Someone unfamiliar with rock polishing may initially think it is a cut-and-dry process. This could not be further from the truth, even when a rock tumbler is involved. Initially, the rock tumbler may look like an ordinary machine that spins to remove dirt, tarnish, and other debris from the surface of rocks, gems, old coins, and vintage jewelry. Before the process can begin, special consideration and preparation must be made to protect the integrity of the item.
Rock tumbling is a rewarding process when done correctly. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you are responsible for transitioning a dull rock into a beautiful piece.
Special Considerations
As mentioned above, special considerations must be taken for each item in advance. There is no doubt that consumers are ready to jump right into the process but there is too much at stake. Patience will afford the luxury of glistening, smooth rocks and gems, ideal for making high-end jewelry and endless decorating.
Rock Tumbling Tips
The following tips are the first steps to transforming all your precious finds into a piece you can be proud of. Skipping these tips and diving directly into the rock-tumbling process will likely result in an unfavorable outcome. Consumers need to remember the roadblocks they encountered while exploring, searching, and shopping for the perfect pieces for their important decorating and jewelry-making projects.
Identify Each Item – The first step, the most important, in the first leg of the process is identifying the item. Beginners may struggle to conceive the importance of this step but veterans will have no problem understanding. The importance of identifying has to do with the fact that some metals, stones, gems, rocks and other materials, are not durable enough to endure the process.
For example, a sedimentary rock lacks the strength to undergo rock tumbling and come out in one piece. A conglomerate rock, for example, is delicate, fragile, and packed full of sediments like sand, tiny fossils, and stones. Rock tumbling is a strenuous process designed to break debris from the surface. Inside a turning rock tumbler barrel, the rocks are being put through an immense amount of impact. A gem, rock, coin, or piece of jewelry lacking durability will not endure the impact.
Only when the item is identified should rock tumbling be considered.
Mohs Hardness Scale – The Mohs Hardness Scale is a vital part of rock tumbling. The scale identifies the hardness of various minerals and objects. The diamond tops the scale with a hardness level of “10.” Corundum falls in second with a hardness level of “9.” The copper penny is one of the softest objects on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Its hardness level is 3.5, only slightly harder than a human fingernail at 2.5.
Looking at the scale, it is obvious the diamond will sustain minimal or no damage during the rock tumbling process. The copper penny and knife/glass plate (3.5 hardness), on the other hand, will sustain damage. The amount of damage will depend on the type of rock tumbler (rotary or vibratory), duration, and the type of media utilized in the process.
Rock Tumbling Tricks
Rock tumbling is a great addition to handmade jewelry and décor hobbies. Done right, a rock that does not look salvageable can be transformed into a piece you can be proud of.
To get the most out of a rock tumbler, consumers should take advantage of the tips provided below.
Diverse Loads
To maximize the rock tumbling process, experts recommend a diverse load. What this basically means is utilizing a combination of small and medium-sized stones to create each load. The purpose of a diverse load is to allow the smaller rocks to act as points of contact. The smaller stones position themselves between the larger stones, speeding up the tumbling process.
Another benefit of a diverse load is to balance out the impact of larger stones. Smaller rocks ease the force by acting as cushions for the larger stones. When larger rocks make contact, they can chip, split, or crack. The smaller rocks give the larger rocks something to bump into besides each other. When a large stone hits a small stone, the impact will be less as compared to two large stones making contact.
Pea gravel can add cushioning for larger stones and minimize the number of times larger stones make contact.
Inspect Lids Before, After, And During
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of rock tumbling, this is especially the case for newbies. More focus is applied to the speed and duration than the barrel lid. Nearly every component of a rock tumbler takes a beating throughout the tumbling process.
The barrel, motor, bearings, pulleys, belts, and bricks sustain damage within every minute of operation. What feature was missing from this list? The lid plays a vital role in the tumbling process.
Loading seems simple enough, right? Fill the barrel with stones of varying sizes, media, and water, then attach the lids. What some consumers fail to consider is the vitality of the lids which attach to the top end of the barrel.
Nearly all modern rock tumbler designs have inner and outer lids. The interior lid caps over the top end of the barrel and then the exterior lid is fitted over this. A knurled nut is utilized to secure the lids in place once they are properly positioned on the barrel. In order for the lids to work as they should, a complete seal must be formed around the rim of the barrel. When media, dirt, and other debris get trapped between the barrel and inner lid, the seal is not complete.
Before attaching the inner lid, wipe the barrel rim with a dry cloth. Attach the inner lid, followed by a thorough wiping with a dry cloth before attaching the outer lid. Wipe the exterior lid and barrel down before securing the knurled nut in place. This process should be repeated every time the lids are detached from the barrel.
Summary
It should now be obvious that rock tumbling to perfection is a complex process. Unfortunately, there are veteran consumers who still have not mastered the skill of rock tumbling.