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Frequently
Asked Questions
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How does rock tumbling work?
Rock tumbling reproduces natural erosion in a controlled
environment. You simply place your rocks in the drum and add
grit. Close the door and turn it on. The drum rotates or
vibrates causing the grit to rub against the rock, gradually wearing it
down.
What size grit should I use.
It depends upon what you are doing. If you want to smooth out
jagged edges, start with coarse grit. As the grit rubs against the
rock, it removes the excess material. This process is known as
reduction. Once the piece has been shaped to your satisfaction,
use fine grit to remove scratches. Then pre-polish and
polish. Of course, if you are starting out with a fairly smooth
rock that requires no reduction, you can start with fine grit or even
pre-polish.
How long does tumbling take?
It depends on two factors: the hardness of the material and the amount
of reduction. If you want to reduce a large cube of very hard
granite to a round golf ball, then the reduction can take several
weeks. That may seem like a long time, but remember you are
compressing thousands of years of natural erosion. On the other
hand, if you begin with smooth, well-shaped rocks - like those
found in a river or creek bed - then you may have to do little more than
polish. Depending on the hardness of the material, that could take
as little as a few hours.
How else can I use my tumbler?
The tumbler can be used to polish a broad range of things. One of
the most popular application is the polishing of brass and silverware.
How large a tumbler do I need?
It all depends on how much material you want to reduce and/or
polish. If you want to reduce or polish only one or two handfuls
of rocks at one time to make jewelry or some other such use, then the
three pound capacity will probably suit your needs. The larger
sizes are essential for large quantities. Typical applications
include industries who use them to remove burrs from metal objects,
either cast or shaped on machine tools. Antique dealers use them
to polish silverware, belt buckles, and a large variety of knick knacks.
And of course people who need large quantities of polished rocks or want
to polish large rocks. |
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