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Large 2 Lb. Barrel with 3-Speed Motor & 9-Day Timer – Geology DIY
Kits for Adults, Rock Collection Hobby, Great Educational STEM
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Review: Quiet, Easy to Use and Fun Little Rock Tumbler Kit! - I
just got this rock tumbler kit today, and so far I am very
pleased with it! It is quiet, and doesn't take up too much space,
and it comes with rocks to tumble, a jewelry-making kit, an extra
pully band, foam and grit, and a nice booklet on the rocks
included with the tumbler. A very nice little kit from Nat Geo,
for a good price! It definitely does not come with enough grit
though. I purchased additional 120 grit aluminum oxide to use
with for my future rock tumbling. I might get a different grade
of grit later, but to start out 120 aluminum oxide seemed most
likely to give my rocks the best shine, without grinding them
into dust. I can also say that the wheel looks a bit wiggly, but
it doesn't seem to hinder the machine at all. I am trying an
experiment right now where I soak my rocks for 24 hours prior to
tumbling them, and then I am going to add just a bit of mineral
oil to the water, grit and foam. I am testing my rocks in;
vinegar, mineral oil and water/ mineral oil and water/ water. I
will update this review of the results, after I have results to
post. UPDATE: DO NOT USE DARK COLORED/BLACK GRIT/SAND/POWDER WITH
LIGHT COLORED STONES! It grinds into the stones, and changes
their color, based on the grit/powered/sand you're using! After 3
days of tumbling to each batch of stones, these are my results: -
The vinegar, mineral oil and water mix: Shined and cleaned the
rocks, and seemed to soften them, creating a visible effect in
their polish. - The mineral oil and water: Also shined the
stones, and seemed to soften them, without much difference in
their cleanliness, and added a visible effect in their polish. -
Water: Did not soften or clean the stones, and had less of an
effect on their polish. OVERALL RESULTS OF EXPERIMENT: I think
pre-soaking the stones in mineral oil and vinegar had the most
noticeable effect on the stones polish. They seem to soften in
the mineral oil, and the vinegar does get them clean pre-polish.
I also tried tumbling the stones in mineral oil and water, with
the aluminum oxide powder, and found that the dark colored powder
ground into the stones, specifically the Tigers Eye. ...Which is
NOT the result I wanted. Upon further experimentation and
research, I have decided to use clean/white sand and colored sand
as grit, to see if those work better as a polishing medium than
the aluminum oxide. If my theory is correct, pre-soaking the
stones in mineral oil and vinegar and then tumbling with the
color sands should grind the sand color of my choice into the
rocks. Will update later with pictures, if/when possible. So far,
it's a going well and I'm having fun experimenting with geology!
Yay, shiny rocks! Thanks Nat Geo!
Review: Nice little rock tumbler! Does the job! - Nice rock
tumbler! Not too much noise, fun and easy to use. Great value!
