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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

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  #1  
Old 2007-12-29, 8:18pm
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Default tumbling your beads....

Ok so I am still quite new at this beading thing......and i have some questions about bead tumbling....

I hear people talking about tumbling there beads, but i am unsure how, with what and why everyone is doing it.....
What do you need to tumble?
how do you tumble?
can you tumble a riveted bead?what do you put in with your beads?
how many can you tumble at one time?


Can I get some peoples opinion on why and how they are tumbling there beads.
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  #2  
Old 2007-12-29, 8:44pm
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Depends on what you want to do.

A simple rock tumbler from Hobby Lobby will work.

You can tumble several things at a time as long as they won't get tangled.

If you want to etch your beads tumble with glass pony beads, water,fine silica to get a nice etched look.

Want to polish silver that has beads mixed into the design, Place item in tumbler with soapy water and stainless steel shot. It will polish the silver and not hurt the beads.

I think most people tumble beads because they have silver attached in some way like a rivet or bracelet. They are trying to get the nice shine a tumbler gives the silver.
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  #3  
Old 2007-12-29, 8:47pm
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so you don't tumble a bead to get it cleaner or anything......more for the silver?
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  #4  
Old 2007-12-29, 9:39pm
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I tumble for two reasons - and I have two barrels
-one for etching (grit or play sand, water, and a drop of soap) plus some fugly beads for weight - this takes several hours or overnight sometimes
-one for cleaning silver (stainless steel shot, water, and a drop of soap) this takes about 20 minutes.
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  #5  
Old 2007-12-30, 10:17am
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hey lynda,
where did you get your tumblers? can you get the steel shot etc. at hobby lobby?
steph
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  #6  
Old 2007-12-30, 11:58am
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I would go with stainless steel shot unless you want to deal with it possibly rusting. You can get cheap tumblers at hobby lobby but you can order nice ones on line just google the shot and tumblers. I can't remember where I got these. Someone will chime in on the best place.
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  #7  
Old 2007-12-30, 11:59am
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Steph,

try this link: CLICK HERE

In Christ: Raymond
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  #8  
Old 2007-12-30, 12:27pm
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this is very helpful.....thanks everyone.

now i know that tumbling is for sliver and not for the glass
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  #9  
Old 2007-12-30, 3:22pm
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Lynda, If I have a standard hobby shop rock tumbler, how much stainless shot would I need? Thanks!
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  #10  
Old 2008-01-01, 9:45am
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hi everyone, could someone explain me what is etching all about?

i have no idea what that is, Lynda could you explain better, whats the play sand or grit?
when should the beads be etched, after anneal? and weight for what?

could someone draw a picture or show me a tutorial or something? thank you
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  #11  
Old 2008-01-01, 10:52am
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Etching makes your beads look matte.....takes away the shininess of them.

maybe if someone has a before and after picture it would explain this better
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  #12  
Old 2008-01-01, 1:48pm
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tumbling glass beads with grit is supposed to give a chemical free and softer etched finish to the beads. Corina posted this tut on her site: http://www.corinabeads.com/pages/tumbling.php
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  #13  
Old 2008-01-01, 3:39pm
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Sorry, I haven't been on much over the holidays.

I got my tumber at Harbor Freight, they have a brick an mortar store off I-74 here in Cincinnati. You can also get a little chop saw to cut tubing if you're using that.

I got my stainless steel shot from Connie Fox's website www.jaytayu.com

I LOVE the silky feel that you get from the tumbled beads.

I've also been looking at a sandblaster (~$85 from Harbor Freight) to do localized etching.

As far as what beads to etch, that's a personal decision. You etch them when you'd like the look of etched more. But if you etch, say encased florals, or reduced luster beads, you'll lose your finish or not be able to see what you worked so hard on.
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  #14  
Old 2008-01-01, 4:03pm
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Oh, and by play sand, I mean Play sand. Like you'd buy at Home Depot for a sandbox. It works, just takes a while (and we had a lot of that). Or you can get silicon carbide 400 - 600 grit would be good, from a rock polishing place (you'll have to look those sources up, but I've seen them posted here ~6-9 mo ago)
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  #15  
Old 2008-01-02, 2:24am
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thank you all, i guess i will have to spent more money
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  #16  
Old 2008-01-02, 9:23am
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I got mine at harbor freight. I bought the packet with the different tumbling elements...I only use 2. Pre Polish and Polish and over course some small beads for grit.
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  #17  
Old 2008-01-02, 11:07am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RaymondMillbrae View Post
Steph,

try this link: CLICK HERE

In Christ: Raymond

Thanks Raymond,
that is soooo funny, i just found the Harbor freight in cincinnati and it is only 4 miles from me!!!! Go figure! i have to laugh

steph
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  #18  
Old 2008-01-02, 12:13pm
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Harbor Freight is great! Amazing jumble of stuff, plan to spend quality time.
Not just tools, either. For example, I once saw electric flyswatters (battery operated) in a bin there. Made in Mexico. I don't think it was a "serious" item, but it must have worked on some level since it had a warning label.
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  #19  
Old 2008-01-02, 1:28pm
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Ha ha ha.

Electric fly swatters, huh?

ALL the Chinese restaurants here in Chinatown (San Francisco) have them on their front counters, display cases, and kitchens.

Ha ha ha.

In Christ: Raymond
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