Rock Tumbling for Beginners | Before & After Tutorial

[@derekclement7323]

Oh my gosh pieces at 24:19 & 24:49 are amazing , you need to really look at them fully lol if you havent already. 24:19 if you look at the black smudge thing lol it looks like a tree with two birds sitting on the branch, just Amazing... Now for real let's talk about 24:49 it may seem like a ghoulish piece but it's absolutely astonishing what is in that piece. Start with the white cloaked ghoul image in the middle with a eye of a falling person and a mouth of something standing there , also see on the left side of white face ghoul a falling angel, also if you turn it slightly clockwise you'll see a white wolf. This is absolutely my favorite piece , it may be dark lol but omg it has sooooo many images in it. I can't get enough of it. That image could sell on a print , looks like an water color painting and I would be your first to purchase one. Gees I haven't been excited like this in a while over a rock to look at ha ha ha , yes I enjoyed it very much so ...🤘 rock on

[@Ken_G.]

And if you look right where her finger is touching the piece at the top, there's a little ghost there too. He looks sad, poor little guy. And straight down from that, the white stripe that makes a 90 degree turn has a horse head pointing out to the left.

[@kellyharper367]

Old disabled house bound dusty rusty rockhound here: The patterns in those slabs are "other worldly" . Mesmerizing!

[@carolkara987]

So glad that Theo introduced you. Your rocks are out of this world.

[@sandmaker]

I always like the way they come out of a vibratory tumbler. They keep the basic shapes, but are polished. Lots of good information in this one. Woof to Chopper. Keep all the goodness coming. Be happy, safe and stay healthy 😷⚒ Love all the rocks!!!! Looking at all the finished stones took me to another place and another time. Wonderful.

[@MontanaRockMom]

I find myself watching the video of all the finished rocks when I want to relax - makes me smile every single time. It seems to bring out something special deep inside me to know all that went into these rocks. The adventure of the rock hunt, the feeling of excitement when my eyes first spotted the rocks, the love and care that went into every step of polishing them, the gratitude I feel from the rocks for them allowing me to bring out all their beauty.

[@sandmaker]

@@MontanaRockMomThe journey is always fun. But the stopping and looking at it all is worth every moment. Cheers!

[@williamscoggin1509]

You've always got the best 🤗

[@mothernaturerocks1]

Some of that material would be so much fun to cab. You are so lucky to live in an area with incredible rocks,

[@margaretharkins]

You should have a store! Beautiful beautiful rocks!

[@markbaehne9389]

Those are some of most beautiful agates with all the moss and inclusions,with your imagination you can see all kind of beautiful things ! Great tutorial!

[@genevryfreeland2054]

The talent pours out of u

[@genevryfreeland2054]

Youve came along way with being comfortable with camera. U ROCK!!!!!

[@genevryfreeland2054]

U and Theo have been my favorite learned so much. Thx bunches

[@genevryfreeland2054]

Love the silent ,mom tude!!! Ur great. Attitude is everything

[@treasurelife6922]

I could have continued on for another 29 minutes of this. Giving the amount of love that you give them rocks truly brings out the beauty that they deserve. You are the best!

[@MontanaRockMom]

Your comments always warm my heart :)

[@leslietheriault8821]

Oh my word, girl!! These are beyond, waaaaay beyond, what I expected! 😮😮😍😍

[@lonnietrickel3891]

Thank you so much for taking the time and shoeing the step by step details on vibrating tumbling. You saved me days of frustration.

[@MontanaRockMom]

You're welcome! I am really glad it was a helpful video.

[@cynthiaswain4070]

Very nice video. Informative. I have to laugh. The video where you saw the dear & found the blood trail caused me concern for your safety. Then the next one said bear country. I was preparing to lecture you about going out into the wild alone. Also concern that you put out these wonderful videos where everyone can see. Including crazy 2 legged critters. Then I realized you were not alone. Thank God.

[@jamesblondeau1029]

Wowsers. Amazing beauty. I loved this video and the tutorial. You taught me a bunch about cleaning up the rocks and what we do and dont want I see i am going to have to buy or build a flat lap to clean up my cuts and maybe thin some stuff out. I use an old tile saw like Theo does. I have never seen any of your finished tumbled rocks before but wow beautiful results. Thank you for taking the time to do the video and for teaching me a few things. Thank you so much Kim.

