Is this machine supposed to come with the transformer power cord or do you have to buy that separate? Reviewed in Australia on 26 December 2021. Weight is the most important factor. we have many rocks from "mining" gemstones that i would love to polish. The heavy-duty tumbling machine features a built-in programmable timer and a 1-pound capacity rubber barrel to reduce noise. I had the same problem. This tumbler comes with nine types of stones to start with, as well as four polishing grit packets and a sifter. If it isnt 100% level, say only 99% then that is better than 80% as there will be less friction on the points of contact. There are normally four 2 for the drive shaft and 2 for the rotating balancing shaft which turns by virtue of its contact with the heavy barrel. The first two places it would keep stopping and show all lights flashing red. Keep the outside of the barrel clean by wiping it down with a soapy wet cloth and rinse with clean water. Limited time deal. If youre in the market for new gear to support your rock-hunting hobby, check out our list of the best rock tumblers. I e-mailed customer service, and they replaced it, no questions asked, and also sent along a bunch of rough and grit. NASA warns of 3 skyscraper-sized asteroids headed toward Earth this week. We begin with a barrel that is about 1/2 to 2/3 full of tumbling rough, then add two level tablespoons of coarse grit (we use 60/90 grit silicon carbide) for each pound of rock. $5879$69.99. Hi silly question but Im having the same problem right now, what number would you recommend calling? My first one started blinking and stopped tumbling after three months. Home Rock Tumbling Library Leaking Rock Tumbler Barrel. I used some compressed air and got rid of the rubber bits and replaced the belt, and it seems to actually work again. 25,260. Spend 30 seconds on this and you will rarely have a leak. GingersMercantile. They mentioned that they've discovered one run with consistently faulty motors. This can be a major problem, especially on large load tumblers which are full of water and rocks. You need to increase the size of the hub on the pulley wheel (no idea if this is the correct jargon) to get it to fit properly on the motor. Too heavy perhaps? Perhaps everything starts out alright, but at some point during the tumbling process, things take a turn for the worse and your rock tumbler stops working. I emailed help@natgeotoys.com. You get used to the noise but it is noticeably quiet when it gets switched off after a month. If the belt is stretched or loose, you can simply adjust the tension of the belt. (in usa on 110v). Q: Haha. And as an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases after clicking on those links, at no additional cost to you. Both barrels feature a leak-proof design, reducing your chances of having a mess to cope with. Rock tumbling is a fun activity for children of all ages and promotes an interest in geology and science. It doe. AJ Demers is a Texas-based freelance writer currently pursuing a B.A. Over time, the lids of rotary tumblers will begin to fall apart which is just a normal part of being used over and over again. The tumbler stops after 5 minutes and all lights are flashing on the front. Most people do each cycle for a week in rotary tumblers. I got a replacement, but I want to know if I can fix my broken one? Whether youre a beginner or an experienced rock hound, these kits provide all the tools and materials you need, including an assortment of unpolished stones, tumbling grit, and ways to display your rocks as jewelry to show off their beauty. A barrel loaded with frozen ice will be unbalanced on the tumbler aswell putting stress on the motor as it has to lift the ice all the way up and over instead of having it slide along the bottom of the barrel as it rotates. This tumbler also comes with a strainer and a bag. That worked great For me, thank you! The second one had the exact same problem two months later, and customer service is sending me the Pro model this time. Reviewed in Australia on 30 August 2020. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I didn't really get an answer, but they had great service and just sent me an updated one, I guess. Were you able to do it? The LCD display will help you there. In this case, damage to the drive shaft and any rubber on it (depending on the design) will be incurred. