#ROCK TUMBLING GRIT PROFESSIONAL#

In addition to tumblers of professional quality, there are also a few brands of tumblers that are referred to as 'toy' tumblers and are designed specifically with children in mind. Paint cans were originally used to construct tumbler barrels however, as time went on, more advanced materials such as rubber and plastic were used instead.Īlthough there were initially dozens of manufacturers competing in this market, only two-Lortone and Thumler's-were successful enough to rise to the top and become the most popular brands.īoth of these brands are still in business today, and they serve customers who are interested in rock collecting as a hobby as well as lapidary professionals. Tumblers were being mass-produced in the United States by the dozens by the time the 1960s rolled around. The practice of rock tumbling became very popular in a short amount of time. It was a method for transforming natural rocks that had not been cut into gemstones so that they could be used in the production of jewelry. This can be a very rewarding experience.ĭespite the fact that rocks have been thrown around by nature for millions of years, rock tumblers have only been commercially available since the 1950s. A rough piece of rock can be transformed into a beautiful stone that can be used to make jewelry through the process of tumbling. People who are interested in uncovering the innately beautiful qualities of rocks and minerals frequently participate in rock tumbling. For the purpose of making tumbled stones, they are a common and widely used tool among jewelry, craft, and lapidary enthusiasts. Machines known as rock tumblers are utilized in the process of smoothing and polishing rocks.

Even the most inexperienced rock hound can create beautiful polished stones and gems from a collection of rough rocks by using only a few basic materials and putting in some effort.Īt CMP Stonemason Supplies we have all you need. The hobby of polishing rocks can be very satisfying, but it is surprising to learn that a rock tumbler is not required in order to achieve the desired polished result. Polishing one stone after another is a labor of love for rockhounds because of the thrill they get from transforming a rough chunk of stone into a sparkling gem or rock.

Rock tumbling grit