[@donnahuffman3422]

Gorgeous black and translucent, all of them really.☺️ Love them all, also the ammonites!!!!!!!!!

[@oldgrumpy8035]

Now ready for wire wrapping and other forms of jewelry. Beautiful stones, let's see more. Covington,wa

[@kastah]

Beutiful, love the patterns inside those Agats.They look more "posh" when polished😊

[@greatnorthernviews3052]

Those are absolutely beautiful! Wow😊

[@marktaylor4458]

Great job. I love abstract art and I wish I could paint as beatifully and what I see on your video.

[@madrush24]

Stunning! Stuck inside with COVID19, so it's fun to live vicariously through your adventures and finds. Thanks for sharing!

[@genevryfreeland2054]

U know ur stuff,thats for sure

[@gwynnfarrell1856]

I love the organic shapes of the finished rocks. I had no idea Montana agates had such a variety of shapes and colors inside! I really like the little tree shapes that look like bonsai. So many scenes and creatures in those inclusions! Thank you for a great video. Uh, Chopper? Whatcha doin'? 😆

[@kathleenross7020]

I, too. love the organic shapes, natural. less formal, so interesting. Love your work.

[@robertharrison1775]

Great video, Love the dramatic ending 🤣.

[@tott3457]

You are very talented how you produce your videos! Hunting and gathering your rocks are obviously much easier than all the time you put into prepping and polishing your beautiful finds!! They look amazing. Looking forward to seeing the jasper you have collected all polished up ❣️❣️❣️

[@paulajohnston9339]

Very informative. I do enjoy your videos!

[@JaneAlwaysWellSaid]

Awesome! you really see some great ones.

[@justjulee9135]

Really amazing! They were just beautiful ❤️. Now I need to make a few small purchases lol. Like a saw, a flat lap, and a vibratory tumbler and grit!

[@michaelgrimes1131]

I came across you on some of Theo's video's and I'm glad that I did! I'm getting information now on Montana for a future trip to look for some Montana Agate! I'm retired and looking for a new hobby outside of photography and loved geology when I was in college. Great video! You showed a lot of fruit for your efforts! Look forward to seeing more of your video's!

[@MontanaRockMom]

Thank you for watching Michael

[@VintageLPs]

Fascinating to watch this process. I’ve always loved to look through polished rocks but now I have even more respect for what it takes, first in nature and then in human hands. Thanks for this amazing vlog!

[@MontanaRockMom]

Thank you for watching...it is quite a process.

[@joatmaster0]

Beautiful!!! I could look at those rocks for hours. Keep up the awesome videos...

[@wendy4173]

What a great tutorial. I didn't see if any water was added to the initial step with 80 grit though. It didn't look like it. Thanks MRM!

[@MontanaRockMom]

Nope, you are correct, I do not add any water. I simply rinse the rocks off in a Strainer and dump them in the tumbler! There is enough residual water left on them from doing that to create the perfect consistency 👌

[@marioalvarez2808]

Simply spectacular! Amazing job on the vibratory tumbler! I learned something new today. Next time I run my dual tumbler, I'll put a pinch of borax in. Than you for sharing all these beautiful treasures

[@garymast1100]

Keep on doing the fantastic work! So beautiful! Thanks, and your videos are excellent!

[@bettyjobraford7419]

They're beautiful.

[@jrontherocks99]

ah man..sooo yummy..Total newbie..live on vancouver island,,hand sandong lol..Such a insiration u are..well done...you are a professional..xo Canada

[@MontanaRockMom]

Vancouver Island....how cool! That's God's Country!!! So scenic! Thank you for watching my videos!

[@michaelvandyke6715]

Great video, great work!! I've been tumbling rocks for years, got 9 Lortone's and a new double Lot-O... Still enjoying the results of the bounty when I open the lids....

[@MontanaRockMom]

Seeing those results... boy do I get excited.

[@patriciamckean4186]

Thanks for sharing.

[@brianpresley3662]

You have some awesome videos you have answered a lot of my question thank you!!!

[@Nikkisavage100]

Beautiful stones ! all of them

[@bobs-rocks]

The one with the tree like inclusion is my favorite!

[@1sec2midnight]

Hello, I love your recipe and methods. Thanks for posting this nice video.

