Rock tumblers are rotary devices which process glass,rocks and metals as well as some gems. They also serve to clean stones and cut edges,and produce tumbled cabochons. While many people enjoy using the good rock tumbler for decorative and for hobby reasons,some prefer using them for more serious jewelry-making and lapidary (stone cutting) work. The best tumblers are sturdy and powerful. They are also quiet. They also have a large capacity to tumble a huge amount of different materials at the same time.
There are several types of rock tumblers available to consumers,including vibratory and the rotary. They are generally small and most tumble about one or two pounds of material at a time. There are also larger,more professional models intended to be used for jewelry-making or commercial use. These first tumblers constructed from metal,but they are made of rubber or plastic to give them greater durability and lower noise. The majority of rock tumblers come with two or three barrels which could be employed to twist different materials at the same time as well as for a subsequent process of polishing. Some tumblers feature outlets and inlet ports that allow users to add water or other cleaning products to the barrel as required.
For the casual hobbyist A single barrel tumbler should suffice. It’s less expensive than a dual-barrel tumbler,and most are made from rubber or plastic material,that is designed to minimize the noise caused by the rocks that tumble across each other in the barrel. A lot of modern tumblers have a larger barrel and a faster motor than the older models that can help them achieve a better level of polish.
A few manufacturers make tumblers with dual barrels It is however important to keep in mind that they require a significant amount of extra maintenance. The model you choose will determine if there will be separate openings for the inflow and outflow of water,which need to be handled with care to ensure that the stones aren’t damaged by splashing.
The most popular rock tumblers on the market are made by two companies that came out of the beginning of the hobby industry: Lortone and Thumler’s. Both companies produce models that are suitable that are suitable for professional and residential use,with some having two or more barrels to provide greater flexibility.
Although it is possible to purchase a basic,low-cost tumbler using metal paint cans to make the barrel,these tumblers are noisy and quickly wear out. The rough finish of the cans is prone to scratching and damaging the rock when it hits the cans.
The Tumble-Bee TB-14 is a solidly constructed,quiet rotary tumbler that is perfect for beginners as well as youngsters of all of ages. It features a brightly lit switch for on/off and comes with pre-measured stones,three types of grit,and four packages of polishing grit. The kit also includes an sifter as well as a full-color instructional guide.