils_Minerals_EH&hash=item3a847e942d
If you do an ebay search you can find more supplies.
Hope that helps, I'm sure there are others who tumble on here that have equally good solutions.
Jane
Any idea where I can get a rubber barrel from, I have a plastic one and it leaks like billyho so gave up with it!
I've tried tumbling with coarse grit silicon carbide (can't remember the number). It took only a couple of hours after I realised I have to fill the barrel more than half way. With only a handful of beads in the barrel they just slid along the side, so I emptied my fugly bin into the barrel to fill it up to 2/3 or so.
Next time I will try finer grit since the result was a bit rough, like sea glass.
Quote from: Lotti on September 02, 2013, 09:05:02 PM
Any idea where I can get a rubber barrel from, I have a plastic one and it leaks like billyho so gave up with it!
I got mine from Metal Clay: http://www.metalclay.co.uk/products/Rubber-barrel-1.5lb.html
You can also get them from Kitiki/Cherry Heaven.
Jane
Manchester Minerals are pretty good value for lots of things.
Lotti, what type of tumbler do you have? It needs to be one that fits.
3Lb Rubber Barrel
Metal Clay, generic £32.95 ( free P&P )
Manchester Minerals, generic £32.46 ( including £4.55 P&P )
Palmers Metals, Lortone £35.46 ( free P&P )
I know it's a couple of quid dearer but I think it's the Lortone one for me
( FYI I have a Lortone tumbler already )
Quote from: mizgeorge on September 03, 2013, 11:53:10 AM
Lotti, what type of tumbler do you have? It needs to be one that fits.
Can't remember off hand (it is still in the packing after the move) think it was one of the kernow craft ones and did work fine according to my neighbour who gave it to me, but the lids are a pain to get on and then leak everwhere when tumbling so gave up with it!!!! I will try to hunt it out over the weekend as I would far prefer to use it than the fluid (she gave me all the grits too, lovely lady!).
I too really don't like etching fluid and love the look of Steph's tumbled barrel beads. I have a very old tumbler with a spare barrel (much like the barrel Lotti has with a very difficult to remove lid) but I did have some 600 grit silicon carbide from a set I got from BeadySam ages ago (never throw anything out!) So tried it this afternoon and left it tumbling while I was out shopping. Tumbled for about 2 hours and looking good. I should think another two hours should do it. I'm really glad Kaz raised the topic as I have been thinking about trying this for a while and it's motivated me to do something about it ;D.
I have recently got a 2nd hand tumbler off ebay and have been reading past threads, 2 things I am not sure about;
1, how much grit? teaspoon, tablespoon, cupful etc
2, does it wear out?? do you leave it in the barrel with the tumbling medium (pony beads / beach gravel / fugly beads) or do you throw it away and start again each time.
Thanks Diane! ;D
Pauline, I use a heaped teaspoon, approximately 1/4 filled my barrel with pony beads, add my beads and just cover with water. It doesn't appear to wear out, I leave it in the barrel, and occasionally add a little more water and grit, if necessary! A bag of grit will probably last you forever! ;D
I'm getting a tumbler for my Christmas present ;D (late as usual because I couldn't be bothered to do the research ::)). Anyway, could someone please advise if a 1.5 lb barrel is adequate to the task or will I be kicking myself if I don't order a 3 lb one? In fact I have my eye on a double barrel machine (possibly this one http://www.ukge.com/en-gb/Lapidary/Stone-Tumblers/3lb-Double-Plastic-Barrel-Stone-Tumbler__p-14-252-1189.aspx so that I can tumble, say, a wire work bracelet or two at the same time as etching some beads...each barrel is 1.5 lb
I have a 1.5 lb barrel for glass, and can get quite a lot in there (for me that's about 20 to 30 beads) and can fit two 1.5's on my tumbler machine, so I can do glass in one and silver in another. I found I haven't needed anything bigger. I have rubber barrels as the machine is in my utility, as you can hear the plastic ones all over the house.
They were driving my nuts cats even nuttier!
Jane
This is very timely :). I mentioned to my mother that I was thinking of getting a tumbler with a rubber barrel and she promptly bought me a second hand one on ebay. It has a small barrel (I am assuming 1.5lb) and came with a bag of shot (including some that look like spaceships and some tiny rods). I was going to ask a question on FH about how to tumble beads but this answers most of my questions. Would someone please confirm that you just put in your beads, some grit and some water and leave for a couple of hours. There is some talk of pony beads but I don't know what they are!
I was also hoping to use the tumbler to clean silver (got lots of silversmithing tools for Xmas ;D) but that is a whole new set of questions!!
I use a bag of plain glass beads that I got from ebay, as they were cheap. I couldn't find pony beads in the quantity I wanted so these are fine. I can't find the link at the moment, but they were plain glass 8mm beads.
Jane
Hobbycraft do packs of pony beads.
Are they the plastic ones? I'm sure I looked at these last time I was in and they were in the kids section.
Jane
now I am up and running with mine I 3/4 fill my barrel with beads, fuglys and some small beach pebbles, a teaspoon of grit and water to cover. put it on and check a bead after about 3 hours, I find 3-5 hours about right.
keep your stainless steel shot for tumbling your silver and jewellery, do not mix it with grit, if possible keep a separate barrel for tumbling silver with shot.
Thanks for all the helpful info. I had already planned a visit to Hobbycraft today so will look for pony beads. I think a separate barrel for silver is a good idea as it will save having to clean out the barrel after each use ;)