Can you polish handmade resin dice with a vibratory tumbler? Experiments from the dice lab!

Walk through my experiment in vibratory tumbler polishing my handmade resin dice. Watch until the end for the results breakdown!
Every dice maker HATES sanding and polishing because it takes so long. My usual process takes over 6 hours per set of dice. After hearing about mixed successes from other makers in using a vibratory tumbler for a more hands-off approach to polishing, I decided to join in the quest. This video walks through my initial experimentation and findings using a vibratory tumbler on my dice. I hope that this helps other makers in their quest for easier and maybe even better!
Feel free to comment suggestions for future videos, questions, etc. As a small family business, all likes, shares, and subscribes are appreciated as well. Follow me on Instagram @PierceFamilyResins. For tips on making molds and dice without a pressure pot, check out my other videos on this channel.
linktr.ee/PierceFamilyDesigns
Materials used:
Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ 110V Vibratory Case Tumbler Quick-N-EZ ($48 on amazon at the time of my purchase)
9.8cm (3.86”) Plastic Funnel
Surf Tumbling Media - Fill and Polishing Tumbling Media - 2.5 LBS - 3mm Sphere Ball Porcelain Ceramic x2 (5lbs total)
Dremel Stylus tool
Cotton buffing pads
Flitz Polish
1 micron (white) Zona paper

[@catalinachaffin-chicas1642]

This is amazing. I might actually be able to make dice again after developing carpal tunnel. I'm so excited right now!

[@KaitlinPierce]

That is my hope! Make sure you check out my most recent video for an update to the process. I am editing a final defined step by step with tips now, hoping to get it up in a week or two.

[@catalinachaffin-chicas1642]

@@KaitlinPierce Thanks so much! I'll definitely be checking that out!

[@galaxythefox]

You have no idea how much you’ve helped me in one video! Thank you!! When I started watching this I was thinking of getting the tumbling machine but then I hear how loud it was and I can’t have it at my apartment for sure. But thank you for showing the other way by describing the Zona paper (which I do have) and the Flips plastic polish and the Dremel buffer!

[@tamyemoisan2542]

Oh, my goodness... I saw the video on Great Library of Dicecraft. Figured it would just be some satisfying dice polishing... Now I have a way to polish and make dice without pain! You saved me 8+ hours of work per set! You are my hero right now!

[@KaitlinPierce]

Hope it helps! I know a lot of makers who find sanding painful. I think I will still do a final polish after I ink numbers, but this way isn’t half bad!

[@tamyemoisan2542]

I probably will as well. I like your 8 hours + flitz results a lot, so that's where I'm going to start, once I get the media, and maybe do a quick buffing cloth over everything once it's inked

[@madmanwithaplan1826]

This is exactly what I was talking about with my friend Earlier thank you for your hard work experimentation and documentation

[@christendrake2823]

THIS IS AMAZING THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! My tendonitis and adhd thank you as well

[@lifegoesonvegas]

Professor's Rock 🎸 This is awesome!

[@KaitlinPierce]

Thank you

[@Wereskeleton]

I wish I saw your results before I bought the hardwood media Rybonator used haha, it cost over 100 bucks to ship 5 pounds of that stuff to Michigan. And like you said, I am concerned about the waste, but the hands off approach is too important for such a time consuming product. I will definitely make the switch to the ceramic once I get my mileage out of this other stuff.

[@lovebyteshard3016]

Holy cow, that's a great idea! Both the tumbler and the polish are brilliant, and that leaves so much more time for making... well, more dice. :D

[@KaitlinPierce]

And isn’t that our main goal 🤣😜

[@lovebyteshard3016]

@@KaitlinPierce IT HAS BEEN DONE! The reviews for that tumbler were actually pretty great, and my neighbors will just turn their music up more if they're bothered. XD The hardest part was finding the right medium! I *almost* got the regular cylinder ones, but your illustration reminded me why the spheres were better. I adore your thought process and attention to detail. A woman after my own heart!

[@lunawolfcrossing]

Silly question but using this machine will it also sand the dice sides? Mine are a little too sharp thank you for the helpful video!

[@nukewaste]

So question. I always end up with that tiny ridge of flashing left over from my squish molds on the top face, and I'm honestly scared to use a razor or xacto to remove it. I'm also concerned about damaging my micro pads I use to polish. You thi k this would take care of that flashing excess, or is there something else I should be doing to get rid of it?

[@CalamitousMadness]

This may be a dumb question but it's because I'm new to all of this period I have a mold that has a slight tear in it causing a minor indentation. will this sand the imperfection away? Also, What if you used the dremel only? Does that do anything?

[@ThomasAFung]

Which would you recommend with semi transparent ones? So you can see through it slightly. Clear enough to see anything inside

[@GarageGeek]

If I was starting with a less finished surface than you are, what grit of sanding should I go up to prior to tumbling the dice?

