Lapidaryforum.net
Rockin' Jewelry => Gold, Silver, Other Metals, Casting and Fabrication => Topic started by: MurphyStone on July 27, 2016, 03:49:46 AM
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Hello my pieces have been coming out of the pickle with a white creamy film on them. This hasn't been a problem in the past as I just sand and polish them up and they look great. My latest piece though has to many areas that can't easily be sanded and polished as to much twisted wire is used.
two questions,
what is this creamy white layer? I am using fine silver for the most part
Will tumbling in stainless shot and pins remove this?
Thanks
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You can buy nylon brushes for a dremel.
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Pickle goes bad. Have you tried new pickle?
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What type of pickle are you using? If you are soldering, to me it sounds just like the fine silver coming to the surface. When you clean the metal in pickle, the fine silver layer on the top is white. It's called depletion gilding. SS shot should get most of it, but you may want to try the 3M radial bristle brushes on your Foredom to clean it up.
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What type of pickle are you using? If you are soldering, to me it sound just like the fine silver coming to the surface. When you clean the metal in pickle, the fine silver layer on the top is white. It's called depletion gilding. SS shot should get most of it, but you may want to try the 3M radial bristle brushes on your Foredom to clean it up.
Homemade vinegar and salt. Yes soldering.
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Here's a link to the brushes on Rio Grande. https://www.riogrande.com/Product/3m-radial-bristle-disc-master-kit/332595
They're really good for getting into all the little tight places you can't reach otherwise without a lot of contortions. A quick and easy solution. They come in different grit sizes. They sell them separately -- you don't have to buy the whole kit. Just make sure you have the correct mandrel to mount them on. They work just fine in your Dremel.
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I use a 1" diameter very fine (.005") stainless wire wheel brush wheel. It cleans the layer off in seconds. The only place that I can find these in stainless is Mc Master Carr.
Bob
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The ultimate would be a MAGNETIC PIN FINISHER, the lowest priced one is $199.00. A raw casting dropped in one of these comes out almost polished with no effort on your part. Look on Rio Grande or E Bay under "Magnetic Tumbler Machine" The stainless steel shot straight pins have sharp points which can cause finishing problems, we remove these when using this type shot, where as the magnetic pins are much smaller and thinner and all the same size with blunted ends and no other shapes.
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Thanks everyone. Picked up the shot and 3m brushes from a studio within driving distance, the piece has only been tumbling a half hour and looks great so far.
I'll look into the magnetic pin once I start casting. Have the equipment just haven't gotten to it yet.
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The outcome