Rock tumbler

[utah mason]

Going to buy son a tumbler for Christmas. Probably just start out with 3lb maybe Dual 3lb. I would like to spend in the 100 - 150 range. Any suggestions on brands? Should I buy replacement belts? How quick do they wear out?
Thanks

 

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[MrLee]

Utah,

Harbor Freight has good, cheap tumblers. They have single and double barrel models and both work fine. I own both and have never had a problem. The sands can be expensive though. Check them out.

Enjoy!

 

[willjo]

The best place I have found to buy polishing grit is, The Rock shed, in South Dakota. If you are polishing stones like chert and agates which are hard stones your final polish will have to be fro hard stones or you will not get a good finish. I made my own tumbler which spins 6 of the 3 lb. drums because I burned up several tumblers I purchased. This way I can polish six different types of stone at once. I buy my polishing grit in 3 to 5 lbs each because you use up the smaller quanities fast.

 

[utah mason]

looked at the harbor freight, that is a really good price! for those prices think I will get him the tumbler and vibratory one as well.

 

[MrLee]

Ya, they are good for small batch, sampling & learning. Once you have it down you can move on to bigger, more professional tumblers. Be sure and show us what you guys tumble. Enjoy!

 

[utah mason]

Ended up getting the double 3lbs and vibratory one as well. He will be super excited to start polishing some stones!

 

[T.C.]

Good choice!! I started with a single and later on, picked up a hardly used double. I'm really likin' Willjo's home built Cadillac of the tumblers!!

Ended up getting the double 3lbs and vibratory one as well. He will be super excited to start polishing some stones!

 

[utah mason]

Here's the first run with tumbler. Did a little of everything. Next run ill run all the same material.

 

[willjo]

I use aluminum oxide for my final polish and I got some for soft stones once and could get a good polish on my final results, and as you said use like hardness stones. good start though.

 

[Backcountry]

Pretty cool stuff UM

Wondering if anyone has any photos of the material before it goes into the tumbers? I have a 'rough' idea of what it probably looks like, but am curious.

 

[Mrdigz]

I like that small green Stone on pg4. And the clear pink n purple on 2! Good job!

 

[meMiner]

Excellent run for your first time. Remember you can leave it longer with the coarse grit if you want rounder stones. Sometimes it helps to break odd shaped stones as the starting shape can determine the final shape. There is no set time for each stage of tumbling, but usually longer is better. Also, keeping to one hardness of rock at a time is best. Towards the polishing stage, remove any cracked or broken rocks so they don't scratch your other stones or bring in unwanted grit stuck to their irregularities. My final step is to burnish the polished rocked with ivory soap shavings and sometimes some baking soda (it makes a really thick slurry) for a few more hours in the tumbler. You can tell it will help if you rub your stones on your jeans and they improve or if they look nicer when wet.

My daughter wanted some agates tumbled in her tumbler, so I started the process last week and took a video. Over the month, I intend to show each step. She is impatient and only likes to engage at the final stages. LOL I am by no means an expert, but it also is not my first time to the rodeo. Here is video #1

 

[utah mason]

Pretty cool stuff UM

Wondering if anyone has any photos of the material before it goes into the tumbers? I have a 'rough' idea of what it probably looks like, but am curious.

I thought halfway thru tumbling I should have taken before pictures. I will this time. Starting new batch tonight. Quartz in one tub calcite onyx in other.

 

[usagold]

Willjo is correct on the prices at the Rock Shed in South Dakota. On line the grit I wanted was $10.45/lb. Through the Rock Shed, I picked up 3 pounds for $12.72, including tax.
But then I only live 9 miles from the Rock Shed, so that helps. If I can be of assistance to anyone needing grit, I can pick it up and mail it to you for the price of the postage. A
medium Flat Rate to anywhere in the US is $12.10 and that box will hold about 40 pounds.

 

[willjo]

Willjo is correct on the prices at the Rock Shed in South Dakota. On line the grit I wanted was $10.45/lb. Through the Rock Shed, I picked up 3 pounds for $12.72, including tax.
But then I only live 9 miles from the Rock Shed, so that helps. If I can be of assistance to anyone needing grit, I can pick it up and mail it to you for the price of the postage. A
medium Flat Rate to anywhere in the US is $12.10 and that box will hold about 40 pounds.

The people at rock shed will do same thing, shipping in flat rate boxes to save you shipping cost, fantastic people to deal with.

 

[meMiner]

I am a bit jealous. Tumblers and grit are expensive in Canada. I do enjoy tumbling and this weekend bought a used Lortone (3A single barrel 3 lb) and ordered a new Lortone QT12 (single barrel 12 lb). I would like a vibrating tumbler for polishing, but will have to wait on that. I already have a batch rockin/rollin in the 3A.