How to Make a Finishing Vibrator Tumbler
Producers of fine gems prefer the vibratory tumbler to the rotary tumbler because, unlike the latter, a vibratory tumbler will remove burs and imperfections without compromising stones' original shapes. At the time of publication, you can buy a vibratory tumbler from $104.95 for a 110-volt unit, to $1,1175 for a 230-volt unit. You can also make your own, small vibratory tumbler for a fraction of the cost with several household or garage sale items.
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Things You'll Need
- Vibratory sander
- Quart-size paint tin (clean)
- Tumbling medium
- 4 fathead Phillips head-screws, 1/4 inch long each
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Bold, black marker
Instructions
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1
Search garage sales, flea markets and pawn shops for inexpensive vibratory sanders. Remove all sandpaper from the sander. Remove the base plate by removing the four screws at each corner. Remove the two large metal clasps on the back of the base plate that are used to secure the sandpaper.
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Use an empty, clean, quart-size paint can. Replace the base plate with the original screws. Secure a quart-size, clean paint can at the center of the base plate with four fathead Phillips screws by placing the screws at equal distance apart along the bottom lip of the paint can.
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3
Add 1 part tumbling medium — such as sand, flour or bits of wire that have been independently tumbled for two hours to avoid scratching — and 2 parts rock to paint tin. Leave at least one inch of space from the top of the can to avoid overflow. Secure the lid to the paint can. Turn on tumbler at the power source. Tumble rocks with breaks at two-hour intervals to avoid overheating.
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Tips & Warnings
Sand may be too abrasive a tumbling medium for softer stones.
Flour used as a tumbling medium results in a high shine.
Turn off the tumbler at the power source, instead of the sander's on/off switch, to avoid electric shock, if adding liquid to the tumbling medium.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Liquidlibrary/liquidlibrary/Getty Images Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
