Protecting the Stone in Wire Wrap
by Danny
(Hendersonville, N.C.)
Does anyone know of a way to protect the stone in an already wire wrapped piece. I recently had some wraps tumbled and the silver was very nice, but the stones were a bit duller than when I put them in Tumbler. Also, how long should just finished pieces be tumbled as the wire is not tarnished, but it a bit dull and not sparkling? Thanks.
Stacy's Answer:
Unfortunately, tumbling can damage some gem material. Stones such as jasper, for example, may have their shine dulled slightly, depending upon how long you leave it in the tumbler. Sometimes, a simple buffing with something like a Sunshine® Polishing cloth will restore the shiny finish.A lot of factors can affect how long a piece should be tumbled. Things like your tumbling medium, the rotational speed of the tumbler, the makeup of the jewelry piece itself. Try tumbling it for an hour or so, see how it looks, put it back if necessary. Experiment with it.
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