Tumble a Big rock in a Little Tumbler

Can you polish a big rock in a small tumbler? Yes, you can. I know people don't advise it but it can be done. I tried it and was very happy with the result This video is a how to on polishing big rocks.

[@upnorthadventureswithccc]

That sure was interesting to watch Tim. I was very curious all along the steps to see how the big puddingstone was doing. It sure made it look more natural and smoother. Like the results 😊

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

Hey, thanks. It was a fun project and I love the result. The belt started coming apart when the project was almost done. I don't think the big puddingstone was the problem or it would have started coming apart sooner. Thanks for watching.

[@susanobrien9788]

Great job tumbling! I like how the pudding stone turned out. Great find.

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@susanobrien9788 Thanks, I like it a whole bunch now than before. I appreciate you watching and commenting. Have a Happy New Year!

[@notwrkn2mch]

Just getting into tumbling and was happy to see you using tile spacers as i have plenty of those.... Living here in the Arizona Sonoran Desert I have some really great samples to try out. Your examples came out great

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

Thanks for watching and the comment. I like the spacers to a point. The small ones work well, but the big blue ones I have been using seem too buoyant so they separate from the rocks into a clump and the rocks are bouncing up against each other without any cushioning. My solution so far is to use more of them. I am still experimenting with them and may ditch the big ones in the future for other options. If you have used the tile spacers to actually lay tile be careful that they don't have grit embedded in them. We love the Sonoran Desert and have spent a lot of time exploring and hiking there. It is magical. Good luck with your polishing.

[@kengensjewelry]

I'm so used to seeing others, and myself, only taking rocks to smooth and glossy that seeing you tumble to preserve the stone's structure was very refreshing. I'd never really considered "half" tumbling a rock, but now you've inspired me to retry your experiment. Thanks for the video!

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

Thanks for watching and commenting. It is all fun isn't it?

[@mariemccann5895]

Good job. I will give it a go myself now...

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@mariemccann5895 good luck

[@millardwilliams9182]

Add some small aquarium rock to them for each tumble, along with the grit... They polish up very nice but also help keep structure and texture to your rocks... They cushion the tumble....

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@millardwilliams9182 thanks for a great idea.

[@HiwasseeRiver]

When I go fishing and I don't catch many fish I start collecting rocks. I have so many rocks now I'm starting to learn more about them. I haven't pulled the trigger on a tumbler yet, but you do inspire me.

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

I like the way you think. Fishing and hunting work well with rockhounding. Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[@mattgohlke8216]

I watched my wife empty her pockets full of rocks when we got back to the truck after hunting and I really busted her chops about it until I took some notice of how cool some of them actually were. Well, a year later we have tumblers going in our bedroom closet, master bathroom, garage, trim saws, grinders/accessories, drills with a LOT of diamond pads, watching KZbin videos, going on rockhounding trips.... we'll probably never have a freezer full of venison again 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️. A guy that is looking at the ground while he's hunting isnt gonna make a super great hunter lol!!!

[@marky2A]

I really like your style. My experience has been the same as yours in that one large stone is just fine with a variety of other stones. The place where I would differ is in adding the plastic pellets to take up space. I have such a volume of rocks to tumble that when I need to fill space I will fill it with other rocks that were left over from other batches. Keep it up my friend, Love your video and the cut of your jib!

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

Hey, thanks for the ultra cool comment. I think you are right with ditching the plastic spacers and using leftover rocks instead. It makes sense. I was thinking about getting some ceramic spacers but your idea is better.

[@Lomamacmama]

New do rockhounding and have been looking into lapidary equipment, tumblers, etc. I have a lot of petrified wood. Seems that I am losing all my rock! Would you explain what tumbling is good for? It seems a cab machine is better?... Not making fun, just don't understand....very sad when my tigers eye pretty much turned to chips and pieces.

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@Lomamacmama you have the right idea. I don't tumble anything I am not willing to lose because it is a gamble. Cabbing is better by far if you have the money for the equipment and the space for the machine.

[@kwpalms]

Great video! May I ask where you got the strainer you have for your bucket? Cool setup

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

Sure. It is a paint strainer so a store like Sherwin Williams may have one. They are also used sometimes to strain antifreeze for a vehicle, so you might find one in an auto parts store. It is great how it fits over a 5 gallon bucket. Thanks for watching.

[@ItchyGonadz-THC]

Where can you purchase one of those plastic bucket filter/sieve things?

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@ItchyGonadz-THC i got mine at an auto parts store. Some paint stores have them too. Thanks for watching.

[@MikeD.223]

Tim have you ever been told that you sound exactly like coach Nick Sabin ? Roll TIDE sir

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@MikeD.223 you are the first to tell me that. Very cool!

[@rickking8668]

I was thinking he sounds like Jeff goldblum

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@rickking8668 You are cracking me up.

[@TomsRockShop]

2 days was not a lot of time for stage 1

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

@@TomsRockShop right, I could have gone longer.

[@johnnynephrite6147]

WTH did you put other rocks in there? Thats the problem. Those others are too big and continuously break off pieces from the big one. Not sure why you still think borax does anything. It doesnt.

[@timtalksaboutrocks....most6644]

The other rocks served the purpose of providing the tumble action. I think you need rocks rubbing on other rocks to get the grit to work the best. If you don't like Borax, what do you suggest? Thanks for watching and for the comment. I feel like I am still learning wen it comes to the rock tumbler.

[@jimhutchison3435]

Other rocks create the friction. That's the whole idea of a tumbler. The borax thickens the slurry, making it more effective and then borax alone for 24 hours cleans the rocks better than regular soap.