Notes
Every note in the handbook
How-tos, fixes, comparisons and charts, newest first.
- Why your tumbled rocks are not shiny and how to fix each causeNine causes of dull tumbled rocks, matched to what you see on the stone, with the grit step to go back to and the fix for haze, scratches and bruises.Fix
- What to do with tumbled rocks: display, jewelry, gifts and selling15 practical uses for tumbled rocks grouped by effort: display, jewelry with bell caps or wire, gifts, garden use, and an honest look at what they are worth.Explainer
- Rock tumbling quartz: grit schedule and how to avoid chipped edgesQuartz tumbling recipe: grit and time for each step, how much ceramic media stops chipped and frosted edges, and how quartzite differs.How-to
- Rock tumbling Petoskey stones and other soft rocksPetoskey stone is calcite, about Mohs 3, too soft for the standard recipe. Hand sanding with 220 to 600 grit is usual. A short tumbler schedule if you tumble.How-to
- Rock tumbling obsidian: cushioning, grit and timingObsidian is brittle volcanic glass at Mohs 5 to 5.5. Gentle schedule: barrel 2/3 to 3/4 full, 30 to 50% media, short coarse run, no white bruises.How-to
- Rock tumbling agates: grit, times and common problemsAgate tumbling schedule start to finish: grit and amount for each step, 5 to 8 weeks in total, plus fixes for pits, fractures and dull bands.How-to
- Rotary vs vibratory rock tumbler: differences and which to chooseRotary vs vibratory rock tumbler compared: shaping, 7 days vs 2 to 3 days per step, grit use, noise and cost, plus how to run a vibratory bowl.Comparison
- Best rocks for tumbling: hardness chart and rocks to avoidHardness chart for 20 common tumbling rocks: Mohs value, whether each one polishes, which rocks can share a barrel and which to skip.Chart
- Rock tumbling grit chart: grit size, amount and time for each stageRock tumbling grit chart for all four steps: grit size, what each step does, days per step and how to tell it is done, plus about 2 tbsp of grit per pound.Chart
- Rock tumbler speed chart: RPM by barrel size and stageRock tumbler speed chart: rpm range for barrel diameters from 3 to 10 inches, published speeds for 6 hobby tumblers, and the dial setting for each stage.Chart
- Rock tumbler not turning or keeps stopping: causes and fixesA rock tumbler that will not turn usually has a slipping barrel, an overloaded barrel or a worn belt. 7 causes in checking order, with the fix for each.Fix
- Rock tumbler noise: how loud it is and how to make it quieterA rubber-barrel rock tumbler runs at about 55 to 64 dB at three feet. What rattles, hums and squeaks mean, how to oil the bearings and 5 ways to quiet it.Fix
- Why is my rock tumbler leaking?A leaking rock tumbler usually has grit on the lid seal, a badly seated lid or gas pressure. 7 causes with fixes, plus how to open a stuck barrel safely.Fix
- Rock tumbler grit substitutes: what works and what failsSand, aquarium gravel, crushed glass, baking soda and no grit at all, each with a verdict. Only silicon carbide (Mohs 9 to 9.5) cuts quartz-hard rocks.Explainer
- National Geographic rock tumbler: grit amounts, times and speed settingsIndependent guide to the National Geographic rock tumbler: which grit at each step, 3 to 10 days per step, speed settings, fill level and grit amounts.How-to
- How to tumble rocks: a step-by-step guide for beginnersHow to tumble rocks in a rotary tumbler: load the barrel 2/3 full, run four grit steps of about 7 days each and clean between them. 4 to 6 weeks in total.How-to
- How to make sea glass in a rock tumbler: grit, amounts and timingMake frosted sea glass in a rock tumbler: barrel 2/3 full, 2 tablespoons of coarse grit per pound, 3 to 7 days, no polish step. Recipe table and safety.How-to
- How to find rocks to tumble: where to look and what to pick upWhere to find rocks to tumble for free, plus the scratch and rub tests that show in a minute whether a beach, river or yard rock will polish.How-to
- How to dispose of rock tumbling slurry and used gritHow to dispose of rock tumbling slurry: never down the drain. Settle it in a bucket for 1 to 2 days, dry the mud and put the solids in the trash.How-to
- How long to tumble rocks: time for each stage and the full runHow long rock tumbling takes: about 7 days per stage and 4 to 6 weeks for a full batch, with times by rock type and the signs that a stage is finished.How-to
- Ceramic media vs plastic pellets in rock tumbling: when to use eachCeramic media fills the barrel and helps the grind. Plastic pellets cushion fragile stones. A table by step and tumbler type shows which to add and how much.Comparison
- Can you reuse rock tumbling grit, slurry or media?Used silicon carbide grit is spent after a 7-day run and cannot be reused. See what can be: polish slurry, ceramic media and plastic pellets, with rules.Explainer
- Burnishing tumbled rocks: soap, borax, amounts and timeHow to burnish tumbled rocks: about 1/2 tablespoon of grated bar soap or borax per pound, water and no grit, for 1 hour to 1 day. Amounts by barrel size.How-to