Rock Tumblers

Rock Tumbler Kits A rock tumbler kit is the perfect way to get acquainted with the hobby. Kits also provide  a convenient, economical way to purchase everything a lapidary needs.

Rotary Rock Tumblers Ideal for beginning hobbyists or anyone who prefers highly polished, well-rounded rocks, rotary rock tumblers are known for being user-friendly.

Vibrating Rock Tumblers Vibrating rock tumblers don't subject rocks to the same abrasive forces as rotary tumblers, which makes them vibrating tumblers ideal for more delicate stones.

1. Selecting the size of the rock tumbler you need is pretty simple and follows what common sense would tell you.  For stones smaller than 1 inch in diameter, you can go as small as a 3 pound rock tumbler.  Six pound and 12 pound barrels can handle stones up to 2.5 inches.

2. Rock tumblers that accommodate only around 1.5 pounds should be reserved for small, coin-sized stones. These size restrictions are important because, for a good polish, it is necessary to keep the tumbler about half full.

3. If you want to eliminate the risk of jeopardizing your rock polish in the last stage or you want to expedite the process, a second tumbling barrel is a great choice for getting this done.

4. Of course, purchasing a two-barrel tumbler is a bit more expensive.  This is naturally cheaper than buying a second machine, and you get a lot more rocks at a quicker pace.

5. The question of vibrating vs. rotary rock tumblers is one you're bound to be faced with.  Essentially, they both produce a good polish, but rotary models are easier to operate and make a more smoothed, rounded polish.

6. The specific purpose of vibrating rock tumblers is that they keep the shape of the stone constant while rotary rock tumblers will drastically round them out.  Therefore, if you go to a lot of trouble to shape your rocks prior to polishing, a vibrating tumbler would be best.

7. An additional feature of the vibrating tumbler is that they finish in 7 to 10 days, compared to the month to 45 days required by a rotary rock tumbler. 

8. The advantage of rotary rock tumblers is their ease of use and price relative to the vibratory models.  Rotary tumblers can, at times, be almost half of the price of a similar-sized vibratory tumbler.

9. Rotary rock tumblers, because of their more kinetic activity and need for more polish, are not recommended for fragile rocks.  They are also occasionally prone to leaks.

10. Plenty of rock books are available about rock polishing and tumbling for hobbyists and professional jewelers.  There are also rock and gem clubs, operated by "rock hounds", that can help you get started and offer custom advice.