Etching and Polishing Beads

[Phoenix]

I've just added a new section for those who want to tumble etch and polish their beads.

Silicon Carbide grit and Cerium Oxide.

I have use the cerium oxide for polishing beads, but have not yet tried it on transparent bead holes.

Plese let me know if there is anything you would like to see added to this section

Remember - these are new items which means they are 10% off this month!

http://www.phoenixartsupplies.com/products.php?cat=25

[Yvon]

I'm glad you posted the availability of these products. I'll be trying them, especially since I imagine that the uses would not be limited just to beads.

[Phoenix]

I'm glad you posted the availability of these products. I'll be trying them, especially since I imagine that the uses would not be limited just to beads.

They are generally sold by lapidary supply shops in much larger batches- I have been using them for small stones and furnace beads - I just this week used the cerium to polish off a mark on a bead I loved and was keeping for myself because of the flaw which thrills me :-)

I do know there must be a cleaner way to use the cerium than any I have done- so if you find one- let me know!

I rig up dremel tools to use it- like felt tips

[rainygrrl]

Jessica, I am looking into getting a tumbler. Still doing research. I like that you're offering smaller quantities, but I don't have a feel for how far an ounce of silicon carbide grit would go.
How much do you use--say in a 3# barrel?
Can you reuse it or do you dump it out each time?

The cerium polishing I've been around has been messy. What a clever idea to clean up a mark on an otherwise nice bead!

Thanks!

[Phoenix]

Jessica, I am looking into getting a tumbler. Still doing research. I like that you're offering smaller quantities, but I don't have a feel for how far an ounce of silicon carbide grit would go.
How much do you use--say in a 3# barrel?
Can you reuse it or do you dump it out each time?

The cerium polishing I've been around has been messy. What a clever idea to clean up a mark on an otherwise nice bead!

Thanks!

For rocks you use one tablespoon for approximately one pound of rocks - so even an ounce of these will last you awhile for beads - I have been using a tablespoon and not worrying about how many beads I put in

You can reuse - the rougher grit will wear down a bit eventually and you will need to refresh-

I'm glad to hear it's a messy job and not just me!

When you rinse, use a coffee filter to catch the grit

[rainygrrl]

Thanks Jessica!

[DellaA-drd]

Hi,

I have been tumbling my beads for a long long time. Hard to remember since I have been making beads for 15 years.

I use #600 silicon carbide grit...Dry! The first time I tumbled I used some really bad looking beads, turquoise with the 'tranish' and some broken one. It cleaned the turquoise and left it with a nice smooth surface.

If you have beads with indentations, the indentations stay clear with out having to use a resist. However, if you want the indentations to look frosted too, then use some smaller beads (E beads or size 6/8 seed beads). This works for the soft glass, I have never tried it on boro as I generally work only the soft glass. Using large tweezers to pick them out, knock as much of the grit off as I can, place in a strainer (the coffee filter is a great idea to catch the grit) and rise with the garden hose.

It is important that you anneal your beads in the kiln before tumbling. I also tumble before cleaning so that I don't have to do the cleaning process twice.

I'll search my iPhoto library and find some beads to show you.

Della A

[Phoenix]

Thanks Della! I haven't tumbled dry- I'm not sure why I haven't tried it- maybe it's time!

I'm also not sure why I clean them first other than it feels like I should :-)

Wait- I think it's so I don't have to deal with release when I filter the grit- especially the 1000 which is pretty much the size of release- i don't think I could separate them

I'm looking forward to pics!

[LyndaJ]

Placed an order today!! Thank-you for the opportunity to get a small quantity without having pounds of the material on hand.

[Phoenix]

Thank YOU Lynda!
Let me know if there are any sizes or items that would make it easier that you would like to see me carrying in the future

[Chroma]

Jessica, does this etch the beads like the etching chemicals? I would love to use something besides that stuff! I have a tumbler. . .

I don't quite understand if it etches or polishes.
bj

[Phoenix]

Jessica, does this etch the beads like the etching chemicals? I would love to use something besides that stuff! I have a tumbler. . .

I don't quite understand if it etches or polishes.
bj


Good question-
The silcon carbide is used in a tumbler. It gives a matte finish that's more subtle than the etching you generally see. You son't want to use the same tumler you use for silver I have been told (I don't tumble silver, so I am passing this along as an fyi) The higher the grade of silicon carbide, the more smooth the etched appearance. So- 220 will give you a more etched appearance than 1000

For polishing, you would want to cerium oxide and possibly varied greades of sicon carbide. You start polishing at a lower level of grit and work up to the serium or super cerium - it is time consuming and messy - recommended for your favorite transparent or large hole beads :-)