[@bettykeith8580]

Beautiful

[@debrabowers8652]

Love your video's! Thank you! Wow is all I can say about those rocks! Beautiful! Nature is sublime!

[@patriciamckean4186]

So....nice. I guess some new equipment may be in my future. Each piece is a work of art. Shocked how intense natures designs are.

[@juliemckenna514]

Wow! They turned out beautiful! Thanks for sharing 😊❤️

[@rodneykoenig503]

Absolutely beautiful

[@GREEKEXPLORERS]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@randynewman2467]

Well done! Lots of great agates.

[@anniegironne8444]

Some of the rocks are like pieces of art just beautiful. Thanks for showing all the steps to get this result. Do you prefer the vibratory to the rotary tumbler ? Rock on 😉

[@MontanaRockMom]

If I have the time to do the prep work- I prefer the vibratory. But for whole stones and larger rocks, I prefer the rotary. I really like how much faster the vibratory tumbler is.... I lack a lot of patience!

[@anniegironne8444]

@@MontanaRockMom Thank you Kim, I guess I'm the same and this will help me make a choice between the two types.

[@renesysval]

Gorgeous results!!!

[@bobs-rocks]

Plus that is beautiful material, Thanks for the video.

[@wyodino6245]

Montana agates are addictive. All so individual. Are you going to make a few pendants out of them? They really are beautiful. Thank you for sharing the process and the love, MRM.

[@dustinfindsrocks]

I need to send you some stuff… the Missouri lace agate can be beautiful but it often has issues tumbling. I’ve seen excellent results with shaping the pieces first and then tumbling. Maybe this year I’ll make that happen… I probably won’t be getting a vibratory tumbler though

[@MontanaRockMom]

Do you have luck polishing slabs or the face of the agates? That's one thing that Montana agates do well, they take an extraordinarily high shine polish whether you hand polish, lap, tumble, etc.

[@dustinfindsrocks]

@@MontanaRockMom I haven't personally yet but I will soon. I've seen several really great polished pieces. My buddy Jeff HuntingRocks channel just polished a piece. I know I need to get on it LOL I have some great pieces. Polishing pads and probably a wet angle grinder will be purchased by me soon. I would love to put a shine on some of the larger crystal pieces I have and expose the agate banding more. Anyway... soon

[@fenix02008]

GREAT JOB❣️ Thanks for sharing all the beautiful results and for the education❣️ Keep on Rockin❣️

[@bruninomorin3586]

Wow ! Great work! They're beautiful !

[@clarkward9208]

Love em! I’m in the 600 grit stage with a container full of fire agates I mined here in Blythe California. Hope mine turn out as awesome as yours did!

[@MontanaRockMom]

Very cool! Hope you get a super high shine!

[@geneturk4242]

Great video and beautiful results on stunning stones.

[@candienerger5216]

Beautiful!

[@sfbfriend]

Nice video, thank you. I have a vibe tumbler that I have used to clean ammo cases, I no longer reload and was wondering If I could use it for rocks! Looking at your tumbler I see absolutely no difference in the bowl, so I think I'm going to repurpose it instead of buying a rotary or other tumbler. What is your opinion. I also do see the importance of trying not to have cracks and or pits as they can trap and contaminate future steps. Need to get my flat lap built too. I'm retired and have turned on my hobby switch. Do you start each batch with the stones wet? Thanks again, very helpful..I have some rainbow petrified wood that I harvested from Arizona this last June. I have slabbed a huge piece and most of the slabs is full of cracks, which is typical for pet wood. Going to cut it up and tumble it. Might share some if you are interested. Thanks

[@vickygoodwin9771]

Beautiful, I’ll take them all. What fun!

[@MACorrupt]

Awesome job

[@Earl-lf7oy]

So beautiful you have wonderful area to rockhound love your videos

[@IndusRiverRock]

✨❤ Beautiful ❤✨

[@lynnd4619]

This vibratory tumbler video came at the perfect time. I believe you are using the Raytech 5 TUMBLER (you list a rotary tumbler in your favorite things) - can you confirm? Love your channel - Rock On!

