Comments on: To Make Beads, You will Need a Wet-dry Sanding Kit

By: Lisa Whitham

Lisa Whitham — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:50:10 +0000

Thanks Cindy!!

By: Cindy Lietz@Using a Rock Polisher to get Shiny Beads

Cindy Lietz@Using a Rock Polisher to get Shiny Beads — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:38:07 +0000

I do use a rock tumbler and $30 sounds like a good deal. There has been a lot of tumbler discussion over at another thread on this blog. Click the link by my name and read the comments for lots of info on this.

By: Lisa Whitham

Lisa Whitham — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:19:28 +0000

Do you use a rock tumbler to sand your smaller beads? Harbor Freight has rock tumblers for about $30 and I am seriously thinking about buying one. My questions are: What material do you use in the tumbler? Ripped up wet dry sand paper, sand, or what? How long do you tumble them? If you can’t answer these questions, can you put me in contact with someone who can? Thanks for your help ~Lisa

P.S. I love your site!!!

By: Cindy Lietz@Polishing Polymer Clay Beads

Cindy Lietz@Polishing Polymer Clay Beads — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:36:12 +0000

Hi Achille! I am not familiar with your tumbler. Is it a vibratory one or a rotating drum tumbler? Also what is boulder matrix? Are you using it to polish polymer clay beads with? Or are you trying to polish the boulder matrix? Once I know more I can help you better.

By: Achille

Achille — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:45:28 +0000

Hi,I have a raycth tumbler,and i have a lot of boulder matrix for polishing.I have tried many different ways to polishing them but the result is not so good,i can’t get the final polish.I have even tried to polishing them with dry sand paper,starting from 200 grit to 3000 grit still can’t get a good finish on them.Do you have any suggestion,any help will be much appreciated..Thank you…Achille

By: Cindy Lietz@Bead Making Course

Cindy Lietz@Bead Making Course — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:17:36 +0000

Yeah a rock tumbler can be real handy for polishing polymer clay beads! You can't use the regular grit though, too hard on the clay. You actually use cut up pieces of sandpaper instead. I am not that thrilled with my results so far though. Not quite as good as hand sanding. When I perfect it, I'll share it with you all! Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Millefiori Beads by Polymer Clay Cane Artist Iris Mishly [Israel]

By: Marsha

Marsha — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:44:43 +0000

Interesting that you mention a rock tumbler. My husband suggested that just the other day! I’d love to hear more about it! Thanks!

By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Bead Making

Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Bead Making — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:51:31 +0000

You can sand beads that small by hand, if you like. You may find it easier to sand them when they're still on their piercing pins. The up side to the small beads is that you don't have to be as particular with the sanding because it is harder to see. There are some methods for using a rock tumbler to sand small beads but we'll have to go into that another day. Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Slicing Fimo Nail Art Canes | Sculpey Polymer Clay Cake Toppers

By: Marsha

Marsha — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:22:10 +0000

I am looking forward to going to the auto parats store, buying some sand paper and getting to work on some beads I made! With 8mm beads, would you use your hands to roll them on the sand paper? (I haven’t seen your videos yet!) They seem really small for sanding and polishing.

By: Cindy Lietz@Clay Texture Sheets

Cindy Lietz@Clay Texture Sheets — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:41:56 +0000

If you haven't yet read my rant about why sanding is such an important part of bead making, then be sure to read this post: Sand Your Polymer Clay Beads Or Else

Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Condition Polymer Clay Properly, Using A Pasta Machine