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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2017-05-30, 8:34pm
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 24, 2016
Posts: 69
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silicon carbide grit for etching
I have a rock tumbler that I use for polishing metal.
I know I can use silicon carbide grit to get an etched effect on my beads.
I don't know what grit is best to frost over my beads. Does anyone have any experience with silicon carbide grit and what grit size do you use?
I live in Korea so I need to be specific about what I order and have shipped. I have already spent time at the local hardware area and cannot find silicon carbide grit or even anyone that knows what it is. The closest I could get was a 20 kilo bag of aluminum oxide for $100 bucks.
Any help is goodly.
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2017-05-30, 9:36pm
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 11, 2016
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 70
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800 if you want a satin finish, 1000 if you want a wax finish. I use 1 rounded teaspoon and a couple drops of Dawn dish detergent. I use seed beads for media; #6 size unless your bead holes are larger, then use bigger ones or they will get stuck in your bead holes. Cover the seed beads just barely with water to make kinda of a slurry. I string my beads loosely to retrieve them easily. As long as the beads can slide freely on the string they will still etch on all sides. Turn on your tumbler and check in about 3-4 hours.
Notes:
Bullseye doesn't etch well.
If you've decorated your bead with dots that stick out the ectching won't be even where the seed bead media can't get into the creases.
You can use your solution over and over again until the beads don't etch well anymore and the seed beads start to break down. Just add a little water each time so it's slurry consistency.
Wanna see pics.
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2017-05-30, 9:38pm
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 11, 2016
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 70
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Oh one more thing, try checking a lapidary store for the silicon carbide. That's where I get mine. A little goes along way.
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2017-05-31, 12:00am
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 24, 2016
Posts: 69
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Thanks Bentley! Great info.
Of course I want to see pics. Pics are great!
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2017-06-01, 2:18pm
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Dix Harrison
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Join Date: Mar 31, 2009
Location: KCKS - But my heart is in Scotland
Posts: 526
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I mail order my grit from www.therockshed.com.
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2017-06-01, 8:10pm
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Lampworkaholic!
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Join Date: Apr 22, 2008
Location: Cornelius, NC - because weather
Posts: 5,158
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I use 1,000 silicon carbide grit for a satin finish.
Also, important - don't use the same barrel/drum for polishing and etching.
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2017-06-17, 10:28am
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Member
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Join Date: Feb 06, 2015
Location: US East Coast
Posts: 64
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Just want to reiterate what Elizabeth said, once you have used silicon carbide in your tumbler, NEVER use it for polishing!
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