How to Use Rock Tumblers for Glass
Rough pieces of glass, such as sea glass, can be polished in a rock tumbler, which requires extra precautions. Plastic pellets, for example, are needed to provide a buffer to prevent chipping and breaking. Although rotary tumblers can shape the glass, vibratory tumblers use a finer grit that polishes glass pieces and prevents pulverization.
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Things You'll Need
- Rotary tumbler, 3 pound barrel
- Tumble rough glass
- Plastic pellets
- 4 tablespoons coarse grit
- Water
- Colander
- Disposable plastic container
- Vibratory tumbler, 3 pound barrel
- 4 tablespoons fine grit
- 5 tablespoons pre-polish or extra-fine grit
- 5 tablespoons polish
- 1 tablespoon Ivory soap bar, sliced
Instructions
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1
Select pieces of tumble rough glass between 1/2 to 1 inches that are not pitted or cracked.
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2
Measure out equal parts rough glass and plastic pellets. The total volume should fill at least half the barrel and no more than 3/4 with the addition of material in the following step.
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3
Add coarse grit and water. Water should reach to the bottom of the top layer of rocks.
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4
Wipe down the inner and outer edges of the rim and make sure no water or debris is present, then place the lid securely on the top of the barrel.
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5
Place the barrel on the rotary tumbler and turn it on. Watch carefully for 2 or 3 minutes to make sure there are no leaks.
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6
Allow the glass to tumble for 3 days then check the shape. If rounded to your taste, you may move on to the next step. For rounder pieces, continue tumbling for a maximum of 7 days. Remember that glass may chip and break the longer it tumbles.
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7
Remove the barrel from the tumbler and drain the contents in a colander placed over a disposable plastic container. DO NOT pour the barrel slurry down a house drain. It will clog the drain.
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8
Separate the glass from the plastic pellets. Dispose of the plastic pellets. Do not reuse.
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9
Rinse the glass thoroughly with water to remove all grit. Excess grit will contaminate later steps and scratch the glass. Set aside any glass pieces less than 1/4 inch.
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10
Clean the barrel to remove all grit.
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11
Switch to a vibratory tumbler.
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12
Add glass and fresh plastic pellets to the vibratory tumblers barrel according to the instructions in Step 2.
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13
Add fine grit and enough water to reach the bottom of the top layer of glass.
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14
Place the barrel on the vibratory tumbler and turn on. Watch carefully for 2 or 3 minutes to make sure there are no leaks.
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15
Repeat Steps 6 through 10.
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16
Repeat Steps 13 through 15 twice, substituting the pre-polish then polish for the grit.
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17
Add glass, fresh plastic pellets, Ivory bar soap and water to the barrel. Place the barrel on the vibratory tumbler and run for 2 to 3 hours.
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18
Empty the contents of the barrel into the colander and rinse.
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References
- Photo Credit sea glass image by Patrick Moyer from Fotolia.com
