The Original Rock Tumbler Instructions

A brief history of rock tumblers.

The original rock tumbler instructions.

Popular tumblers have a barrel loaded with abrasive grit water and rocks. This tumbler has been tested and inspected at the factory. The rocks should have a range of particle sizes then add coarse grit see chart at right for amount and enough water to almost cover the rocks. Rock tumbling is easy using a rock tumbler to convert rough rock into sparkling tumbled stones is easy if you follow a simple procedure and observe a few rules.

Check out our in depth article all about rock tumbler grit. The original rock tumbler the orginal rock tumbler with plug in cord. A 1 2 pound of rough semi precious rocks like amethyst jasper agates carnellian quartz and snowflake obsidian. Commercial rock tumblers have a motor that helps to rotate the tumbler.

A rock tumbler is an instrument that helps to smoothen the rock surfaces. Begin by filling the tumbler barrel about 2 3 full of rough rock. A rock tumbler is a fairly simple machine which has the sole purpose of taking ordinary looking rocks turning them over and over in a mixture of grit sand and water and polishing them into smooth round brilliant stones. If there is any.

The tumbling machine has a barrel which is connected to a motor. Fill the barrel 2 3 to 3 4 full of rocks. Two grades of polishing grit 0 63 oz coarse and 1 02 oz medium grit and 0 81 oz of finishing polish. While nature has been tumbling rocks for millions of years rock tumbling machines have only been around since the 1950s.

We are writing this to share the procedure and rules that we have been using for many years with a number of different rotary tumblers. If you don t have enough rocks you can add plastic pellets to make up the difference. However the homemade tumbler does not use motors but incorporate a technology that naturally smoothens the rocks. Close the barrel and run the tumbler for about seven days.

This procedure works well with the most commonly tumbled materials. My wife recently started making beads and other things from polymer clay and wasn t getting quite the finish she wanted using sandpaper. With the rock tumbler using a rough grit on the first cycle then progressively finer grit the end result will be beautiful stones you will be proud to own. It turns out that even children s toy rock tumblers are relatively expensive and the professional models are d.

How to use a rock tumbler. Keep in mind that some plastic pellets float so make sure you add them to the proper volume before adding water.