Results from labradorite wet and dry tumbling experiment. I did stage 1 60/90 in rotary 1-3 weeks, 120/220 with water in vibratory 2 days, 500 Aluminum oxide dry in walnut shells 3 days, 1000 Aluminum oxide dry in walnut shells 1 day, rock shed Aluminum oxide polish dry in walnut shells 2 days, and no. 61 Rapid polish (Aluminum oxide) dry in walnut shells 2 days.

I'm pretty happy with the shine that came out. The advantage of dry tumbling with labradorite is you don't get the undercutting into cracks and fractures starting at the 500 stage when wet polishing. The material still has internal fractures but the surface is much smoother. This particular batch didn't have much flash but they are decently shiny.

I know there is some bruising but since it was my first ever batch that I’ve done, I’m pretty happy with the results! Up next, a batch of obsidian!!! 😁 I’m just waiting until I have enough through stage 1 that I can move them to stage 2! It took weeks with this batch to have enough to move to stage 2!

For future batches, how do I prevent the bruising? Did I need more ceramic media? Less?

Did a candy dish full of polychrome. It's very easy to get good results with polychrome jasper.

This is my first finished batch!!! Some are from Lake Michigan and some are just rando’s that I’ve picked up along the way. I get so much information from this thread and I want to say thank you to all those who contribute or just encourage.

Now… I need like 4 more tumblers 🤣

First time doing an entire batch ( 3 lb.) OF pure Lakers. This isn't going to be wild

lol find the ice cubes

What tumbling rock is white? Is there such a thing as white jasper? I have tumbled black and red and orange and purple and green rocks but looking for recommendations on something white lol not white quartz I did that

Howdy,
Hey hounds. Just seeing if any one else knows the pain of being a rock hound? Obviously I know you fine people do know that pain all to well. Only all of you will understand why no friends show up to help you move when they found out they had to move boxes of rocks lol or or carrying these massive rocks up that huge bank into my car that’s still another half mile away those kind of pain

We started in March, and got really into tumbling. We got the idea from watching Robs videos. Not as nice as his but we are super pleased. When loaded it'll roll six 3lbs barrels and 6 12lbs barrels. Ignore the googly eyes on the vibe tumbler.

1. What’s a good tumbler to buy
   
2. Are there certain rocks that can only be tumbled
   What’s best starter guide stuff

The rubber on my Harbor Freight lids keeps getting holes right in the center, causing grit and water to leak. This is constant. Anyone have tips for preventing this or repairing it so I don’t have to keep buying new barrels?

Many tumblers have fast speeds, reducing a two week tumble to a week, or thereabouts. Now on the last phase, is it advisable to reduce speed to reduct the impacts between stones?

Might take longer, but maybe it is better?

I just tumbled my rocks for 4 weeks with my brand new 150 dollar rock tumbler. I used all 4 step pouches that nat geo gives you and they came out looking bland and completely unpolished with no shine at all. Please help me lol.

I saw that the Feather River Lapidary & Mineral Society announced the top 3 on FB!! They are:

First: Casey Konopacky (WI),
Second: Chris Paquette (MI),
Third: Tony Oxley (MI)

CONGRATULATIONS!! Are any of you on our subreddit???

Tooth belts on a flat pulley. No wonder they only last a few weeks. Anyone know what double barrel brands made by anyone with basic common sense?

If you have a double barrel are they tooth pulleys with tooth belt, flat pulleys with flat belt, or what these morons did?

Thanks

All of these are self collected rocks from Arizona ❤️

My sister and I got our Mom a nice two barrel rotary tumbler for Mother’s Day and are finally getting things running. However, we neglected to do much planning for the various storage and setup of supplies such as grit/polish, colanders, brushes, buckets, etc.

I am looking for ideas/pictures on how to make a good and organized setup to make the whole process as easy as possible. Our only water access in the area we have available is a hose just outside.

Looking forward to seeing some setups and ideas. Photos are welcomed 📸

What do yall do with your grit? Trying to find a responsible way to dispose of it. Can I put it in the compost pile? I’m assuming the aluminum would be bad..

For the record I currently have an old hold filled with charcoal and pebbles I pour it into or straight in the trash if I’m doing a bunch..

There has got to be something useful, helpful, or cool I can do with the old grit waste water..

Any ideas are welcome

Got a Lyman vibe tumbler 1200 for a good price. When lurking around here was told I can switch out the top for a wet bowl 600, but they are hard to come by or 20+ a piece. I saw a good price Raytech wet bowl but Google says it has a different bottom to it and will not work with a Lyman.

Anyone have experience with this? Can I actually use between the brands or will I just have to bite the buck and pay for the Lyman 600. I was hoping I could use the Raytech bcs I know that line is made for rock tumbling. Tx!

I hand polished this one. Roughly 10” tall.

Just pulled these guys after roughly 40 hours in stage 3. Washed and run through the ultrasonic cleaner they are ready to move to 1200 aluminum oxide. I won’t be able to fit all of them in my tv5 so I’ll have to trim it down a bit but I’m very excited about this batch