Rock tumblers play an important role in jewelry design. Ores, such as gemstones, are natural rocks of varying colors. Everything from sapphire to amethyst jewelry begins with a misshaped raw gemstone with a dull appearance. Designers know consumers would never invest in jewelry with raw gemstones, which is where the rock tumbler comes into play.
There are two main types of rock tumblers, these are vibratory and rotary. All rock tumblers are designed to deliver the same outcome. However, some models tend to be more efficient than others.
Media (Grit)
Rock tumblers utilize media, more commonly known as “grit,” a synthetic abrasive made of silicon carbide granules. Grit combined with the tumbling/vibration action is key to achieving a shiny, smooth finish. The tumbling/vibration action would be inefficient without the media.
The tiny silicon carbide granules combined with the tumbling or vibration action grind down the gemstone’s rough surface. Gemologists know the importance of preserving the integrity of a raw gemstone. Some even go as far as to manually cut and polish their gemstones. Manual gemstone polishing produces highly desirable effects and a rock tumbler can produce a similar outcome when meticulously completed.
The vibratory rock tumbler utilizes less media as compared to its counterpart, the rotary rock tumbler.
Energy Usage
The standard rotary rock tumbler utilizes around 50 watts (0.05 kilowatts) of electricity per hour. The standard vibratory rock tumbler, on the other hand, utilizes about 70 watts (0.07 kilowatts) of energy per hour.
If a 50-watt rotary rock tumbler operates 24 hours a day for 30 days (720 hours), it will utilize 36,000 watts (36 kilowatts) of power. A 70-watt vibratory rock tumbler operating 24 hours a day for 30 days will utilize 50,400 watts (50.4 kilowatts) of power.
The rotary rock tumbler will utilize less electricity, depending on the watts.
Design
It is easy to determine whether you’re using a rotary tumbler or a vibratory tumbler because they have distinct designs. When you look at a vibratory tumbler, you’ll notice that it has a bowl at the top. Usually, you’ll have to remove the lid before adding your stones. When the machine is used, the bowl will vibrate to polish the stones.
Rotary tumblers have a drastically different design. These tumblers have a drum that is shaped like a barrel, this will hold the stones that you’re going to polish. When you’re tumbling your stones using a rotary tumbler, the entire barrel will turn or rotate, hence the name.
Different Polishing Actions
If you look at the name of the tumbler you’re buying, you’ll quickly realize how it works. As the name implies, a rotary tumbler is going to rotate. You’ll need to pour your stones into the cylindrical drum. Once you’ve done that and have turned on the machine, the drum will begin rolling or rotating to polish the stones.
A vibratory tumbler is not going to rotate. Instead, it is going to use vibrations to polish the stones gently. Vibratory tumblers are better for stones and objects that need to be protected more carefully while rotary tumblers are harsher and more likely to cause damage.
Your Budget
One of the biggest differences between vibratory and rotary-type tumblers is the overall price. Although it depends on the models you’re trying to purchase, you should prepare to pay more for a vibratory tumbler. Rotary tumblers tend to be cheaper even though they use more grit.
The best one for you should be based on what you’re going to use the tumbler for. If you’re buying a tumbler for a child, choose a cheaper rotary tumbler. For professional results, spend more for a vibratory tumbler because it’ll work faster. Just remember to steer clear of unusually cheap tumblers because they’re much less reliable and effective.
Speed
If you compare rotary tumblers and vibratory tumblers, you’ll notice that the latter tend to produce results faster. However, tumbling is a slow, drawn-out process that can take several days so you’ll need to be very patient. The amount of time required will depend on the type of abrasives you’re using and the hardness of the materials.
Regardless, you will get done noticeably quicker when using a vibratory tumbler. If speed is a priority for your upcoming tumbling project, consider splurging on a vibratory tumbler.
The Results
Another thing to note is that the type of tumbler you’re using will impact the result. If you’re going to use a rotary tumbler, the stones will become rounder and smoother. You will be able to see the difference between the shapes before and after you’ve tumbled the stones.
However, vibratory tumblers are not going to do this. They’re more reliable for maintaining the original shape of the stone in question. When you’re tumbling delicate, valuable items, it is often very important to retain the original shape.
To achieve this goal, you should take advantage of a vibratory tumbler. It will polish the stone gently without grinding so the original shape can be retained as much as possible.
Overall Capacity
The capacity is one of the most important aspects of the tumbler since the rating will help determine how much can be polished at once, therefore, you should not forget to check this factor when buying a new tumbler. Which is better in this area? Ultimately, there is no exact answer since the capacity will vary from one model to the next. However, you will notice that rotary tumblers tend to have more capacity than vibratory tumblers.
Rotary tumblers have large barrels that rotate when in use. As for vibratory tumblers, they have a bowl at the top and you will pour the stones into it before tumbling. Again, it depends on the model you’re considering, but rotary tumblers can reach higher capacity levels in most cases.
What Is The Difference Between A Rock Polisher And A Rock Tumbler?
Tumblers are often called different names. Some people call them tumblers while others refer to them as rock polishers. Nevertheless, the two machines are basically identical. Some companies call their machines polishers to make them stand out.
Which Type Of Rock Tumbler Is Best?
Ultimately, it can be difficult to know which machine is best because there is no exact answer. Instead, it is up to each consumer to find the best tumbler for their own unique situation. You must consider the type of stones you’re polishing, how much you can afford and how long you want to wait for the results.