|
Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2011-03-15, 9:42am
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 02, 2005
Location: South Carolina Lowcountry
Posts: 730
|
|
?? Tumbling beads to etch
Cuppla Quick questions. I wanted to forego using chemicals whenever possible, so I have been tumbling beads to etch them. This week I put in some new ribbed beads, and the etch only happens on the high side of the beads and not down in the crevasses. I added small seed beads to the mix to help, but that didn't work.
Any ideas that would save me from using etch-all?
Also, I have not come up with an efficient way to save the etching material. It is so fine that it stays in suspension and doesn't settle out, so draining off the water and saving the sludge doesn't happen. The matl. is so fine it goes right thru 2 coffee filters. I'd love to reuse the material if I could, and yes, I know, I am cheap...though I prefer to call it frugal!!
__________________
Melodie Lee, LeeBeads To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
leebeads.etsy.com, leebeads.artfire.com
|
2011-03-15, 11:20am
|
A True Woofer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 13, 2005
Location: the land of nod
Posts: 3,895
|
|
What number grit (I'm not sure if that's the right word - it would be if you were using sandpaper, not sure it's the same word) are you using?
I would experiment with also going longer, more grit, finer grit etc.
__________________
Ellen
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 1:57pm
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 31, 2010
Location: London, UK
Posts: 358
|
|
You could make it a design feature - that's something that you *can't* do easily with etch-all, and some people really like the effect.
Can't help otherwise I'm afraid - I'm not sure if it'll ever roughen as much in the crevasses as on the surface.
Does your grit not settle at all? I use silicon carbide (180 grit) for cleaning my beads, and most of it settles fairly quickly so you can pour off most of the water and not lose much and then just leave the rest to evaporate. If not, you could pour it into a wide tray so it'd evaporate faster. Or boil it!
But that might not be very efficient...
(ObDisclaimer: not in anything you would use to prepare food)
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 2:10pm
|
|
Hummel factory reject
|
|
Join Date: Jan 06, 2006
Location: New Yorkish
Posts: 615
|
|
I mix my silicon carbide with distilled water and leave it in the tumbler to use again. Rinse the slurry off of the beads in a small bowl of water and let the s.c. settle to pour back in the tumbler. I use 800 grit but that is a matter of preference. Raised and creased areas do not etch well sorry.... You can use ceramic pyramids but even they don't get in the pesky crevices. Smooth objects etch the best.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 2:11pm
|
|
I'm a lilac!
|
|
Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 8,793
|
|
I've never been able to get beads to etch in crevices using a rock tumbler, no matter what. It can, however, be a great design element, especially with clear-encased beads.
I reuse the grit by straining the beads out and putting the combined fluid and grit back in the tumbler. I reuse the same grit a bunch of times this way, until it breaks down too fine to be useful. I don't mind using dirty fluid, it doesn't hurt anything.
__________________
-Kalera
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 3:13pm
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 02, 2005
Location: South Carolina Lowcountry
Posts: 730
|
|
I thought of using the same liquid, but won't it get stinky if it sits for a while? I guess I could refrigerate it.
I am using 1000# grit, silicon carbide. The slurry sat overnight, not much settled out. The etched surfaces are like velvet though! Wonder if I can put etch all over the recessed areas for a couple minutes to even the etch? Would be a great design feature, if I planned it that way!!
__________________
Melodie Lee, LeeBeads To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
leebeads.etsy.com, leebeads.artfire.com
|
2011-03-15, 4:17pm
|
|
I'm a lilac!
|
|
Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 8,793
|
|
It doesn't really have anything in it that would get stinky... just silicon carbide and glass dust.
__________________
-Kalera
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 4:43pm
|
|
http://youtu.be/nGt9jAkWi
|
|
Join Date: Oct 23, 2005
Location: Cullman, Alabama
Posts: 2,838
|
|
I stick my hand in to get the beads out & reuse the liquid. The liquid doesn't stink but is dark gray from the carbide. I've been using the same liquid for about 2 years. I do have to add to it every so often. You can't tumble etch beads with raised silver wire because it will mess them up.
__________________
Vivian
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 4:49pm
|
|
I'm a lilac!
|
|
Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 8,793
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by VivianLampwork
I stick my hand in to get the beads out & reuse the liquid. The liquid doesn't stink but is dark gray from the carbide. I've been using the same liquid for about 2 years. I do have to add to it every so often. You can't tumble etch beads with raised silver wire because it will mess them up.
|
Yes; it pops the silver right off! I have a lovely bracelet that I made myself from beads with raised wire that I ruined by tumbling.
__________________
-Kalera
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 5:34pm
|
|
Mad about Glass
|
|
Join Date: Nov 29, 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,052
|
|
What is the ratio of grit to water? I would love to try this.
__________________
Jenn
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [url]
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-15, 5:45pm
|
|
Entropy increasing....
|
|
Join Date: Nov 12, 2005
Location: In a box of paints
Posts: 25,098
|
|
You could always move to sand blasting them.
__________________
"I am an artist… I am here to live out loud." Emile Zola
|
2011-03-15, 8:07pm
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 02, 2005
Location: South Carolina Lowcountry
Posts: 730
|
|
Kevan, What? More equipment???? I will think on it, I do love new tools!!
In the meantime, I will just save the liquid and reuse it. I think I will go to distilled water, too. I see rust in the water here fairly often.
Thank you, everyone, for helping me think this thru. I will try a quick etch-all on the receses and see if I can fix them. Then, I will plan better! Learning curve, always!!
