Recently, I visited one of my relatives after so long and was amazed by her jewelry collection. Upon asking, she said that all those were made by herself with the aid of rock tumblers.
So, I got interested and researched a bit about this super handy rock polishing tool. And guess what, I got surprised to know that these machines can actually turn edgy and uneven stones into precious jewelry by polishing them evenly.
After conducting an insightful analysis on the leading rock tumblers in the market, below, I have listed two of the current best rock tumblers for jewelry that perform great for making jewelry by polishing and cleaning the age-old rocks.
Let’s dive into the detailed discussion without wasting time!
Product Review
Those who love to make gorgeous jewelry out of uneven rocks can check out the following two tumblers. Let’s explore their salient features below!
1. National Geographic Jewelry Tumbler
Looking for a tumbling kit that comes with an extra-large capacity? Then try this premium-grade tumbling machine from National Geographic which is second to none for polishing rocks.
Weighing only 3.7 kilograms, it’s not too bulky to carry. Also, it’s super easy to operate. Even a kid can get used to the operation manual within a few minutes.
That being said, not only is it fun to tumble rocks with this polishing appliance but it is also effective. The edgy rocks are polished so smoothly that they turn into glittering gemstones.
Experts labeled it as an educational STEM science kit as it helps kids make their science toys much easier. But professional geologists can also count on this extraordinary kit for outstanding rock polish. Moreover, it includes five jewelry fastening accessories that let you shape the stones as you want. You can design your own jewelry and rest assured that they would be the most exclusive ones.
Thanks to its powerful motor that runs 75% quieter while you are polishing your precious gemstones.
Pros
- Sturdy architecture makes the machine durable
- Extra-large capacity to polish huge rocks at a time
- An all-in-one tumbling kit
Cons
- Could be a bit less noisy
- Breaks down fast after several uses
Why You Choose It
If you want to know what makes this tumbling tool special from the countless options available, I must mention how dazzling shine it adds to your gemstones once they are polished perfectly. For jewelry gleaners, it’s one of the most important achievements to see their hard-polished rocks outshine other artifacts. I highly recommend this kit to all the jewelry collectors out there.
2. Viyuki Jewelry Tumbler
If the first one doesn’t meet your expectations, don’t get disheartened. I came up with another rock tumbler from Viyuki which is a professional kit as well.
To begin with its prime specifications, it’s a complete tumbling tool with all accessories included. You get 1 pound of gemstones, 4 bags of grits, 5 jewelry fastening kits, a barrel with the capacity to grind 3lb stones at a time, and 5 pieces of replacement tumbler belts. No other contemporary rock polisher offers so many accessories at such an affordable price range.
Most importantly, it includes a necklace and earrings to give you an idea of how smoothly your piece of the gem should shine. Thanks to the instruction guide, you don’t have to struggle to set the kit up.
Coming with a metal case and high-powered motor, this machine is pretty durable as well, at least they last in proportion to the bucks they charge. No matter how hard rocks you collect, the powerful engine will grind them into glittering gemstones.
Anybody from eight years old can use this tumbler both as a fun accessory or as a professional polishing kit.
Pros
- Very budget-friendly
- The powerful motor lasts for years
- Easy operating instructions
Cons
- The belts need to be replaced too quickly
- Sometimes produces smoke while tumbling rocks
Why You Choose It
Well, I personally loved it for having the rubber line in the tire. As a result, it’s way quieter than you can imagine. The noise reduction barrel is certainly a great advantage for a rock tumbler under $100. Moreover, the gemstones processing is remarkable as well. So, it’s definitely a decent deal as an ideal rock tumbler for jewelry.
What to Look for in Best Rock Tumbler for Jewelry
To get the best rock tumbler for jewelry, you must notice whether the tumbling kit has the following features or not.
Durability:
Rock tumbling needs adequate time. And you will grind a lot of rocks at a time. So, if the machine has poor craftsmanship, it won’t last long. It must come with sturdy architecture to polish the stones thoroughly.
Material:
Here material means what’s the barrel of the tumbler made of- plastic, rubber, or metal. As your focus is to design jewelry, I recommend metal barrels for achieving the sleekest finish. They are the best to grind the edgy rocks into smooth and dazzling gemstones. Don’t worry, metal barrels have rubber lining to control noise production.
However, rubber barrels also work to produce high-quality ornaments out of old rocks.
Noise Reducing Barrel:
The machine must feature a rubber barrel with noise-reducing ability. Otherwise, you will lose interest in rock tumbling for the 24/7 loud noise production. Usually, plastic barrels are the loudest. So, be careful while choosing.
Tumbling Capacity:
You must look for kits that offer huge tumbling capacity at a time so that you can polish more rocks. In this regard, both the tumblers described above come with an extra-large capacity of rock tumbling. You can pick any of them.
Accessories:
If the tumbler includes jewelry fastening kits, it’s become easier to reshape your preferred ornaments. Also, some polishers come with sample jewelry like earrings, necklaces, etc. which is even more helpful to let you understand how you should polish the precious gems.
And for professional purposes, I suggest all-in-one tumblers that include everything you need to produce sparkling jewelry, from grits to gemstones.
Final Words
Hopefully, this guide helps you find the best rock tumbler for jewelry. Making jewelry out of utterly edgy stones is not only a hobby, you can consider it as a profession too. And for designing your own ornaments with a touch of natural adornment, rock tumblers work wonder.
Between the two stone polishers reviewed above, I personally prefer the National Geographic one for its super sleek finish on the polished stones. But if budget is your concern, you can also try the Viyuki one. It works great in its own way.
So, which one have you decided to go for? Let us know in the comment section below.
