Rock tumblers are rotary machines which work on glass,rocks and metals as well as certain gemstones. They also serve to clean stones and cut edges,and to create tumbled cabochons. Although many enjoy using the great kit for rock tumbling for decorative and for hobby reasons,some prefer using them for more serious jewelry-making as well as lapidary (stone cutting) work. The best tumblers are robust as well as powerful and quiet. They also have the capacity for tumbling a large quantity of materials at a time.
There are various kinds of rock tumblers that are available to consumers,including vibratory and rotary. The majority are small and most tumble about a few pounds of material at each time. There are bigger models that are more sophisticated and intended to be used for jewelry-making or commercial use. Initial tumblers were made out of metal,however the majority are now made from rubber or plastic to provide greater endurance and less sound. Most rock tumblers are equipped with three or more barrels that can be used to tumble various materials at the same time as well as for a subsequent step of polishing. Some tumblers feature inlet and outlet rinsing ports that permit the user to add clean water or other solutions to the barrel if needed.
For the home hobbyist the single-barrel tumbler can suffice. It’s cheaper than a dual barrel tumbler and most are made of a rubber or plastic material that is specifically designed to cut down on the noise created by the rock crashing over one another inside the barrel. A lot of modern tumblers have a larger barrel and a much faster motor than earlier models which can assist them to achieve a better level of polish.
There are a few companies that make tumblers that feature a dual barrel design However,it is important to remember that these will require some maintenance. Depending on the model,there will be separate openings for outflow and inlet of water. They should be carefully managed so that the rocks are not damaged by splashes.
The most popular rock tumblers in the market come from two firms which emerged from the first hobby industry: Lortone and Thumler’s. Both produce various models suitable that are suitable for professional and home use Some models come with more than two barrels to give greater versatility.
While it is possible to purchase a basic,low-cost tumbler using metal paint cans to make the barrel,they are loud and wear quickly out. The rough surface of the cans is easily scratched and scratches the stone when it is pushed against them.
The Tumble-Bee TB-14 is a well-built and quiet rotary tumbler. It is suitable for novices and children of all of ages. It features a brightly lit on/off button and comes with pre-measured stones with three kinds of grit and four packages of polishing grit. The kit also comes with the sifter,as well as a full-color instruction guide.