[@MontanaRockMom]

Yes, sorry I missed your comment. This is the exact tumbler in this video: amzn.to/3qjMWbN

[@mrfxm55]

Nice work and quite a production of steps. I had no idea you had the flat lap, no bueno sneaky. I'll always offer a suggestion. Since you have the equipment you might try specific shapes, bullets, round, oval and cushion rectangle or square. Even some tubular like a pipe or round bar. On the flat lap you'll need a 45 degree angle on a picked out bottom of each stone. Easily done with the 80 lap. This is for silversmiths. For the wire wrap crowd. You'll need a channel around each edge cut with a regular diamond saw edge. Most of the roughness will come out in the tumble on these add-ons. But it's worth it for a sale for people who make things with finished stones and no equipment. Just a thought for being able to make a little so you can do more.

[@lordnikonoriginal]

dope.🤙

[@kint79]

Akik dengan kualitas baik, silifikasi sangat tinggi

[@MontanaRockMom]

Ya- batu akik ini mengambil kilau yang begitu tinggi. Mereka luar biasa.

[@treasurelife6922]

Is this top secret Rockhound language??? Lol

[@MontanaRockMom]

@@treasurelife6922 I love Google translate 🧡

[@treasurelife6922]

@@MontanaRockMom Yes, I use it also when there is the translate option. In this case there wasn't so I had to think it could only be Rockhound exclusive secret code lol.

[@1968capnkman]

Howdy from AZ. Three questions...what vibratory tumbler are you using, good bang for the buck and what purpose does the soap and borax serve? Wife and I are enjoying your vids. Thank you!!😉

[@MontanaRockMom]

Raytech 23-001 TV-5 Standard Vibratory Tumbler, 0.05 Cubic feet Bowl Capacity, 115V, 60 Hz is the exact tumbler I use. I find the Borax helps get the grit out of the pits in your rocks if you have them. The soap makes the most difference for me- it acts like a lubricant and helps the rocks really move around well!

[@knittingnighthiker]

These are so beautiful! Do you have an online place that you sell your polished (or unpolished) finds? I would definitely love to buy some. Thank you for all the great video work and showing us the beauty of your state.

[@MontanaRockMom]

[e-mail]

[@leslyeschoenhuth1107]

* WOW ~ you took the bark off the Pet. rock.. Vibe tumbler is as much work as the other ones.. Some of your rocks have fabulous pictures in them . . One looked like a Butterfly wing..

[@MontanaRockMom]

Yes I agree! Tumbling rocks, and way you do it, is quite a process.

[@ttvfirefoxyt5904]

Beautiful! Can you do this same thing in a regular rock tumbler?

[@MontanaRockMom]

Yes, just takes longer

[@ttvfirefoxyt5904]

My bucket list is to hit the Yellowstone river this fall. Any recommendations on where I could go? I get so jealous watching all you guys walking those rocky beaches.

[@genevryfreeland2054]

One of the best

[@trouthawk]

Gorgeous!!

[@yonesdarabi6182]

Sehrschon stein gefällt mir sehr 💚

[@eliezersilvadesouza150]

Show 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Ken_G.]

Great timing with this. It came up about 20 seconds after I finished working on my 3 new to me tumblers. The 1.5e is going now and the 33b will be running tomorrow. That one is getting a full overhaul, new bearings, both shafts and belt. I'm even thinking of painting it now. The 3a is going to wait for a while. I was browsing vibratory tumblers a couple of days ago and was wondering about that Raytech, didn't realize you had one. How do you like it? Everyone else I watch has the Lot-O, so I haven't seen this one talked about at all. I notice you use more grit in that than in the Lot-O and do a coarse run instead of starting them off in a rotary. Is that just the method you prefer or is that specific to the Raytech? Very pretty stuff Kim, what is up with that one at 22:46? That is funky looking.

[@MontanaRockMom]

I like doing the course run if I run out of time with prep-work on my grinding wheel. Seems to work pretty well. I always had a hard time getting a high shine in my tumbler- until someone passed along this recipe to me. I use those amounts every single time- and get such a high shine. No extra grit sitting on the bottom and the rocks are covered pretty uniformly. This is the only vibratory tumbler I have ever owned- so I don't have anything to compare it to. The agate at 22:46 is so cool- it's one of the Montana tube agates I find. We seem to have a bunch of those.

[@TarnishedViking.]

