Rock tumblers are rotary machines that work with glass,rocks and metals as well as certain gemstones. They also serve to clean stones and cut edges,and make tumbled cabochons. While a lot of people love using the rock tumbler for adults for decorative and recreational purposes,some people use these for more serious jewelry-making and lapidary (stone cutting) work. The best tumblers are sturdy,powerful,and quiet. They also have a huge capacity to tumble a vast quantity of materials at a time.
There are several kinds of rock tumblers that are available to consumers,including vibratory and rotating. Most are small,and the majority of them tumble just one or two pounds of material at one time. There are bigger models that are more sophisticated and intended for commercial or jewelry-making uses. These first tumblers constructed of metal,but most are made of rubber or plastic for better endurance and less sound. Most rock tumblers have two or three barrels which can be used to tumble various materials at the same time as well as for a subsequent phase of polishing. Some tumblers feature inlet and outlet rinsing ports that allow users to add water or other cleaning products to the barrel as needed.
For the casual hobbyist,a single-barrel tumbler will suffice. It’s cheaper than a dual barrel tumbler and most of these are constructed of rubber or plastic that has been designed to reduce the noise generated by the rocks tumbling against each other within the barrel. Many of the newer tumblers have a larger barrel and a much faster motor than older models that can help them achieve a better level of polish.
There are a few companies that make tumblers that feature a dual barrel design It is however important to keep in mind that they will require some additional maintenance. The model you choose will determine if there are separate openings for inlet and outflow of water. These openings are to be controlled carefully so that the rocks are not damaged by splashes.
The most sought-after rock tumblers in the market come from two companies which emerged from the hobby industry’s early days: Lortone and Thumler’s. Both companies produce a variety of models that are suitable for home and professional use Some models come with two or more barrels to provide greater versatility.
While it is possible to purchase a low-cost,simple tumbler that utilizes metal paint containers as the barrel,these tumblers tend to be noisy and eventually wear out. The rough surfaces of the cans is prone to scratching and damaging the stone when it rubs against the cans.
The Tumble-Bee TB-14 is a sturdy quiet rotary tumbler which is ideal for beginners and children of all ages. It has a well-lit switch for on/off and comes with pre-measured rocks,three kinds of grit,as well as four packages of polishing grit. It also comes with the sifter,as well as a full-color instruction guide.