GENERAL TUMBLING INSTRUCTIONS

Are you interested in tumbling stones for our grab bags or your own collection,
have a tumbler and the stones but don’t know how to get started? Confused about how much grit to use? The following is an overview of the steps to take to create beautifully tumbled gemstones

STEP 1: (80 GRIT) Fill the tumbler barrel 2/3 to 3/4 full with properly graded and sized stones.
If the barrel is not full enough, you won’t get the proper tumbling action in the later steps.
Add the necessary amount of coarse grit to the stones in the barrel. Usually 1 TBS per lb. of rock. Follow the grit instructions!

After adding the grit, slowly add water until the water level is just touching the bottom of the top layer of stones.
Do Not overfill because too much water will inhibit the tumbling action.
Run the tumbler for 24 hours, them open the barrel to release any slight gas build-up during the coarse grind.
If the slurry appears pasty or very thick, add a small amount of water.
Let the tumbler run for an hour and recheck, add water as needed.
The First (coarse) grind is the most important step and will take 7 to 10 days – be patient and don’t stop too soon.
Note: If the stones are not all smoothly rounded, it is necessary to repeat the coarse grind step using a charge of new grit.
The original grit will have broken down too much to provide additional shaping.
After the 1st grind, you must clean the barrel and stones thoroughly to remove all traces of the coarse grit slurry.
Do not pour slurry into your plumbing system, it will settle in the pipes and harden like cement.
There should be no visible grit or slurry left on the stones, you are now ready for step 2.

STEP 2: (220 GRIT) Place the cleaned stones in the barrel, inspecting them as you go,
and removing any that need more coarse grinding –
if you have less than 2/3 barrel full of stones add plastic pellets to make up the additional volume.
Add proper amount of water and grit according to table, reseal the barrel,
and let it run for 2 to 3 days before checking stones.
On the 7th day, they should have a smooth matte finish over their entire surface,
if not run for additional 2 to 3 days.
Plastic pellets will float to the top, remove and clean them as they can be used again.
Use the same cleaning procedure you used in step 1.

STEP 3: (600 GRIT) Fine or pre-polish, place stones into the barrel, following previous instructions.
Run for about a week, checking progress ever other day. Clean and inspect stones for final polishing stage.

STEP 4: (CERIUM OXIDE POLISH OR) Gently place the stones into the barrel to avoid any scratching or chipping.
After charging the tumbler with water and polishing compound (see table),
add plastic pellets to increase volume to 2/3 – 3/4 full.
The pellets will help carry the polishing compound and that will cushion the stones.
Polishing should take 5 to 7 days.
At the end of the this time, remove and inspect several stones.
If they look the same when dry as they do when wet, your batch is finished.
If, after 7 days, your polished gemstones appear to have a slight film on them,
it can be removed and extra shine and luster added by burnishing step.
Before burnishing, be sure to thoroughly clean the barrel and stones and recover the plastic pellets.

Burnishing:
Place your stones into the barrel, add the same plastic pellets and proper amount of powdered soap
(do not use any liquid detergents, dishwasher powders or any products that contain bleach or
additives as these products will damage the barrel and ruin the polish).
Add water as in previous steps and run for at least 4 days.

Further Instructions. RECOMMENDED TUMBLING COMPOUND QUANTITIES
STEP 4 – Polishing (adds gloss shine)
1. Check each rock carefully
2. Remove rocks with pits, fine chips, or flaking
3. If pitted, set aside to re-tumble in step 3 fine grinding
4. Place rock gently into tumbler
5. Add plastic pellets to bring load to proper level (if needed)
6. Add grit, soap flakes, sugar (to achieve high polish – see chart below)
7. Add water to just below top layer of rocks (center of top layer of rocks)
8. Place lid on barrel (ensure tight seal)
9. Place barrel on tumbler and start tumbler
10. Run tumbler for 4 to 7 days (check progress occasionally)
11. End of week, remove barrel from tumbler, and check a few rocks
12. Thoroughly clean rocks and barrel
• Use old toothbrush and water on each rock
• Remove all traces grit or polish on each rock
13. If plastic pellets used, clean and place aside for re-use (in same grit)
14. Check for shine, rocks should look the same wet or dry
BONUS – Add sugar to pre-polish and polish stages (twice as much sugar as
pre-polish and polish).
Plastic Pellets – Can be re-used about 10 or 12 times. Use only in the same grit originally used in. They will contaminate if transferred to next steps.

Vibrating tumbler – Noisier, more expensive, and needs to be better monitored, take 1 week to finish rocks. Cheaper on the grit and on the material you are finishing. My next purchase!

Rotary tumbler – Check every few days, takes 4 to 6 weeks to finish rocks.
POLISHING STAGE

Polish – Tin Oxide or Cerium Oxide
STEP 4 – Snow White Soap Flakes
STEP 4 -Granulated Sugar