| A lapidary tumbler is what is used to shape | | | | tumbler for the last stage of polishing. |
| stones with coarse to fine grits normally with | | | | Size is critical when selecting a tumbler and you |
| water. They perform the job of Mother Nature, | | | | want to decide what type of rocks you are going |
| like when you see rocks in a brook or stream. | | | | to tumble. Little barrels should really only be used |
| These stones are cheap and are used for making | | | | for little rocks and the massive barrels can hold |
| jewellery. | | | | bigger rocks and more smaller rocks. |
| The sorts of lapidary tumblers are: | | | | Also remember the reasons behind rotor screw |
| Rotating tumblers - some types are available | | | | ups and belt breakages is when you have |
| from toy stores and are fun to use. But you are | | | | overloaded the barrels. Double barrels are |
| limited as to the dimensions of the rocks as these | | | | excellent for polishing plenty of rocks or keep a |
| only have a tiny rotor power. There are a few | | | | barrel reserved for just polishing. |
| sizes and some have double barrels. The | | | | Some preparation tips: |
| advantages of these are they're cost-effective; | | | | Use Vaseline to seal the barrel for leaks. Buy |
| straightforward to use; the rocks get rounder; | | | | additional grit |
| and you can start the tumbler and forget it. | | | | Employ a sound insulator to shelter the tumbler |
| Vibrational Tumblers - these don't tumble the | | | | (the people next door will most likely thank you |
| rock, instead they use an ultrasound or spin round | | | | for it). |
| the vertical axis. They're a bit dearer but they're | | | | The main problem for folks not getting a good |
| more favored because they polish the rocks a lot | | | | polish on their rocks is perhaps because they |
| faster and keep the form of the rock instead of | | | | don't have the patience. Remember if the early |
| only making a rounded rock. Also they seem to | | | | stages are rushed then the scratches that are still |
| be a bit quieter too. | | | | in the rocks won't come out. Also this process |
| The advantages for using these tumblers is they | | | | takes weeks not days. |
| put a better shine on the rocks; they polish | | | | The other main problem is overfilling the tumbler. |
| quicker; it does a minimum shaping of the rock; | | | | If the barrel is too full the rocks will take more |
| frail rocks are better handled; and it uses less grit | | | | time to get rounded in the coarse grits. It's best if |
| and polish. They're also better than rotary | | | | the barrel is 2/3rds full, also you can tumble in |
| tumblers when polishing stones like obsidian, glass | | | | two groups and then mix them for the remainder |
| or opal. The downside of these is that you've got | | | | of the method. |
| to check them daily and it is hard to get the right | | | | So when taking a look at purchasing a lapidary |
| slurry. | | | | tumbler, search around and get recommendation |
| It's a brilliant idea to employ a rotary tumbler to | | | | from folk who have experience with these |
| round the rocks and then put them in a vibrational | | | | machines. |