[@LeoArchive-k8q]

I love the sound of the music used in your intro/outro here. Do you by chance have the name of it?

[@danafraedrichauthor]

Thank you so much for this! Great experimentation, explanation, and video. I have a question about something you mentioned. Do you make your masters on a filament 3D printer? And if so, what's a good place for learning more about how to do that?

[@KaitlinPierce]

I bought my masters from Arcana cast and they are printed resin. I read about using a tumbler for finishing filament prints because there’s very little literature for resin prints. It was a bit of a gamble on my part. I’ve heard of people attempting masters with filament, but haven’t heard of anyone being successful. My husband has a filament printer though so maybe we will experiment... 🤔

[@_Simoose]

This might be what I need to stay on this hobby. I like making dice so much, but I'm accumelating unsanded sets at a very high speed because I just can't find the motivation to go through the sanding process.

[@KaitlinPierce]

I think you are not alone in that boat!

[@Crits-Crafts]

Haha I pay my brother to sand my dice because I have slightly more money than time lol

[@CerenyaSays]

could you experiment with longer wait times in the vibratory tumbler? or even putting some polish directly in the tumbler as they do with the hardwood media ones? this was a great video. I cant wait for more.

[@KaitlinPierce]

If I can figure out how to make it quieter, I will happily see what longer waits do. I just don’t want my neighbors to hate me 😂.

[@squirrel53968]

@@KaitlinPierce I wonder if a well insulated large box can be placed over the tumbler to help deaden the sound? LOVE your videos - in fact @Nanolabmaker sent me your way!

[@KaitlinPierce]

Wow I’m flattered. Nanolabmaker is one of my maker crushes 😍. I’ve had some suggestions from a bunch of people, so I think I will experiment maybe next weekend when I have some time and update y’all!

[@karenwoolley4279]

16:20 I think it's called machine time (Machining time is the time when a machine is actually processing something) ... so your equipment is tied up, but at least you are free

[@KaitlinPierce]

Thank you!

[@goatelope7539]

Holy smokes, a professor too??!?

[@warforgedstudios2437]

So I have a Daft question, has anyone tried using Stainless Steel ball media as I am having trouble finding Ceramic or Porcelain?

[@KaitlinPierce]

I’ve considered that. I haven’t heard of anyone doing it yet, but it should work by the same principle as the ceramic.

[@poofer7600]

what about introducing cushioning material wherever the tumbler is hitting hard surfaces or itself to dampen the sound?

[@KaitlinPierce]

A folded towel or foam sunshade for a car works well

[@bulalakay]

I can’t find 3mm, do you think the 4mm would work as well?

[@KaitlinPierce]

I would think so. I think the bigger risk would be going too small and having the spheres get into the numbers

[@doodledicemonsters]

Could you please try this with clear dice starting from sanded?

[@KaitlinPierce]

Sanded to what degree? The clear dice were raw from my molds when I put them in and the green were sanded on the grey Zona paper (15 micron) in the video. Are you hoping to see clear dice sanded with the Zona and then run through?

[@karenwoolley4279]

3:09 Porcelain Ceramic, we're both right!

[@tazblink]

There are hundreds of medias you could do the whole process in the tumbler. You could finnish with a walnut or other soft media with a past polish added. Just buy another tumbler and go from there.

[@TheGoblinQuinn]

could you use a rotary tumbler?

[@NM-wd7kx]

I've been looking into it, apparently a rotary tumbler will round the dice too much, whereas a vibrator will clean up sharp corners but maintains the shape of the dice better.

[@shirleycox7013]

Do you think plastic media pellets would work also? How about stainless steel? The ceramic are expensive!

[@KaitlinPierce]

I’m not sure about the plastic pellets because even the plastic inside of the tumbler bowl wears down during polishing. I would be worried about durability. Stainless steel might be a possibility. My theory right now is just spherical non-abrasive media are the best bet.

[@Cornoriian]

Not me buying a tumbler like right now.

[@KaitlinPierce]

😂 sorry for the bad influence lol

[@hightde13]

If your media ever starts to wear out it might make for a neat inclusion in your dice ;)

[@KaitlinPierce]

Oh what a great idea!

[@caspernicus5822]

A vibratory tumbler is NOT supposed to be that loud, I'm fairly confident that you have a defective unit, something loose is probably rattling around in there

[@ironbomb6753]

I have a Dillon vibratory tumbler and a Lyman Vibratory tumbler. Both are very loud. Nothing is wrong her Frankfort Arsenal tumbler. The nature of this tool is very loud. Mitigate the noise with a large cardboard box over the unit and place in a closet.

[@smartislav]

Plural media. That's just music to my ears