How do you use a Rolling Stone rock tumbler?

Place your clean rocks in the tumbler and fill the barrel to about 2/3 full of stones. Add 24 oz. of the coarse grind (60/90) and then add enough water to just cover the stones. Run the tumbler with this mixture for at least 7 days, 24 hours a day, or until the rocks are smooth.

How much grit do you put in a National Geographic rock tumbler?

RECOMMENDED USE—We recommend approximately 2 tablespoons of grit per pound of rocks.

How long do you tumble rocks in a rock tumbler?

12 to 24 hours
Most vibratory tumblers are run for 12 to 24 hours with medium grit. Then the spent grit and mud are washed from the rocks. This step is repeated until the rocks are nicely smoothed. This usually takes between three and seven days depending upon the type of rock and their starting condition.

How much water do you put in a rock tumbler?

Loading the Tumbler Barrel Once you have a clean barrel, add enough rock to fill the barrel about 1/2 to 2/3 full. With small tumblers it is best to tumble rocks that are between about 1/4″ and 1 1/2 inches in size.

Can you use too much grit in a rock tumbler?

An easy way to see if your coarse grit is effective is to look at what remains at the end of your tumbling. If you can see lots of coarse grit remaining in the bottom of the barrel, then you either have used too much grit, or the grit is too coarse for the material you are using and the tumbling time.

Can you tumble rocks too long?

Just don’t put too many of them in the barrel at the same time – perhaps one or two. If you add too many large rocks to the tumbler they will crush your small material or break one another as a result of the impacts that occur in the barrel.

Can you reuse rock tumbling grit?

Because grit gradually breaks down as you’re tumbling, you cannot reuse it. However, the slurry that your tumbler creates can be used from the previous stage to help the grinding action. For the polish stage, you do not want any slurry or grit in the barrel from your prior stage.