Stones Rock Tumbler Instructions
Collecting rocks is a hobby that appeals to many people. As your rock collection grows, survey the rocks with a critical eye to spot some that might polish up into shiny stones worthy of display. Often these stones are so beautiful you may decide to make them into jewelry pieces. Load a rock tumbler with rocks, grit and water and begin the process of polishing your rocks.
Things You'll Need
- Small rocks
- Rock tumbler
- Abrasive grit
- Paper towels
- Tablespoon
- Garden hose
- Bucket
Instructions
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1
Look through the rocks you want to polish. Strive to gather a group of rocks that are all the same degree of hardness. Tumble rocks that are a variety of sizes (1 to 3 inches in length or diameter).
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2
Place the rocks into the barrel of the rock tumbler, filling the barrel approximately three-quarters full of rocks.
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3
Determine the size of the barrel to determine how much grit you must add. Add 3 tbsp. coarse grit to a 1.5 lb. barrel and add 4 tbsp. coarse grit to a 3 lb. barrel. Measure and sprinkle the grit over the rocks in the barrel.
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4
Add water to the barrel until the water reaches the bottom of the upper layer of rocks.
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5
Wipe off the outside of the barrel with paper towels, taking care to wipe clean the rim of the barrel to ensure a tight seal. Dry the rim also.
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6
Put the lid on the rock tumbler barrel and push it down tightly to seal the barrel. Insert the sealed barrel into the tumbler.
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7
Plug the tumbler in and turn it on. The tumbler barrel should begin to rotate around to tumble the rocks.
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8
Make sure the rock tumbler is working properly and that there are no leaks before you leave it unattended. If you notice leaks, stop the rock tumbler and reseal the lid properly. Start the tumbler again.
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9
Allow the rock tumbler to run day and night for one week.
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10
Stop the rock tumbler after the time elapses and open the barrel. Pour the rocks and the grit into a bucket outside and rinse the rocks well with the garden hose. Continue rinsing the rocks and pouring off the water until the rocks are clean and no grit remains.
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11
Check the rocks after the stage of tumbling. You should notice that many of the sharp and jagged corners are now gone and they are beginning to look smooth and rounded. If you find any rocks with large cracks, remove them from the group of rocks and do not continue tumbling these rocks. Finer grit will stick inside these cracks and may damage other rocks.
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12
Rinse out the barrel and place the rocks back into the barrel. Make sure the barrel is at least one-half full and not more than three-quarters full of rocks.
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13
Add the same amount of fine grit as coarse grit to the barrel. Fill the barrel to the same level with water and seal the barrel again. Place the barrel into the rock tumbler and run it again for one week.
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14
Turn the rock tumbler off and rinse the rocks in the same fashion. Place the rocks back into the barrel a third time, again making sure the barrel is at least one-half full and not more than three-quarters full.
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15
Add the pre-polish grit, using 4 tbsp. for a 1.5 lb. barrel and 5 tbsp. for a 3 lb. barrel. Fill the barrel with water to the same level and seal the barrel tightly.
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16
Run the rock tumbler for one more week. Remove the rocks after the week elapses and rinse the rocks well with the garden hose.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The last step is optional but some people enjoy giving their rocks a glossy polish. If you wish to polish your rocks, fill the barrel in the same fashion and add the same amount of polishing grit as pre-polishing grit. Add the water to the same level and seal the barrel. Run the rock tumbler for approximately 10 days. At the end of this time, the rocks will be shiny and glossy.
Never pour the water and grit mixture down any household drains. This mixture will ruin your plumbing.
References
- Photo Credit rocks-smooth image by Jeffrey Zalesny from Fotolia.com
