What's the best medium for removing burrs on sterling jump rings?

by Megan
(Baltimore, MD)

I made a lovely chainmaille choker, but the jump rings -- some I made, some I purchased -- have burrs at the cuts. What medium should I use to get rid of them? Stainless shot does not seem to be doing the trick. Or maybe tumbling overnight isn't long enough? HELP!

Thanks!
Megan.

Stacy's Answer:

Hi Megan!

I prefer to tumble jumprings before I using them. I use a de-burring solution in a rotary tumbler with stainless steel shot and tumble them overnight. The rings come out with a bright metal finish, slightly work-hardened and burr-free. In a finished chainmaille piece, the links can be tightly spaced and woven together making it difficult for the shot to reach into all the nooks and crannies.

If the burrs are really pronounced on the jumprings you're making yourself, it may be time for a new saw-blade or cutting wheel, especially if you're using a high-speed jumpring cutting system. For tumbling, there are different grits of ceramic tumbling media that work well for removing burrs from metals. Rio Grande carries them. Just read the item descriptions to determine which is best for you and follow the manufacturer's directions for best results.

I can't say if more time in the tumbler will remove all the burrs in your necklace. Probably not. Rings rotate, so the rough edges may not be accessible to the tumbling media. You may have to bite the bullet and use a fine file or sandpaper to gently remove the burrs by hand, then tumble for a quick polish-up. A tedious labor of love to be sure. But chalk it up to one of those learning experiences (sigh) and try to begin your chainmaille projects with smooth jumprings to help avoid such problems in the future.