Check this complete rock tumbling guide and find the best rock tumbler for beginners, kids and professionals. Let’s now see how to polish rocks like a pro!
What is a rock tumbler?
A rock tumbler is a machine used to polish hard rocks and gemstones such as quartz, agate, and jasper. Rock tumblers generally consist of a rotating barrel containing a mixture of rocks, grit, and water. As the barrel rotates, the friction will erode the surface of the rock and gradually polish it.
This process used for polishing rocks mimics what is naturally happening when rocks are rolling on the beach because of the waves. A rock tumbler enables you to shorten this process and obtain perfectly polished rocks and stones in only a few weeks!
How to polish rocks using rock tumblers?
It is very easy to polish rocks using a rock tumbler. In fact, even kids can use a rock tumbler. This is indeed a good way to initiate kids that are 8 years and older to science, STEM, and more specifically geology. They will definitely enjoy using a rock tumbler to polish their favorite rocks gathered from rock hounding trips in your area.
The complete process of rock polishing doesn’t require much work. However, you need to be patient in order to obtain perfectly polished rocks. In general, a succession of 4 different types of grit is used to polish rocks.
The process starts by using coarse grinds then followed by finer grinds. To obtain perfectly polished rocks, an aluminum oxide powder is often used as the last step. Each of these rock tumbling steps requires 5 days to a little over a week depending on the type of rocks used and if the edges of the rocks were already smooth in the first place. Overall, the polishing process takes about a month.
Please check my previous posts to find the best rock tumbler grit and other rock tumbling supplies.
How to fill a rock tumbler – General instructions
In order to polish rocks, all you need to do is to mix your rock samples with the appropriate amount of grit. As a general rule of thumb, you should use 1 or 2 tablespoons of grit per pound of rock. The number of rocks should also correspond to approximately 1/2 to 2/3 of the barrel capacity. For example, a barrel with a capacity of 3 pounds is good for 1.5 to 2 pounds of rocks. It is also important that you don’t completely fill the barrel. In total, the grit, water, and rock should only fill about 2/3 of the rock tumbler’s capacity.
Best rock tumblers for sale
There are several types of rock tumblers available for sale. While the general principle remains the same, there are some important features to consider before buying a rock tumbler. For instance, the type of motor and the composition of the barrel can help to reduce the noise and can greatly influence the overall quality of a rock tumbler. Some models have a timer function with programmed rock tumbling cycles. Different sizes are also available with a capacity ranging from 1 pound to up to 15 pounds for large rock tumblers. As you can see, there are many interesting features that can make the difference between a starter kit and more professional rock tumblers.
Let’s now see a complete buying guide and reviews of the best rock tumblers for sale!
Best rock tumbler for beginners & best tumbling starter kits for kids
The original rock tumbler classic
This rock tumbler is a classic! This is the exact same model that introduced me to rock tumbling decades ago. This is a great starter kit with everything you need for rock tumbling including detailed instructions, rough semi-precious stones, tumbling grit, polishing, and jewelry mountings. Millions have been sold and this rock tumbler is highly rated on Amazon with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 with over 500 reviews.
Check the Original Rock Tumbler Classic on Amazon
This is a basic rock tumbler that can get the job done! It includes a plastic barrel that has a 1-pound capacity that can process 0.5 pounds of rough stones. The rock tumbling process consists of 3 steps; coarse grit, medium grit, and polish. The process requires patience, as It takes roughly 30 days to obtain polished stones. The tumbling process requires leaving the unit on 24/7 and can be somewhat noisy. Therefore, it is a good idea to set it in a remote room preferably in the basement or garage.
You can expect to obtain good results with this rock tumbler, but keep in mind that this kit only contains basic grit and that you might not be able to obtain a perfect glossy finish for your stones. For less than 60$, this rock tumbler is still a very good choice for kids and beginners!
National Geographic Rock Tumbler – Complete Starter Kit
This is a really nice rock tumbler from National Geographic! It has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 with over 3300 reviews on Amazon and I completely agree with these ratings. This rock tumbling kit is about the same price as the last one and in my opinion, it is slightly better. The National Geographic Society is also highly trusted and one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations.
