Wednesday, 5. August 2009
by Richard Rockman
You have decided to start something new and different for a distraction from the daily grind. The problem is that you are not sure where to begin. This should help you at least with the basics of the rock tumbling supplies you need first.
You need a tumbling machine. It rotates the barrels that we will discuss later. They come in all different sizes, so be sure to do a little research before purchasing your first one.
Next, you need the items called barrels. These are actually what you put the rocks into for the tumbling process. Since they are most often made of plastic and have to be used to tumble rocks over and over, they will need to be replaced more often than the tumblers.
You should get a barrel set of four. Since you need a fresh one for every step and there are four steps, it just makes sense.
The next item you need is grit. Actually, you need silicon carbide abrasive grit. Beginners usually need three different sizes of it. You can go to a hardware store, if you do not have a local rock/mineral store. Read more... (412 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Richard Rockman -
Monday, 27. July 2009
by Richard Rockman
You have decided to start something new and different for a distraction from the daily grind. The problem is that you are not sure where to begin. This should help you at least with the basics of the rock tumbling supplies you need first.
A tumbling machine is your very first step. This is essential for the rotation of the actual tumbling process. Since different sizes are available, do some checking into which one is appropriate for you.
Barrels are the very essence of rock tumbling. They hold the rocks while in the tumbling machine. They will only last about a year with heavy use. They are mainly made using plastic, so getting beat up by rocks can wear them down fairly quickly.
Buy four barrels to start with. There are four basic steps in rock tumbling and you need a barrel for each one.
Your next ingredient comes in three sizes and you need a lot of it. What is it? Grit, that’s what it is. You must get silicon abrasive grit. You can find it at mineral/rock or hardware stores. Read more... (404 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Richard Rockman -
Monday, 27. July 2009
by Richard Rockman
The following Rock tumbler instructions will give you a general idea of what you need to do in order to create flawless shiny stones that you can then utilize to create beautiful intricate art pieces. The most popular rock tumbler is referred to as the rotary drum. This particular drum polishes rocks better then any other tumbler on the market today.
The process by which the machine polishes does take a prolonged period of time. You should expect the process to last about a month. It would behoove you to keep records of the process and how long the machine takes to polish one batch of rocks this way you get an estimate of how long it will take you to complete your craft.
Before you get started you will need a few pertinent materials. You will need a rotary tumbler, rocks, and a package of plastic pellets, silicone carbide coarse and fine grits, polishing compounds, and some water. The rock tumbler instructions are pretty much to the point, so you should have no problem adhering to what needs to be done. Read more... (491 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Richard Rockman -
Sunday, 26. July 2009
by Richard Rockman
If you are interested in creating beautiful stones, you need to follow all of the rock tumbler instructions. Currently the most popular machine is the rotary drum. This drum has allowed people to produce amazing looking rocks that they can utilize to create crafts that are simply stunning in appearance.
You need to expect the overall process of the rock tumbler machines to take at least one month to successfully complete. You should keep constant records that state the quantity of rocks that you have utilized the machine on as well as how long each step took to complete.
You will need to have a few basic materials handy before you begin utilizing your machine. You will of course need the machine, some rocks, silicone carbide coarse and fine grits, a decent amount of water, some plastic pellets, and a polishing compound. The instructions on how to utilize your machine are actually pretty self explanatory and you should follow them verbatim.
1. You need to gather up your rocks and fill your machine about 2/3 or 3/4 full with rocks. If you are not going to be utilizing that many rocks or you do not have an adequate amount on hand, you can utilize the plastic pellets to fill in. Read more... (501 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Richard Rockman -
Tuesday, 14. July 2009
by Richard Rockman
In order to get the perfect results from tumbling your rocks, you will need a really good tumbler machine. The Lortone Rock Tumbler is just what you need to get the job done.
Lortone makes a number of models and sizes. Size does matter when it comes to your tumbler as it can make a difference in the results that you get.
Different needs require different models of the Lortone rock tumbler. For instance, if you are a beginner you will most likely do better with the smaller model. You will have the polished gem rocks you desire while saving on the amount of polish and grit that it takes to achieve your desired result.
When your need is for the larger stones or for a larger amount of stones, then there is a medium or mid-sized tumbler that might be your better choice. The rule of thumb is, the larger the machine is the larger the quantity of rocks needed for the machine to perform at its best. If you are doing a commercial run, there is a production type machine available to meet your needs. Read more... (420 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Richard Rockman -
