Before we start with this article, let us know the different types of tumblers and what a rock tumbler is used for. If you are searching for what kind of rock tumbler you should Choose, you have come to the right place.
The best rock tumbler of 2022 was Model B Heavy-Duty – Best Rock Tumbler for Adults. But for what a rock tumbler is being used for – A rock tumbler is a machine used to polish and smooth rocks. They are popular tools among jewelry makers, craft artists etc.
The question arises about which rock tumbler one should choose because there are thousands of different Tumblers on the market. Which one would benefit me? Here is a guide to buying it. There are two types of rock tumbler- Rotary rock tumbler and Vibratory rock tumbler.
Rotary rock tumblers are everyday Tumblers that is beginner friendly. Most people opt. for this tumbler for shaping the rock, cutting the edges of the stones and smoothing the rough surface of the rock during the grind course stage. Rock tumblers will change the shape of the rock and make it rounded. It takes time to make it finely perfect. It can take 2-4 weeks. It is cheap compared to Vibratory Rock Tumbler.
Advantages
- Very user-friendly
- Simple in structure.
- Lower start-up costs.
- Gives rough things an excellent, rounded form.
- Less supervision is needed than vibratory (a bit more “set & forget”).
- Low noise when operating thanks to the solid rubber barrels.
Disadvantages
- Less rapid than vibratory (often around 4-6 weeks for a batch).
- Needs extra grit or polishing materials.
- With some kinds, barrel leakage might be a concern.
Whereas Vibratory Rock Tumbler is just the opposite of the previous one. It is not beginner friendly. Professionals mainly use it. Vibratory Rock Tumbler for a finely smooth surface and polishing already shaped rocks. A Vibratory Rock Tumbler won’t give the same effect as Rotary Rock Tumbler.
If you want to polish your rock and maintain its previous shape, Vibratory Rock Tumbler is the best thing for you. This process speeds up your strategy and doesn’t take time like Rotary Rock Tumbler. It dramatically speeds up the process.
Advantages
- Faster (typically 30% or more) than rotary.
- Able to polish more delicate and fragile materials.
- Fewer leaks result from upright construction, and you can stop and check a little easier.
- Preserves more of the rocks’ original form.
- Fewer consumables (grit/polish) are used than when rotary tumbling is used.
Disadvantages
- Greater purchase price.
- Not as effective at roiling rocks as rotary tumblers.
- Requires more active management and supervision (we advise twice-daily inspections) and is therefore not as simple.
- The activity is quite noisy as the rocks clatter about the complex plastic basin.
Some factors to keep in mind before buying any Tumbler
- Tumbler’s capacity
A variety of batch sizes are available for tumblers. Tumbler barrels or hoppers need to be loaded correctly (typically between half and three-quarters full) for best results, which is an important consideration. Overfilling and irritation are typical results of using a tumbler too small for the intended use. If you fill a larger barrel with inexpensive plastic beads, you can use it for smaller batches. Although barrel capacity is typically expressed in pounds, it is more beneficial to consider the barrel’s volume.
- Type of Material to be Tumbled
Tumble polishing can be used on various goods, and most tumblers will produce similar results. You can polish your stones in their current form using a vibratory tumbler, while a rotary tumbler will smooth and round them. The grinding action of conventional rotary tumbling is not ideal if the item’s original shape needs to be preserved or if the goods are particularly fragile.
- Speed of action
Traditional Rotary tumblers tend to be painfully slow compared to their modern Vibratory counterparts. Vibratory tumbling may be slightly quicker, although it is still possible for the process to be relatively slow. How long it takes to finish depends on many variables, including the material’s hardness and smoothness, the abrasives you employ, etc. But if everything else stays the same, a vibratory tumbler will provide your desired outcome far more quickly.
Now the question arises about which one to buy.
If you are a beginner and are learning slowly, I would recommend going with the Rotary rock tumbler cause it will help you to understand the whole process. Whereas if you are on an advanced level, opt. For Vibratory Rock Tumbler, cause you know the process and you won’t make mistakes and actually can speed up the whole process.
