Rock Tumbling

[WhittleBurner]

Over the years, any place we have gone I have collected rock. I have several coffee cans full and thought maybe it's time to do something with them.

It's anyone a rockhound and tumblers? I am open to suggestions on a tumbler that is maybe midstream, I don't need top of the line but don't want so cheap that it doesn't perform decently either

 

[jkwilson]

The one from Harbor Freight isn’t bad and you can’t beat the price.

 

[WhittleBurner]

The one from Harbor Freight isn’t bad and you can’t beat the price.

Thanks! I think HF would of been the last place I'd of looked! Did not know they had them and we wander the store now and then. I just might wait for one of their coupons to come in email

 

[Dana H]

Last year I was sorted interested in doing rock tumbling and ran across this YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsTc1kXUuPo. Pretty interesting and takes a lot of time, depending the results you wish to achieve. Haven't done any thing yet. But this might help with which tumbler system you may want to try with. Good luck, let me know which machine you end up with.

 

[RV2600RB]

I was a rock hound as a kid and did rock tumbling. I made jewelry out of it and sold it to our neighbors for extra cash.
I’m sure my folks didn’t spend a lot on it for me since we weren’t well off.
The medium you use for tumbling is more important than the tumbler.
An entry level tumbler should get you going. Spend on medium.
If you want to continue, go up on the tumbler quality.
That’s about all I can remember from then, it was around 55 years ago.
Rich

 

[WhittleBurner]

Last year I was sorted interested in doing rock tumbling and ran across this YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsTc1kXUuPo. Pretty interesting and takes a lot of time, depending the results you wish to achieve. Haven't done any thing yet. But this might help with which tumbler system you may want to try with. Good luck, let me know which machine you end up with.

Good link thanks, there was some good info as far as time and differences. Maybe he's got other reviews. But the guy needs to work on not boring people , he almost put me to sleep

 

[WhittleBurner]

So I decided to go with the Harbor Freight double tumbler. After reading it seemed like a good place to start. Started the first batch today, we'll see if I have anthing that will come out good in another month or so.. not a fast process for sure.

 

[jkwilson]

So I decided to go with the Harbor Freight double tumbler. After reading it seemed like a good place to start. Started the first batch today, we'll see if I have anthing that will come out good in another month or so.. not a fast process for sure.

Kind of like Christmas when you clean them off after burnishing.

 

[RV2600RB]

So I decided to go with the Harbor Freight double tumbler. After reading it seemed like a good place to start. Started the first batch today, we'll see if I have anthing that will come out good in another month or so.. not a fast process for sure.

Not a fast process for sure, but in a month’s time you should have used course, medium and fine grits. Don’t just use one grit and call it good.
The tumbler should run 24/7.
Rich

 

[WhittleBurner]

Not a fast process for sure, but in a month’s time you should have used course, medium and fine grits. Don’t just use one grit and call it good.
The tumbler should run 24/7.
Rich

It's been running continous since the day it came home. I have it running out in the trailer (we're at the house for a few weeks) All grits ready and waiting but do need to pick up some ceramic medium. It will likely take a weeks break while we are gone to the wood carvers roundup for a week. Tumbler will get cleaned and dried along with the rocks, not sure I like the idea of it running with no one around in case of mechanical problems.

 

[jkwilson]

It's been running continous since the day it came home. I have it running out in the trailer (we're at the house for a few weeks) All grits ready and waiting but do need to pick up some ceramic medium. It will likely take a weeks break while we are gone to the wood carvers roundup for a week. Tumbler will get cleaned and dried along with the rocks, not sure I like the idea of it running with no one around in case of mechanical problems.

Some stones really pop after a burnishing with borax in the tumbler.

 

[Bobbybrown111]

I love collecting rocks too! For a reliable mid-range tumbler, I recommend the Lortone 3A or the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler.

 

[WhittleBurner]

We've been running a lot so just getting to round 3 in one side and round 2 in the other. It's fun watching the changes from round to round and discovering all the cool rocks I hunted over the years

 

[jkwilson]

We've been running a lot so just getting to round 3 in one side and round 2 in the other. It's fun watching the changes from round to round and discovering all the cool rocks I hunted over the years

It can be surprising when you rinse them off. Once you start scanning through the rocks in the landscaping at gas stations and restaurants you know you are hooked!

 

[ajg617]

I remember on one of the many times my mother dragged me into NYC looking at the cut stone fronts of some of the skyscrapers and seeing a fossil outline complete with bone structure. That was cool. As a kid, I used to collect rocks (and yes, buy the fake gem stones at the gift shops that we stopped at). We used to have a little mountain next to my grandparents summer place in Western Mass called Garnet Rock - they weren't kidding. Boxes and boxes of garnets came home.

 

[WhittleBurner]

It can be surprising when you rinse them off. Once you start scanning through the rocks in the landscaping at gas stations and restaurants you know you are hooked!

Been doing that for years so I guess I've been hooked since the early 70s LOL. years back we were on the shoreline of Lk Superior and I had a rather large fannypack that I filled then piled on top of too. I lost my footing and gently ended up on my knees but couldn't get up with the rocks piled up. I refused to drop any and Gary finally gave in and helped me up.

I walk my reactive dog in an industrial area not far from home and one just had new rocks put in.. poor dog had to wait for me to finish hunting (aka filling my pockets)

 

[WhittleBurner]

I remember on one of the many times my mother dragged me into NYC looking at the cut stone fronts of some of the skyscrapers and seeing a fossil outline complete with bone structure. That was cool. As a kid, I used to collect rocks (and yes, buy the fake gem stones at the gift shops that we stopped at). We used to have a little mountain next to my grandparents summer place in Western Mass called Garnet Rock - they weren't kidding. Boxes and boxes of garnets came home.

Is this on Federal Land? I know it's Illegal to take rocks in the National Parks but not sure about other fed property. Sounds like a good stop when we head that way

 

[jkwilson]

Been doing that for years so I guess I've been hooked since the early 70s LOL. years back we were on the shoreline of Lk Superior and I had a rather large fannypack that I filled then piled on top of too. I lost my footing and gently ended up on my knees but couldn't get up with the rocks piled up. I refused to drop any and Gary finally gave in and helped me up.

I walk my reactive dog in an industrial area not far from home and one just had new rocks put in.. poor dog had to wait for me to finish hunting (aka filling my pockets)

The Great Lakes are incredible places to find rocks. A day strolling the beaches followed by a campfire is hard to beat!

We had plans to be in the UP right now, but my MIL fell and is still recovering from the injury and surgery so we are staying home to keep an eye on her.

 

[ajg617]

Is this on Federal Land? I know it's Illegal to take rocks in the National Parks but not sure about other fed property. Sounds like a good stop when we head that way

Nope. Just town land - might have been owned by the old Northfield Mount Herman School or the town of Northfield - a short walk up the hill to the top where my dad showed me all the garnets - many embedded in the stone but some had fallen loose from the rain erosion - none were very big at least I never found any and went WOW. Cool place though with wonderful views of the Connecticut River Valley.

 

[WhittleBurner]

So I'm in between rounds ans pulled this one out of round 2 and decided to leave it out of the tumbler and finish it by hand.
It got quite a reaction in the rock group I joined. It's about an inch and a half in size

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