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. You simply want to tighten that nut with your fingers (finger tighten). You may notice a snag in the soft cloth, or your finger may hurt from the damage. Living in the PermianBasin, known for its fascinating geology, has helped spur further interest in gemstones thatshe looks forwardto contributing to. December 2, 2021 0 votes Question: Can this tumbler work with pieces of glass? I have to say that they have great customer service. Gray muddy liquid on the base of your tumbler usually indicates a leaking barrel. A thin rubber belt connects the motor to the drive roller which in turn causes the barrel to spin. The National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Rock Polishing kit. When gas pressure builds up in the barrel, water will seep out around the lids edges. A rock tumbler is a necessary purchase for anyone who calls themselves a rock collector, whether youre a beginner or a lifelong geology enthusiast. Bought as a Christmas present for my grandson who is very interested in stones, minerals etc. Oh nice! Check our rock tumbling library. Cryptic lost Canaanite language decoded on 'Rosetta Stone'-like tablets, The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. I don't know but will be very grateful for a functioning tumbler. How to Make a Rock Tumbler at Home ? Looks like the motor ate itself. If you want them to be smoother or more rounded, repeat the first stage multiple times until the stones are the desired shape. Here are a few pointers to help you keep an eye on things as batches progress and new ones begin, this will hopefully keep your machine running longer and therefore providing more enjoyment over time you indulge in the hobby! Not for children under 3 yrs. Australian users will require a power adapter for the plug pack hence the 3 stars as you cannot use it straight away unless you happen to have an adapter handy. Check to see if the outlet are GFCI protected. How did you make yours work?? Reviewed in Australia on 6 January 2021. Hope this helps some one! To fix this issue, use an extra fine sandpaper to lightly sand the lid edges. The best rock tumblers make your rocks look impeccable, bringing out their natural beauty. Quality good, well explained. The Harbor Freight tumbler is quieter, but it's a slow tumble. Make sure it's completely clean outside and inside the rim. This rubber construction helps reduce the amount of noise when the tumbler is in operation, making it one of the quietest models and less likely to disturb the rest of your household. . Screws on the bottom. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. As photos show, there is stuff coming out of it, not sure . This one is built to last and is used by professional rock tumblers around the world. Over Tightened Nut Rock tumbling is one of the most popular educational activities for all ages and this tumbler certainly helps spark interest. Anyone of any age that wants to learn more about rocks and how they form will benefit from using a tumbler. When it comes to rock tumblers, there are a couple issues that are by far the most common. Unsure of the time remaining or speed? Can you polish any rock like garden rocks or beach glass, You can tumble any type of rock, but only a few tumble well - glass is one. Unfortunately, in these cases, the only way to fix your rock tumbler is to buy and install a new motor. Lol no problem. New York, If you are careful about straining rocks from the grit/water mix, you can . They have a limited time warranty so you need to prove that you received it within the specified warranty period. This occurs mostly with vibratory tumblers. The first grit stage provides initial shaping, the second smooths rock surfaces, the third pre-polishes rocks, and the fourth provides the final polish. Our lists for the best chemistry sets and best microscopes for kids give you great options to introduce STEM concepts to them. I took off the old belt and noticed that it had a worn-out flat spot running along one side of it, so I replaced it. The one-touch timer makes it easier to get the tumbling started faster so you can get maximum enjoyment, plus there's also an automatic shutoff for maximum convenience. I had a different brand do the same, read the reviews with the Nat Geo, common problem. There is a full-color learning guide included with the tumbler that thoroughly explains the process for all ages. by National Geographic. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness. As photos show, there is stuff coming out of it, not sure whats happening. thank you. This rock tumbler kit makes it fun and easy to turn rough rocks into beautifully polished gemstones, thanks to its simple operation and durable design. Other than that an excellent product. Various sized barrels are available and temptation is there if you get hold of one which is too large for your rock tumbler. Q: Of course if you are experimenting with new materials that in itself could cause problems, but you will quickly learn what works well and what doesn't so experimentation is never a bad thing. Then I push it again and it slows down. If you overload it, two problems can occur (at least). Amazon Customer This tumbler is leak-proof so you know everything will stay in place during use. Just a heads up, the one they sent back to me broke, but it's worth a shot. They may be under the rubber feet, I dont recall. This is one of the tips that we learned in Steve Hart's book, titled, The World's Largest Rock Tumbling Library, Save Time and Money with a Vibratory Tumbler. Be careful not to sand the lids edges too much. How long does it take to polish 1 rock? Overloading a rock tumbler is simply not a good idea. If so, make sure that the GFCI switch is turned on. This is a good starting point to consider. Press J to jump to the feed. Wear on the bushes