How to Use a Tumbler to Polish Satin Finish Silver
- 1). Fill the tumbler barrel a third of the way with clean, stainless steel tumbling shot. Tumbling shot can be purchased from a jewelry making supplier.
- 2). Add water to the barrel until the tumbling shot is completely covered. Add a drop of dish detergent to the barrel as well to aid in cleaning and polishing the silver.
- 3). Push the silver to be polished gently into the tumbling shot. The amount of silver or jewelry you place in the barrel depends both on barrel size and the types of pieces you will be polishing. Pieces with chains are best polished alone to avoid tangling.
- 4). Seal the tumbler barrel with the lid and place the barrel into the tumbler base. Consult the directions provided with your tumbler for proper procedures.
- 5). Turn on your tumbler and allow the silver to tumble for 20 to 30 minutes.
- 6). Remove the barrel from the tumbler base and empty its contents into a strainer over a sink to remove the water and dish detergent. Rinse the tumbling shot and silver with lukewarm water.
- 7). Remove the silver pieces from the tumbling shot and rinse thoroughly. Gently dry with a cloth or paper towel and leave the pieces to air dry to remove all moisture.
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