Check this National Geographic Rock Tumbler Complete Starter Kit on Amazon
This is an all-in-one tumbling kit. The rock tumbler comes with detailed instructions, jewelry settings, 4 steps polishing grit, and 1/2 pound of rough rocks from around the world (1 load). The gemstones provided with this tumbling kit include the following:
Amethyst
Rose quartz
Dalmatian jasper
Aventurine
Agate
Sodalite
Red jasper
Black jasper
Tiger’s eye
As you can see, this kit is a nice way to start a rock collection and a great scientific toy to introduce kids to STEM and geology!
This rock tumbler has a durable motor mounted on a sturdy base. The overall quality of this kit guarantees years of rock polishing ahead of you. In addition, the rock tumbler has an improved leak-proof lid. This rock tumbler also has an upgraded barrel with 1 pound capacity and rubber lining absorbing sound and making it 4x quieter than regular plastic models.
For less than 60$, the National Geographic tumbler is one of the best rock tumbling kits for kids and beginners. However, I would still recommend spending a few more dollars to get the National Geographic Hobby kit shown below.
Best professional rock tumblers & kits for amateur geology
The next three rock tumblers that I selected are also from National Geographic. Again, these are high-quality products sold at a really affordable price. With over 18 000 ratings and an average score of 4.5 out of 5, they are the most popular rock tumblers on Amazon!
These rock tumblers have a rubber barrel and are 75% quieter than plastic models. In addition, they have a durable leak-proof stainless-steel lid, a robust tumbling belt, and a powerful motor. Furthermore, these rock tumblers are covered by a 2 years warranty.
These rock tumbling kits from National Geographic also include everything you need for rock polishing. These kits contain 4 steps grit, rough gemstones (see the list above), and jewelry fastenings. Moreover, these rock tumblers are easy to use and contain clear instructions and a full-color learning guide appealing to kids. These rock tumblers are long-lasting and high-quality products that I strongly recommend!
National Geographic Hobby Complete Rock Tumbler Kit
The Hobby rock tumbler from National Geographic is one of the best values you could get. It is very affordable, and for about $60 this tumbling kit is one of the best rock tumblers for beginners and kids. In addition, this is also a high-quality rock tumbler that would be perfect for intermediate and more advanced users.
Check this National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit (1 pound capacity)
The barrel of the Hobby rock tumbler has a 1-pound capacity and this tumbling kit includes ½ pound of rough gemstones and everything you need to start your first batch. The Hobby rock tumbler is also programmable and has an automatic shutoff timer. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off once the tumbling process is complete.
National Geographic Pro 3 Complete Rock Tumbler Kit
The Pro 3 is a high-quality rock tumbler good enough for advanced users seeking more professional rock polishing. This rock tumbler can be much more than just a toy! This is also one of the most popular rock tumblers for adults.
This rock tumbler has a barrel with 2 pounds capacity and this tumbling kit includes 1 lb of mixed gemstones and everything you need to start your first tumbling batch. In addition to the timer function and automatic shutoff feature shared with the Hobby model, the Pro 3 can also be set at 3 different speeds in order to obtain perfectly polished rocks! Furthermore, the Pro 3 comes with a patented GemFoam media that can be used as an extra polishing step. The GemFoam technology provides a shiny stone finish in only 3 days and is also reusable!
In my opinion, this rock tumbler is one of the best options if you are looking for more professional results and a slightly higher capacity. Please note that there is also another version of the Pro 3 rock tumbling kit with a 3 pounds barrel capacity.
National Geographic Professional Rock Tumbler Kit – Platinum Series
National Geographic just released this new and improved version of its professional rock tumbler kit. Really, what is not to like about this one!
The Platinum Series has several new features that make it the perfect rock tumbler for everyone. First of all, its new design includes a sound dampening cover, which makes rock tumbling quieter than ever! This is really useful if you are tumbling rocks indoors in a small apartment.
