Tumbling sterling silver with 24k gold inlay?

[Benjamin Schulte]

Wondering if it’s ok to work harden Sterling silver Jewelry inlayed with 24k gold With a tumbler?

 

[Victorvile]

tumbling can cause small pock-marks and 24 K gold is very soft.I would not dare to do it.

 

[monk]

sounds kinda scary to me

 

[Chujybear]

Do a small test. I imagine it could go badly... but maybe it’s the next great thing.

Might be better to prep your inlay... rough shape your troughs, and then harden it up and raise your burrs

 

[Goldjockey]

Depends on what you're using to tumble. Vibratory tumblers with steel shot are going to peen the metal and can create orange peel, especially with soft metal like 24K. The softer the metal, the more pronounced the peening.

Tumbling is fine for removing metal for a more refined finish or for polishing, but done properly it doesn't really work harden anything.

 

[Eric Olson]

I have used a rotary tumbler with stainless steel media
and I think they have a very gentle action. I don't think it would ruin the inlay.
I actually think they do a better job at "polishing" engraved pieces because it does not remove the fine details like buffing with a wheel would.

That said, I also do not think tumbling would have very much of a work hardening effect.

 

[Chujybear]

It stiffens up silver quite a bit. More than polishing, which stiffens up silver a little bit