Oh Sweet! I see dragons. 22:51

[@MontanaRockMom]

I love how everyone is seeing such amazing things 🐲🐉🥰💙💜💙❤🧡💛

[@socalrockhound]

I use the Ameritool as well. Do you leave the black plastic plate on when using the diamond disk? I was thinking about trying without but would need more washers cause the screws to long. Nice finds. I need to get you some CA stuff.

[@MontanaRockMom]

My diamond disk came attached/glued to the black plate....

[@lucineideferreira69]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@jamesblondeau1029]

Should have asked on my earlier comment but what brand of rock hammer do you recommend? And should it be high carbon content in the steel?

[@MontanaRockMom]

Estwing all the way!!! I have a link to the one I use in my description! 🥰😉

[@kaylancraig7485]

You make me rock crazy. Do you sell your rocks? I want some they are so beauitful.

[@MontanaRockMom]

I make myself rock crazy. I usually give away most of my stuff- Already given away everything from this video. I couldn't ever sell rocks because I'd never have an inventory!

[@bobs-rocks]

How do you like that vibratory tumbler, been looking at the same one?

[@MontanaRockMom]

Love it. ❤️

[@DigLifeCrisis]

I'd love to send ya some agatized coral pieces from Florida you could tumble 😀

[@MontanaRockMom]

That would be so cool! Email me [e-mail] and I'll send you stuff too!

[@DigLifeCrisis]

@@MontanaRockMom shooting you an email now 😀

[@patmccrady6063]

Where do you buy your grit? Nvm found it.

[@MontanaRockMom]

I love Fundamental Rockhound grit!

[@jaykirschenman]

I'm listening to this on speakers way too loud and at 17:45 I about ran around the house yelling, "WHO LET THE DOGS IN"?! Serious, I thought a dog was barking in my window at the cats.

[@MontanaRockMom]

Yep, welcome to my house. For some reason they don't listen when I tell them I am trying to film a video!

[@marievalle7470]

Do you sell any of your rocks?

[@MontanaRockMom]

I like to trade rocks : )

[@raystevens687]

Hi 👋 👋 👋 👋 Rock Mom anyway I thought your video was great unfortunately it won't help me I have the cheapo Harbor Freight 2 3lbs drum machine I did pickup on 1 of your clues about the componds on the color and that mud look. I'm getting that Consistency but my rocks don't turn out shiny the 1 2 runs is in there 10 days then the next 2 componds runs for about 15 days I've done this at least 2 different times. So now I'm trying it again but this time I've added some new rocks with the ones I already processed and adding 1 more table spone full of compond and hope this will work. Oh I meant to ask you on your Lapidar Machine I was wondering what company did you buy your machine from and approximately what could I buy 1 for. Hope you help me with the issues I'm having on tumbling my rocks. Thanks Ray

[@MontanaRockMom]

What kind of rocks are you tumbling? Make sure they all have the same hardness level in the batch. You can use a Dremel type hand tool with a diamond grit type accessory bit to get any imperfections out of the rocks before tumbling. Grinding flat wheels are usually a few hundred dollars, so that would be the more expensive route. It's so easy to contaminate your grit if you don't get the cracks or pits out. Sometimes I tumble the batch in just water after rinsing until the water is crystal clear. It's amazing how many times I will have to rinse and change the water till it is clear and I can go on to the next grit step.

[@raystevens687]

Well some of them look like jasper to me and some others reminds me of that red Agate they have down in Utah but it came out of the Owyhee down near the dam and some of it is white quarts with some brown color or orange in it and some look graite.

[@candienerger5216]

Ok how do I buy them all?

[@MontanaRockMom]

❤️💙💜

[@OnlyTheEd]

Your 'scraps' would look nice embedded in acrylic......like in a table top......or a counter top.

[@trptrungblogs]

❤️❤️💎💎👍

[@namepolicy5596]

Dont rinse rocks in sink silicon carbide residue will stick to your pipes

[@michaelstrauss6587]

I see the glory of the Lord hidden in those...foreshadows, glimpses of what He has prepared for those who love Him.

[@shellyfoster7319]

Boy you could sell alot of them as worry stones.

[@CockatoobirdmanBill]

Have you ever tryed lemon shine ( the stuff for your dish washer ) and Ivory bar soap ( you need to shave a little off the bar) in the last run I find it works great. Also I use a cheep sonic washer from harbor freight it will clean the grit off the stones in about 5 min.......Be well and be safe......