is bad news and once it starts it just keeps getting worse eventually leading to a very uneven and sometimes bumpy ride for the tumbling stones. This rock tumbler is the same one that I use to polish all of my rocks, and I can't recommend it enough. What is the power consumption of this unit over a week of continuous use? If it ends up at either end of the drive rails, then depending on the angle of the slope, an amount of friction will occur between the edge and the barrel lid. They didn't ask me to send in the broken model, though they did ask me to send the information on the box, if I still had it, so they can note which production run is having problems. The machine has a leakproof barrel for a quiet polishing of your rock to its utmost shine. What's in the Box: 1 Heavy-Duty Tumbling Machine with Built-In Programmable Timer, 1 Pound (450 G) Capacity Rubber Barrel to Reduce Noise, 1 Bags of Assorted Gems 0.55 lb (250 g), 4 Bags of Polishing Grits 0.7 oz (20g . It's only been running for two weeks and now it does the same blinking! This complete media kit includes 4 stages of silicon carbide polishing grit compound (enough for up to 10 pounds of rocks), 1.5 pounds of ceramic media, 30 g GemFoam, 10 mL scoop, and easy . Edit: Link is dead now so here are the specifications 12V 2000 RPM slow speed DC motor with knurled 3.17mm shaft. We use a reinforced lid when tumbling large pieces of angular rough that might cause excessive wear on the plastic lid. A TUMBLER THAT'S MADE TO LAST - Our high-quality tumblers are made with a durable motor that's designed to last for years. . Merth1983 1 yr. ago. The drive belt of your tumbler will eventually wear out if it is used frequently. This kit has everything you need including 1/2 pound of rough rocks, 4 bags of polishing grit, a strainer, and 5 jewelry settings. I'm on #3. Q: Lets take a look at whats happening with your rock tumbler and figure out how to fix it. Whilst it will never be as hard as the original pieces, it will settle in the u-bend of the plumbing and water will be squeezed out as the sediment sinks. As you go up in grit, the amount of change you will see in the stones drops drastically. Did you have to send the machine back to get a replacement? Can I interrupt the tumbling cycle to only use during the night (to reduce noise)? This image shows a lid with what appears to be minor damage - but a closer look shows that it could easily cause a leak. National Geographic Intro Tumbler Ratings Rock Tumbler Starter Kit for Beginners. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. This happened to me and NatGeo sent me an UhpGrayDDe (with two D's for a double dose of ex, Q: I think it might be something wrong with the wheels. I am new to this hobby, but for the price, and if it keeps going.. Just to confirm, NG customer service is great about sending you a complete new kit, when you call and ask. Q: I dusted it off and it seems to work for now. The motors on rock tumblers are designed for prolonged use and generally does not need to be oiled. About Us Shipping Refunds International Mail Orders P.O.s Contact Us Privacy, Debris on sealing surfaces of the barrel or lid. . A stretched belt will typically still spin the roller bars as it normally would, but once you place the barrel on the roller bars and add some resistance, the roller bars will stop spinning. That should add enough grip for the rollers. Then make sure that the inner lid is correctly seated on the rim inside the barrel. Small rocks up to about a inch. Error posting question. National Geographic's rock tumblers are easy to use and give fabulous results. Professional Quality Rock Tumbler by National Geographic MSRP: $119.99 . If you slightly flex the barrel rim, you may be able to see the damage. In this case chip it off the tumbler and clean the area with a damp cloth. Have a question? 2 Year Electronics Protection Plan ($50-$74.99) - Allstate. With three speed settings, youre in full control. You will notice that they become easy to squeeze as they wear thin at this point it could be time to change rather than risk a spill. Good luck! If the belt is overtightened is a sure way to quickly stretch out the rubber belt as well as lead to bearing failure. Interesting. Did anybody who got a replacement for the nat Geo tumbler have to prove purchase? NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rough Gemstones, 4 Polishing Grits, Jewellery Fastenings, Great STEM Science Kit for Geology Enthusiasts. Adjust vibrating tumbler to a less severe setting. Be sure to wash the lid and the barrel before you put the barrel back together. Tons of metal dust. Some rock tumblers are fairly precise on how they are to be installed on the rollers/motor. I guess I'll find out in 5 to 6 weeks. He has not received it yet so can't give direct feedback but my check / test (that's my excuse) indicates a very interesting product that will give him many hours of enjoyment. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The most important place to clean a rotary tumbler barrel is the rim where the lid seats. 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