Rock tumblers are rotary devices that process rocks,glass and metals as well as certain gemstones. They also serve to clean stones and cut edges and to create tumbled cabochons. While many people enjoy using a rock tumbler for adults for decorative and hobby purposes,others use them for more serious jewelry making as well as lapidary (stone cutting) work. The most reliable tumblers are durable powerful,quiet,and efficient. They also have a huge capacity to tumble a large quantity of materials at a time.
There are many types of tumblers for rock available to customers,such as vibratory and rotating. Most are small,and the majority of them tumble just a few pounds of material at the same time. There are larger models that are more professional designed for commercial or jewelry-making uses. Initial tumblers were made from metal,but they are now made from plastic or rubber for greater durability and less noise. Most rock tumblers have three or more barrels that are able to be utilized for the tumble of different materials at the same time or as a second phase of polishing. Some tumblers have outlets and inlet ports that allow users to add clean water or other solutions into the barrel when needed.
For the home hobbyist,a single-barrel tumbler will suffice. It’s cheaper than a dual-barrel tumbler,and the majority of them are constructed from a rubber or plastic material that is made to lessen the sound caused by the rocks that tumble against each other within the barrel. Many of the newer tumblers have a larger barrel as well as a more powerful motor than earlier models that can help them create a greater level of polish.
A few manufacturers make tumblers with dual barrels,but it is important to keep in mind that they need a substantial amount of maintenance. According to the model,there will be separate openings for inlet and outflow of water. These openings need to be handled with care to ensure that the stones do not get damaged by splashing.
The most sought-after rock tumblers that are available are made by two companies that emerged from the hobby industry’s early days: Lortone and Thumler’s. Both manufacture a variety of models that are suitable for home and professional use and some models have two or more barrels,which allows for greater versatility.
It is possible to purchase a cheap,basic tumbler using metal paint containers as the barrel,these tumblers are loud and wear quickly out. The rough finish of the cans is prone to scratching and damaging the rock as it is pushed against the cans.
The Tumble-Bee TB-14 is a well-built quiet rotary tumbler which is suitable for beginners and children of all different ages. It features a brightly lit on/off button and includes pre-measured rocks,three kinds of grit,as well as four polishing grit packages. The kit also includes a sifter and full-color learning guide.