I also use a filing stick with foam padding glued to it then wrapped in abrasive paper, I've also used the soft pumice stones I find in the drug store with water for inside curves. I've done a bit of holloware and sometimes filing doesn't give enough information about the surface of the metal and how round it may be, until too ...

 Musical instrument spray for trumpets etc...

We use cosmetic grade pumice powder in the studio I work in (don't know where it comes from, label is worn off), maybe a company that supplies the cosmetic industry? Or check Thompson Enamels, it is absolutely needed for doing enameling.

Bead blasting, and sand blasting are different. I use a sand blaster with medium that is set up for glass on my metal as well as glass. But when I tried a baster with garnet medium for metal, I was in love. Bead blasting uses glass beads. So it would be the difference between cutting the surface and burnishing. Best wishes.

Edmund, how simple. Of course I use stone for my enameling, why not for metal working, silly me. We have a stone cutter here in the town I live in that lets us take scrap for nearly nothing and the variety is amazing! And no rust.

 I love them, I use them on gold to get into tight spots, but also to save on waste of the metal.

I would normally raise the fine silver to the surface of the sterling, but if that's not possible try using a fine brass or steel brush in one direction only with lots of detergent and warm running water on the surface of the sterling. It's going to brighten/shine it up a bit but it will still look frosty/matte.

Normal 0 I'm really getting tired of seeing it I am a subscriber. But won't be for long, if I keep getting that window; and if the magazine doesn't get more challenging. Maybe there should be a separate magazine for beginners. Like the difference between Bead Style and Bead and Button?

The article caught my interest, and I don't do metal clay yet. I was interested in finding out if different colors of metal clay could be combined to create a type of millefiore effect. Instead of burned out areas.

That is great, this may sound silly, but where is it? Thanks Lu Ann