rock tumbling/polishing

[RobertN]

Anyone tumble/polish rocks?

Got a Thumbler A-R6 from a friend who used to used it for tumbling brass. I have vibratory tumblers to use for brass...

Of all places, Harbor Freight had some Thumbler media kits when I was there this weekend, so I bought some.

Now looking for info on how full to fill the tumbler with rocks, and how much water to use? We have some rocks we collected at the beach that will use.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I always remembered seeing those things in the Christmas Toy catalogues.

A friend made a big one to tumble laser or plasma cut parts. It did a great job making them burr free.

 

[Fuddy1952]

My brother is a geologist. As kids he took an old bicycle wheel and wire-tyed maybe 12 cans around the perimeter. Then mounted a coffee can to the center, fabricated a bracket so it would clamp over our lake overflow pipe. In can he had it half filled with stones and sand.
It was simple and worked great.
You could electric motorize one or have it water or wind powered.
My guess is different media or kinds of sand would polish stones finer.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You could always just put the stuff in your hub caps. Didn't some pranksters used to do that?

 

[RNeumann]

Thumbler has ratings for the tumbler. It depends on rock size and media added. Then top with water. Seems I fill the thing about half way with “stuff”, add my media and top with water. The media company may have some suggestions as well.

 

[RobertN]

It's a 9lb capacity barrel/tub

Thumbler has ratings for the tumbler. It depends on rock size and media added. Then top with water. Seems I fill the thing about half way with “stuff”, add my media and top with water. The media company may have some suggestions as well.

 

[Doofy]

Wife got me a tumbler for Christmas...been thinking about setting it up too. My kids had one 40 years ago but I've forgotten how to use them.

 

[Egon]

Usually go through a range of media sises when polishing. Oils such as kerosene can also be used for polishing. Save the media for the next polish. Try and keep rocks of approximedly the same hardness in each polish batch.

Have lots of patience.

 

[oosik]

The smaller rocks ( 3" to 4" ) get some unusual inclusions around here. I've alway thought of taking these two and having them cut and polished.


View attachment 595528

 

[Doofy]

I find it very interesting that you really can polish a Turd (coprolites). Many very ugly rocks can be turned in to things of beauty.

 

[AchingBack]

Warning! Do not tumble rocks containing cracks, crevices, or tiny holes. If you do, it is possible for tiny bits of rock to be released into the batch later on in the process. It can ruin the whole batch by scratching.

 

[RobertN]

The polish grit "kit" has fine, medium, coarse, and a final polish grit.

Usually go through a range of media sises when polishing. Oils such as kerosene can also be used for polishing. Save the media for the next polish. Try and keep rocks of approximedly the same hardness in each polish batch.

Have lots of patience.

 

[AchingBack]

The polish grit "kit" has fine, medium, coarse, and a final polish grit.

I have silicone beads I use for final polish.

 

[Egon]

A few years back I made an attempt at cutting & polishing some interesting stones from a local beach. It was intrquing but I soon found the wet tile cutter I was using was not the best. I did have a child’s toy tumbler but it was frustrating to use. The conclusion that proper equipment would be required finally dawned on me. The experience was rather enjoyable but producing a quality product just wasn’t in my pay grade.