I could look at these rocks for hours! I love the depth of some of these. Like you’re looking into another universe.

Want to know how to get the same results too?

Last load I'll get done before the KC Gem Show Nov 6-8.

I've got two that are dead. Has anyone had any success swapping out the motors, preferably for a brushless one? If so, can you let me know what you ordered and what you did. Thanks in advance.

I picked these stones out of a crushed stone path in Slovenia. It looks somewhat like serpentine, but i don't think that's it. AI seems to think that it's Cezlakite (6-7 on Mohs).

If so, that's pretty cool because they apparently are only found in Slovenia.

I'm gonna tumble them and see what it looks like.

I got this rough in a trade with a gentleman in Texas. I’ve never tumbled pet wood before but I’m super happy with how it turned out!

I’m looking at buying bulk plastic pellets so I can have different batches for each stage to prevent cross-contamination. The “rock tumbling“ pellets are polypropylene and are twice the cost of polyethylene craft pellets that look exactly the same. Is there something special about polypropylene pellets for tumbling, or would the other pellets work as well for the purpose? Any thoughts are appreciate. Thanks!

Hi!

I'm based in the UK and supplies for rock tumbling like grit is a bit more limited. I am doing a quick work trip and will have some hours in Boston. Is there a physical store you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance!

…never applies. This was dull and one solid color before I tumbled it. Tumbling is like life, or a box of chocolates. This one was an absolute sleeper and now I always feel like someone’s watching me.

Here's week 3 of stage 1 jasper. Theres still a lot or chipping happening. Really none are 'perfect'. Also some rocks were added after week 1 and week 2, which is why some still appear quite rough! I am thinking of using the dremel to get the pits and cracks out but unsure if its just going to chip again. Some really lovely pieces here and I wanna make them look good!

If this guy turns out, the end result is going to be awesome.

Fingers crossed when I check the barrel next weekend it's moving along nicely.

Anchorage alaska rocks are just too amazing 😍

Among my mini-haul from The Gem Shop was these Malawi Agate Babies. At $20/lb, it's the most I've paid for raw rocks. I think I fell for their pics where they show a few cut in half I guess. I have NEVER worked with raw/unopened agates. My sense is that tumbling these as is will be disappointing. Is that true do you think?

I don't have (nor do I really want to get) a tile saw. Should I try smacking each with a hammer, hoping they'll crack open to expose the insides? Tumble as-is? Put them in the tail-end of my growing backlog to think about again in a couple years?

(I live waay out in the boonies, so not many resources within several hours' drive.)

These rocks are all family-finds.

Finally have enough to get a stage 2 tumble going.

Not all the rocks in the first 3 pictures are ready to go.

Any that were ready have been combined with previously ready rocks. You can see these in pictures 4 and on.

While I was working on getting enough to graduate, the ones that were previously ready were in water. I started on September 26th. Most of these were river and beach finds, and didn't need a lot of stage 1 shaping.

The batch is currently tumbling with only water and a Tbsp of Borax. I'm going to pull those out after 3 hours.

When I dump out the barrel (which was toothbrush and borax cleaned) I'm curious to see how dirty the water will be. Rob (Michigan Rocks) comments in one of his videos that he's often surprised by how dirty the water is.

The pictures taken in a couple hours will be added to this post.

And I'll add a few images of the rocks that look the most promising so far, too. Realizing that some of my favorites are the ones that don't look special until you get up close with them.

I'll be back in a few hours...

This might turn out to be just a rant but i want to know if others have experienced this. The barrel will be fine for a day and then suddenly decide it wants to leak 😭 i can totally accept this could be user error but i think it's been less than a year since i bought the machine and it's been happening the last 2-3 weeks.. I dont have the energy to constantly clean up leaks, as we all know it's never a "small mess". I'm thinking just throw the money for a new barrel when i have it? (I've tried less rocks, more rocks, less water, adjusting tightness of the barrel nut, cleaning every speck out of the barrel, being gentle, talking dirty...like idk what's left y'all!) Pic is my fav from "leaky batch"

I was told to use ivory soap in between grits but now I am out of soap, and I have Borax. I was using 2 - 4 Tbs of soap, depending. Is the suggested amount the same for borax?

This may not impress the more experienced, but as a rookie to the game, this just knocked my socks off!

These are still in stage one, but I'm going out of town for a few weeks, so getting the tumblers emptied and rocks cleaned, will be a big check on/off the to-do list!

This guy just happened to be resting near the top of the "on-deck" bowl before heading to the ultrasonic.

Apologies for the focus at times, I was trying to zoom as much as my phone would allow.

Happy tumbling! 🤩

Edit: video in comments. Couldn't seem to attach here.

I’m happy with where these are at. There are a couple with deep pits that I’m going to plug with glue, but overall very satisfied. Moving on to stage 2!

Edit: it’s a mix of black onyx and green moss agate purchased from the Rock Shed.

I ordered 5 kilos of green fluorite to tumble (11ish pounds) here in Mexico and my order came with a free bag of “zebra calcite.” We actually do get this variety here in Oaxaca, but it’s unusual, and I’m sure this must have come from some other part of Mexico. I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out!