National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rock Polisher for Kids & Adults, Durable Noise-Reduced Barrel, Rocks, Grit & New GemFoam for a Shiny Finish, Cool Toys, Great STEM Hobby Kit

Product Information

Powerful quality: Runs on a powerful heavy duty motor that will last for a very long time, and includes a leak-resistant barrel that runs quieter than the other brands. Spare parts are widely available and inexpensive. This is a big bonus because you may need a spare part right in the middle of a tumbling session

Compact Size– Because it’s a smaller baller, the machine itself doesn’t take up much space. It was the smallest machine out of the ones tested. No Ceramic Media Filler – It doesn’t come with ceramic media filler so you would want to get that in addition ( this is the one I use). Size and capacity: Consider the size and capacity of the tumbler. A smaller tumbler may be suitable for children or beginners, while a larger one may be better for more experienced users.No Grit – This polishing kit skips some steps by jumping directly to polishing instead of slowly grinding and then polishing so stones don’t come out as smooth and shiny. Comes with Oil– This is the only kit I tested that actually came with oil for the machine, ensuring it will last a long time. It goes through such a transformation in color, shape, texture, and clarity from its raw shape to its tumbled shape that it is interesting to know the “why’s” and “how’s” of the mineral to see how they affect the tumbling process. This starter kit contains half of a pound of stones to try out tumbling with. One of the most interesting and fascinating aspects of tumbling, no matter what level you are at, is getting to know the mineral you are tumbling. The kit includes nine gemstones from around the world, can be very attractive for children, and spurs their interest in this educational tool

Now that you’ve decided on the ideal barrel size, you need to decide on the tumbler type. Rotary vs. Vibratory Tumblers Plastic Cover– It has a plastic cover to help reduce noise (though remember that all polishers will still be noisy)Not Enough Stones– Even though the barrel is a huge 3 lbs, not enough stones are provided so you have to either get your own ( I got mine on Etsy) or find them. Lortone is a family-owned business based out of the Northwest. Like many smaller companies in the giant lapidary field, everything about them is face value and no-nonsense.

The instructions also contain fun facts about each mineral and information about how the tumbling process works in relation to how the natural process of smoothing and rounding is carried out. Ceramic Media Filler or Plastic Pellets (if your kit doesn’t come with some) – I prefer ceramic and this set comes with the grit and ceramic. You can also get the ceramic on its own from here. Always look for simplicity and rubber connections in these openings. Not only will they make your life much easier and cleaner, but they will also signal a higher quality product. Clear Barrel– The clear barrel lets you get a glimpse at what’s happening without having to open the lid, which can be fun to watch. Easy to Use – Because there is only one speed, you simply plug it in without having to worry about any settings.All in all, this can be a wonderful hobby, the work is all part of the journey, and the results are definitely worth the time and effort spent achieving them. Made of Plastic– Even though the inner barrel is made of rubber, it’s soft and flexible. The outer shell is what provides the structure and the outer shell is made of plastic, making it less durable. Bad Instructions– The instructions are in Chinese and English, making it difficult to read. It also doesn’t have a nice chart for the timing of each stage so you need to hunt for the information. Advanced features: Includes speed controls (providing more granular tumbling results), a 9-day timer (shuts off automatically when you desire), all displayed on beautiful LCD screens. A TUMBLER THAT'S MADE TO LAST - The durable motor has time and speed control settings so you can set it, and forget it. An improved, leak-proof barrel features a stainless-steel lid is 75% quieter overall than plastic tumbler barrels.