The Benefits of a Vibrating Rock Tumbler
If you’re in the market for a rock polisher or tumbler, there are a few things to consider before you buy. The type of rock polisher you’ll need depends on the work you’re doing and what kind of rocks you’ll be polishing. You’ll want to be careful not to overload your rock tumbler or the motor will burn out.
Most rock tumblers are measured by their capacity in pounds. To polish rocks that measure 1.5 inches in diameter or more, or to polish several rocks at once, choose a large rock polisher with at least a six-pound capacity. To polish smaller stones, or to tumble a few rocks at a time, a small three-pound capacity rock tumbler will get the job done easily. A three-pound tumbler will rotate three pounds of weight indefinitely.
Rotary rock tumblers are also known as standard rock tumblers and are used by hobbyists and professional rock tumblers alike. A rotary tumbler has a system of barrels that rotate around a metal cylinder to tumble and polish the rocks inside. It’s easy to use and creates smooth, polished stones. Small rocks and grit go into the cylinder. Gradually, the surfaces of the rocks are smoothed away, resulting in round, polished stones. Rotary rock tumblers come in a variety of sizes. Choose one with cylinders that are large enough to hold the amount of rocks you plan to tumble at one time. A high-quality, heavy-duty rock tumbler should be made almost entirely of metal. Smaller models will most likely have enclosed motors, which are somewhat quieter to run. Ensure your rotary rock tumbler comes with a warranty and has replaceable parts, since some parts of the tumbler will have a tendency to break before others. Rotary rock tumblers are fairly inexpensive compared to other types of tumblers, such as vibrating ones.
Vibrating rock tumblers work in a slightly different way. It doesn’t actually “tumble” the rock. rather, the cylinder that holds the rocks vibrates—creating friction between the rocks and the grit material. Because the rocks are moving less, they are polished much more quickly than with a rotary tumbler. They also tend to retain their original shape, unlike with a rotary tumbler, where the rocks frequently come out with a rounded shape regardless of what they looked like when they went in. Vibrating rock tumblers work more quickly than rotary tumblers. Vibrating tumblers use less grit and polish, meaning you’ll save money on those supplies, especially if you’re tumbling a lot of rocks. While a rotary tumbler will make rough stones round and polished, a vibrating tumbler polishes but does not change the shape of your stones. Some rock tumbling enthusiasts consider this to be an advantage to vibrating rock tumblers because it’s easy to create beautiful, variegated polished stones with natural shapes. Another advantage with a vibrating tumbler is that the process takes 7 to 10 days compared to 30 to 45 days with a rotary tumbler. The trade-off is that vibrating rock tumblers tend to be more expensive. They can also be noisier to operate, and they do require more constant maintenance during the tumbling process, since the grit must be changed approximately every 12 hours.
As with any hobby, lapidary offers a wide range of equipment, from the most basic rotary rock tumblers to top-of-the-line vibrating rock tumblers. You can also find complete tumbler kits, tumbling barrels, rock polish, and other supplies to bring out the best in your rocks. Keep in mind that if you’re planning to use a rock polisher regularly, it’s worth the cost to buy the highest-quality rock tumbler you can afford.