__________________
Melodie Lee, LeeBeads To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
leebeads.etsy.com, leebeads.artfire.com
|
2011-03-15, 8:09pm
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 02, 2005
Location: South Carolina Lowcountry
Posts: 730
|
|
Ekkie, I use about a Tablespoon to about a cup of water. It has worked well in the past. The surface of the bead is much more velvet-like than acid etching.
__________________
Melodie Lee, LeeBeads To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
leebeads.etsy.com, leebeads.artfire.com
|
2011-03-16, 6:08am
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 04, 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 417
|
|
I lived in SC for awhile and the water could get stinky in humid summer climate. Just add a drop or 2 of bleach to the water which won't hurt anything.
Andrea
|
2011-03-16, 6:11am
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 02, 2005
Location: South Carolina Lowcountry
Posts: 730
|
|
Si, es bien!!! I figured, stagnant water does that!! And summers are 90-100 percent humidity, all day and night!!
__________________
Melodie Lee, LeeBeads To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
leebeads.etsy.com, leebeads.artfire.com
|
2011-03-16, 7:22am
|
|
Crispy Critter
|
|
Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 3,300
|
|
What kind of grit do y'all use and where do you buy it?
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-16, 8:32am
|
|
I'm a lilac!
|
|
Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 8,793
|
|
__________________
-Kalera
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-16, 8:52am
|
|
T.J. made me do it
|
|
Join Date: May 09, 2007
Location: Tahoe-Douglas, NV
Posts: 1,120
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevan
You could always move to sand blasting them.
|
We have a sandblasting business and I can tell you from experience that by the time you get all the grooves etched the ridges are greatly diminished. I use Etch-All and believe me, I have access to any and all sandblasting equipment.
__________________
Julie
-Outwest Art Glass
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-16, 8:57am
|
|
Crispy Critter
|
|
Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 3,300
|
|
Thanks, Kalera, they've got all sorts of goodies.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-16, 9:45am
|
|
I'm a lilac!
|
|
Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 8,793
|
|
I love that place!
__________________
-Kalera
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-16, 11:47am
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 02, 2005
Location: South Carolina Lowcountry
Posts: 730
|
|
Kalera, you use 220 grit? That would be substantially heavier than the 1000 grade i have been using...would maybe settle out in the slurry.
__________________
Melodie Lee, LeeBeads To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
leebeads.etsy.com, leebeads.artfire.com
|
2011-03-16, 12:00pm
|
A True Woofer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 13, 2005
Location: the land of nod
Posts: 3,895
|
|
I think the 1000 makes the bead so much smoother and softer than a coarser grit, though.
__________________
Ellen
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-16, 12:17pm
|
|
I'm a lilac!
|
|
Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 8,793
|
|
I like finer grit for some things, but prefer a more textural finish for most of my beads. I'm pretty sure it's the 220... I long ago lost the label. It's like a fine beach sand.
__________________
-Kalera
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-03-16, 2:43pm
|
|
Oh my!
|
|
Join Date: Mar 05, 2010
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,418
|
|
I don't even add water.
|
2011-03-20, 4:31am
|
|
Mad about Glass
|
|
Join Date: Nov 29, 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,052
|
|
Thanks Melodie.
__________________
Jenn
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [url]
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-04-22, 7:25am
|
|
Bum-chaka-laka-laka
|
|
Join Date: Jun 05, 2010
Location: Dallas, TX.
Posts: 4,358
|
|
I know this thread has probably already solved the problem for Emoon, however I wanted to add, that sandblasting a piece will not give it the silky look, unless you etch of tumble them afterwards. Maybe if you used some finer media to sandblast them with, but usually the sandblasted look like lapped without polishing. Antoher way of getting sandblased the silky look is to oil it. But when talked about jewelry, that is most likely out of the question!
|
2011-04-22, 9:54am
|
|
I'm a lilac!
|
|
Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 8,793
|
|
I use the same grit in my sandblaster as I do in my tumbler, and it gives pretty much the same finish... I do lightly wax all my tumbled and sandblasted pieces.
__________________
-Kalera
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2011-04-22, 11:19am
|
|
Glass Hive Kiln Tech.
|
|
Join Date: Jun 23, 2007
Location: Toledo, OR
Posts: 907
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalera
|
Great prices. Thanks for the link, I bookmarked it.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
|
2011-04-22, 11:53am
|
|
Bum-chaka-laka-laka
|
|
Join Date: Jun 05, 2010
Location: Dallas, TX.
Posts: 4,358
|
|
Im dumb, orcourse yes you can also do that with the sandblaster... if you use the really fine grit. I dont use my sandblaster to get the etched results, I use it to grind the glass... there for I use much coarser grit. Ok, I am awake now!
|
2011-04-24, 10:01am
|
judejudejude
|
|
Join Date: Aug 09, 2008
Location: Salt Spring Island BC, Canada
Posts: 96
|
|
yesterday i bought a lortone tumbler (model 45C) from our local rock and gem store as well as tumbler pellets (looks like 4ml plastic round beads) and 220 silicone carbide grit. i put about 50-60 fugly boro pendants of all shapes and sizes (largest being about an inch across and about a dozen small hollow tear drop shaped pendants ), 3 tablespoons of the grit and one tub of the plastic beads(about a 1 lb margarine container) and water enough to almost cover the mix. i plugged the tumbler in at 7:30 last night and this morning at 8am i wanted to see what was happening. everyone of them has a silky satin finish. i thought this would take about 2-3 days for boro. i decided to keep them in till this evening to see the difference and then try some soft glass and then some of my nicer boro pendants. i love it and can't wait to see what i will do with the fuglies now. i think the more solid color ones are going to be really nice. i too am worried about the etching liquids and creams but love the effect. the initial cost to me was 175 and probably if i wasn't so impatient i could have found a better price but i am real happy with what it does.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:15am.
|