In addition, the Platinum Series rock tumbler is the most versatile. It has a built-in patented agitate mode with a gentle back-and-forth motion reducing the breakage of softer rocks during the polishing process.
Check the National Geographic Professional Rock Tumbler Kit Platinum Series
This tumbler also comes with a large 2-pound barrel, three selectable speeds, and a timer with settings for days and hours. This tumbler is easy to use and will give spectacular results!
This is an all-in-one rock tumbling kit that contains all you need to get started with rock tumbling. It contains 1 pound of rocks and 4 types of grit, which is enough to start your first batch of rock tumbling as soon as you receive it! It comes with full instructions and is the best educational toy for children and geology enthusiasts. Furthermore, this kit contains a strainer with a new design, which is ideal for washing the rocks between the different steps of the rock tumbling process.
Finally, the Platinum Series rock polisher includes the exclusive GemFoam, a patented media for the final polishing step. The GemFoam is perfect to obtain a brilliant finish and its main advantage is that you can reuse it over and over again!
Heavy-duty and extra-large capacity rock tumblers for professionals
Tumble Bee rock tumbler with 4 lb barrel capacity
The Tumble Bee rock tumbler is a very good choice if you want more capacity and high quality. No wonder why this rock tumbler is rated 4,2 out of 5 with over 100 reviews on Amazon.
Check this Tumble Bee 4 lb Capacity Barrel Rock Tumbler TB-14
This is a starter kit including everything you need to start tumbling rocks. It contains enough stones for one load. In addition, this kit comes with a high-quality 4-step polishing grit including aluminum oxide. This substance is the key if you want to obtain professionally polished gemstones!
The Tumble Bee has a 4 lb rubber barrel providing enough capacity to satisfy most people’s needs. It can also be a good tool for hobbyists to polish glass or metals. Furthermore, this rock tumbler has a durable fan-cooled AC motor with thermal overload protection designed for extensive use.
This rock tumbler is very easy to use. In fact, it only has a simple on/off switch. This kit also comes with clear and visual rock tumbling instructions. It also includes oil and an Allen wrench. Tumble Bee is an American company located in Illinois and it is easy to order replacement parts if ever needed. Moreover, this rock tumbler is backed by a 1-year warranty. Overall, this rock tumbler is a perfect combination of high-quality and large-capacity!
Thumler’s Heavy Duty Rotary Tumbler model B with 15 lb Barrel Capacity
This rock tumbler is a beast! The Tumler’s model B has an extra-large 15 lb barrel giving you the opportunity to process larger loads and bigger rocks. This is the most professional rock tumbler you could get! Moreover, Tumler’s model B is rated 4.6 out of 5 with over 250 reviews on Amazon.
Check this Thumler’s Heavy Duty Rotary Rock Tumbler with 15 lb Capacity on Amazon
This rock tumbler has a high-quality steel hexagon barrel. In addition, the lid is perfectly sealed with a removable rubber liner tightly hold in place with nut screws. This tumbler has a heavy-duty fan-cooled 150V motor with overload protection. Furthermore, the speed of the Tumler’s model B is about 1500 rpm. This extra-large rock tumbler is therefore perfect to polish rocks, brass, and other metals.
Best rock tumbler for beginners, kids or professionals: the final verdict!
As you might have noticed already, I really like the National Geographic rock tumblers. These are nice models that are the perfect rock tumblers for kids and adults like myself that enjoy rock tumbling as a hobby. There is always the option to improve the tumbling process later on by buying higher quality grit and aluminum oxide. This way, you can get the most out of your rock tumbler and obtain professional results.
I hope that you enjoyed reading this rock tumbling guide and review of the best rock tumblers. Please feel free to ask any questions or share your thoughts in the comment section down below. You might also want to have a look at my previous posts to find the best rock hammers and sluice box for gold mining. You can also have a look at other great scientific toys such as a compound microscope or a Crookes radiometer.
References and additional information
-Tumble finishing Wikipedia page