In this article, we'll cover the best tips and information on how to polish jewelry and precious metals using a drum polisher.
What is a tumble polisher/drum polisher?
A tumble polisher (regardless of size) consists of a container with a removable lid. The container contains a mixture of steel shot and water as well as a cleaning agent.
It then rotates on a motorized unit that gently planes the metal item to give it a shiny surface. Jewelry tumblers can also be used for deburring, cleaning and cutting, simply by changing the compounds and media in the machine.
How to polish jewelry with a drum polisher?
Here's our guide on how to polish your latest designs with a drum polisher.
- Remove the tumbler polisher lid - read the product manual to ensure you are familiar with how the lid is removed and put back on. This will avoid any leakage during the tumbling and polishing process.
- Take the mixed stainless steel pellets for tumble polishing of jewelry (approx. 250 g to 400 g in a 3Ib drum). Add it to the tumble polisher.
- Now remove the tumble polisher. Add a tablespoon of the mixture to the tumble polisher along with the steel shot. If you have a larger machine, you may need more polishing powder.
- Fill the bucket 3/4 full with water.
- Replace the lid, making sure that all lid parts are put back in place in the correct order so that it seals properly.
- Once sealed, place the barrel on the rotator.
- Open and rotate for approximately 30 minutes. This will thoroughly mix the water and drum compound and prepare your jewelry design for polishing.
- Remove from the unit, remove the lid and place your jewelry piece in the barrel.
- Close the lid and polish for approximately 20 minutes (the more jewelry in the drum, the longer the polishing time).
- You can now remove your jewelry components, rinse them off and admire the professional shine!
Frequently asked questions about jewelry drum polishers:
Now that you know how to use a drum polisher, here are some questions we often hear when using a jewelry drum polisher.
What can be polished with a drum polisher?
Tumblers are best suited for small metal items that contain fine detail, including metals that can be tumbled:
- gold
- silver
- copper
- brass
- aluminium
NOTE: It is recommended to keep different metals separate to avoid possible cross contamination.
The Metal Polishing Tumbler is ideal for processing wire and PMC, but is not suitable for processing large areas of untextured plain metal.
Do not use a drum polisher to polish the following items:
- chains
- hollow items
It is possible to polish the chain inside the barrel, but the chain is likely to get tangled, so be sure to take that into account before putting the chain in the barrel at the last minute.
Any hollow items may trap polishing beads when removed, but they can be removed with a magnet or a bit of brute force!
Smaller items (such as found objects) can be threaded onto a looped wire, which saves time when emptying the barrel after polishing is complete.
Finally, when choosing a polisher be sure to check the size of the barrel itself.
How long should I polish my jewelry?
There is no definitive answer to this question, but as a rough guide, 3 hours is a good place to start. If you are polishing a few small pieces of jewelry, you can start checking the finish after 2 hours. But it's not an exact science and you can't over-polish, so time isn't too important.
Will roller polishing remove scratches?
It will not. As with any polishing process, the final stage is to polish with a roller polishing machine. Prior to this, you must complete all initial filing and sanding stages as usual.
How many pieces can be polished at one time?
This depends on the size of the polishing pail and the size of the items you put in. If you have larger items, you can put less into the drum polisher. ou want the shot, solution and pieces to move freely to obtain a good polish, so the key is not to overload the unit.
Can I polish pieces with gemstones?
If possible, it is best not to polish metal pieces with gemstones. Softer and more porous stones can be damaged by steel shot, and harder stones are not guaranteed to remain unscathed. If in any doubt, do some tests before polishing major parts.
How to clean stainless steel shot for tumblers:
Steel shot and even stainless steel shot will rust if left damp, so it’s important to care for it well by either:
1. Laying shot out on a cloth and drying with a hairdryer until completely bone dry
2. Soaking the steel shot in water and adding a teaspoon of polishing powder, which will prevent the shot from rusting.
Final Tips on How to Polish Your Jewelry
If you're still learning how to use a tumble polisher, the great thing about it is that you can't go wrong. It's a foolproof method for those who are afraid of using a traditional polishing motor. In the worst case scenario, you may find that the bucket is overfilled with liquid and causes a leak, but this is easily corrected by removing some of the liquid.
Replacement lids can also be purchased if you find that the lid of your polishing bucket has come loose over time. As long as you take care of the motor, your jewelry polisher should last for many years, and once you start relying on it, you'll wonder how you ever did without it.
Tooltos jewelry tools offers a wide range of tumble polisher and accessories, so why don't you start using all the tools you need to polish your jewelry designs?
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