/r/RockTumbling

Photograph via snooOG

A community dedicated to the art of tumbling rocks until they are shiny.

A place to show pictures, before and after, or not. Trade ideas. Share secrets. Just show off your pretty rocks.

/r/RockTumbling

29,448 Subscribers

2

Christmas request help/recommendation

Hello Tumblers,

My sister asked for the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler for Christmas. Before making the purchase, I decided to research it on Reddit, where I found mixed reviews.

Does anyone have recommendations for a good rock tumbler? This would be my sister's first one, and since she is in her 40s, it doesn't need to be kid-proof!

4 Comments
2024/12/01
22:17 UTC

19

Pet peeve

Has this happened to you? You're showing a friend or family member your rock tumbling setup, describing the immense amount of time & effort you put into your passion, and then they grab a bunch of rough or unfinished rocks and gush, "Ooh, I actually like them more when they're like THIS!" 🤡

Next time my aunt is baking a cake I'm going to go eat a spoonful of flour and tell her, "Mmm, I like THIS more!"

15 Comments
2024/12/01
09:46 UTC

45

My first tumble!

Used a 3 lb tumbler from Harbor Freight. Just did a week for each stage. Pretty cool results and looking forward to the next batch!

4 Comments
2024/11/30
23:31 UTC

38

Central AZ material out of polish today.

7 Comments
2024/11/30
23:25 UTC

4

Build or buy?

So I'm looking to get into rock tumbling and after looking at things it seems I have the major parts necessary to build a tumbler, I'm just missing 1 set of bearings, and 2 pieces of bar stock. Roughly $70 worth of materials. I see harbor frieght has a $70 tumbler available right now. Smaller capacity than what I think my built one would be capable of, but much lower effort to get going. Thoughts?

5 Comments
2024/11/30
19:41 UTC

5

I'm trying to get into rock tumbling and Need help

I'm trying to get into rock tumbling and need help. I have done so much research and watched so many YouTube videos and its very overwhelming.

I have found this(picture) rock tumbler and wanted to know of anyone has one and would recommend it.

This would be my first rock tumbler.

  • thank you in advance

https://preview.redd.it/3z0q45ftk34e1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e66ac4e8d2506235c5704a49147865b480084301

17 Comments
2024/11/30
19:08 UTC

1

GRIT

Hi guys, are there any people on here that are in the UK, just wandering if anyone has found any cheap grit suppliers in the UK as it seems much dearer than USA prices

0 Comments
2024/11/30
18:38 UTC

3

Lortone QT12 is getting ‘weak’. Help?

Hi folks

I have a Lortone QT12 that is getting weak, so to say. At 7 kg (including barrel) the tumbler won’t even spin the barrel around, the roller just stops.

I know its capacity is 12 lbs, or around 5 kg, but that just gives me a half empty barrel. I just loaded it up with rocks, grit, media, and water, and it came out to 7 kg, which is around 15 lbs, barrel included. This comes out to around 65% filled, which most people say is underloaded in terms of tumbling action.

Unfortunately I don’t know the age of the tumbler, but I’ve had it for a year and a half, and it’s definitely not always been like this. I used to be able to fill the barrel 75% and it’d just chuck along happily.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? And does anyone know what I need to do to fix this?

Thanks in advance!

7 Comments
2024/11/30
15:44 UTC

11

Cutting Petrified wood: with the grain or against?

I have lots of petrified wood between 3” and 6” in diameter. Should they be cut with the grain or against?9

4 Comments
2024/11/30
02:58 UTC

2

Ceramic tumbling

Has anyone successfully tumbled ceramic and got a good shine? I know it’s very soft so I don’t know how hard this is to do

5 Comments
2024/11/29
15:14 UTC

1

British Rock Tumbler

Hi. Does anyone have experience with these? Seem to be available on a few sites in the UK… maybe unbranded, but British made rock tumblers. My wife wants to try the hobby so I’m looking for an Xmas present. The advice I’ve seen is that Nat Geographic tumblers are to be avoided, but these seem like good value (particularly on Black Friday). https://www.littlegemsrockshop.co.uk/beach-2lb-stone-polisher-tumbler-kit-supplied-with-grits-500g-of-mixed-rough-rock-2lbkit3-c2x21796644

2 Comments
2024/11/29
11:16 UTC

0

What kind of rock is this?

4 Comments
2024/11/29
07:27 UTC

13

I cut and tumbled this agate to look like a tooth and turned it into a necklace.

3 Comments
2024/11/29
02:42 UTC

11

I need some advice on a gift

My lovely partner (39F) is an avid agate fiend, so I'd like to get her a rock tumbler. After reading some posts on here I'm led to Rock Shed and was thinking about getting her the Tumble-Bee 2×2 Rock Tumbler. Feel free to give me advice if you feel that isn't appropriate. That being said, what grit or gear do I need to get her with it so she's good to go? I see a Rotary Grit Pack but also a Rotary Grit Pak with Plastic Pellets. What do the plastic pellets do? I just want to be sure that whatever I get her that she's good to go with.

28 Comments
2024/11/29
02:00 UTC

5

Garnets Cracked/inclusions and Rocks With Baby Garnets Attatched

I found these at a garnet mine with my mom and gf and was wondering if I would be able to tumble these to polish them and make them look nicer to see the inclusions or the cracks in them without them shattering or crumbling, also if I could polish the stones with garnets to make them both look nicer without losing the garnets on the rocks. I have no tumbling knowledge so I don’t know if I would be wasting my time or if I should just take the plunge and experiment.

5 Comments
2024/11/28
22:05 UTC

4

Ready for next level of tumbler

We did the cheap kind to see if we’re serious about tumbling being our primary hobby. Turns out we are very serious. This is way too much fun. We tumble everything from fossils to chert. I’m looking at vibratory machines. I need to be able to have a machine in my home. I’m doing just fine with the noise of a rotary. So, tell me- What are your favorite vibratory machines for under $300?

10 Comments
2024/11/28
20:13 UTC

7

Labradorite brusing with ceramic media

I've had 2 batches of labradorite tumbling 1 batch nat geo tumblers slowest speed and ceramic media, the second batch in a central machinery tumbler and no tumbling media. The first batch is brusing like crazy while the second has no visible brusing.

6 Comments
2024/11/28
03:45 UTC

9

Rock Hunting Storage?

So I have my first tumbler ordered and will order supplies shortly. However, I need to start collecting the critical item…..rocks.

So I’m wondering what you all use to carry your rocks when you go hunting? I was thinking about this thigh bag or something similar as it would keep the weight more on my hip and leg than my back or just carrying something. It would also allow me to just drop them into the pouch instead of removing a backpack to place them. But it is somewhat small so ultimately idk how many rocks I’d be able to bring back. But since I’ve never done this before, realistically, I don’t know how many I’ll actually find and bring back.

Anyway any suggestions or things I’m not thinking of would be greatly appreciated.

18 Comments
2024/11/28
03:25 UTC

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