We cant stress enough how important this is. Unsure of the time remaining or speed? Maybe I lucked out? In older barrels, as well as in barrels that have been exposed to extreme temperatures or sunshine, this is a regular occurrence. The tumbler looks good and functions well.. the problem is that it is not designed to work for long enough. The best rock tumblers make your rocks look impeccable, bringing out their natural beauty. Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. Every rock tumbler has a rated weight capacity. This is essentially composed of the material which constitutes the rocks themselves. Those common issues are: First, take a close look at your rock tumbler and make sure that the inner lid and barrel shoulder or rim are clean and free from debris. Q: I didn't really get an answer, but they had great service and just sent me an updated one, I guess. A lot of fun looking for rocks. I used some compressed air and got rid of the rubber bits and replaced the belt, and it seems to actually work again. If the idea of tumbling multiple batches of rocks is exciting, then you wont go wrong by selecting this double-barrel tumbler from Leegol Electric. This premium tumbler comes with National Geographic's 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 1 year warranty. This can be a major problem, especially on large load tumblers which are full of water and rocks. The first step of the four-step tumbling process is to run the rocks in the tumbler with coarse grit. Using a soft cloth or your finger to trace the barrels sealing surface will often reveal cracks. Lol no problem. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. The motors on a rock tumbler do not like it too cold, or too warm and they certainly cannot be expected to last long in a damp environment which will lead to rust building on the internal components. I opened up one of my busted ones, and there was metal dust everywhere. The included booklet features a learning guide perfect for all ages, as well as instructions for set-up and use. This image shows a lid with what appears to be minor damage - but a closer look shows that it could easily cause a leak. If you want to tumble rocks of different sizes, all you need to do is switch out the density of the abrasive material used. The Rock Tumbler Starter Kit provides everything you need to get beautiful, shining stones. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rough Gemstones, 4 Polishing Grits, Jewellery Fastenings, Great STEM Science Kit for Geology Enthusiasts. Q: Have to unplug it to start again. This takes .3 Amps, so (watts = amps x volts) OR watts = .3 x 110 which equals33 watts. They sent me a new one immediately and it's been working great. They crack because the plastic is worn and a rock will hit in just the right place causing a crack/split to appear. Keep the outside of the barrel clean by wiping it down with a soapy wet cloth and rinse with clean water. Blistering. Wow, mine/the kids' Nat Geo rock tumbler is doing the exact same thing! and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. Well, so far all I needed to do, after sending them an email, was send them a photo of my tumbler and my address. A Great Spring Rock Hunt on My Favorite Lake Huron Beach Michigan Rocks 96K views 9 months ago DIY Rock Tumbler - Episode 1 - Building a Homemade Tumbler Not Handsome but Handy 25K views 2. The barrels rubber may develop small fractures or deform over time due to exposure to heat, cold, or sunlight. Rock tumbling is a fun activity for children of all ages and promotes an interest in geology and science. Hello,As with most any rock tumbler, it is not feasible to polish just one rock. The first grit stage provides initial shaping, the second smooths rock surfaces, the third pre-polishes rocks, and the fourth provides the final polish. A rock tumbler is a necessary purchase for anyone who calls themselves a rock collector, whether youre a beginner or a lifelong geology enthusiast. December 2, 2021 0 votes Question: Can this tumbler work with pieces of glass? Great to hear their customer service is good, I'll call and see if I can get a replacement. Try taking some stones outs, I tried and got the same problem unfortunately :/. By the time you become aware of the problem the slurry may have even dried and gone hard. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rough Gemstones, 4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rough Gemstones, 4 Polishing Grits, Jewellery Fastenings, Great STEM Science Kit for Geology Enthusiasts. This kit has everything you need including 1/2 pound of rough rocks, 4 bags of polishing grit, a strainer, and 5 jewelry settings. She was a about 9 at the time. Have a question? There have been a lot of problems with the model I got and I just wanted to peak under the hood to see if my rudimentary repair skills could fix it. Most people do each cycle for a week in rotary tumblers. I highly recommend building a box for it and filling lining the inside with foam to heap deaden the noise, then put it in a garage. If youre gonna keep at tumbling, consider a better one down the road. Edit: 6/13/22 after 6 months 2/3 replacement motors have burnt out as well. Looks like the motor ate itself. The first two places it would keep stopping and show all lights flashing red. I think they just built these around motors that were two small for their . This top-of-the-line rock tumbler from National Geographic includes . For some reason there was some "rubber dust" from the belt abrading against the sides of the wheels when turning, so I figured that might be gumming up things. If tightened too much, the edge of the lid will pry up off the rim of the barrel just enough that it doesnt seat well and will lead to leaking. http://imgur.com/gallery/6G9I85L. Q: Q: Answer: Having the exact same problem. ). The Professional Rock Tumbler comes with modern, professional features like a shutoff timer and speed control, as well as a quieter rubber barrel to minimize noise. The Rock Tumbler Starter Kit provides everything you need to get beautiful, shining stones. 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 . Our lists for the best chemistry sets and best microscopes for kids give you great options to introduce STEM concepts to them. Lol. saucepanicus 2 yr. ago The nat geo tumbler stinks. What is going on? Historical records in ancient Egypt and India tell stories of communities using tumbling systems to polish rocks used for jewelry making, decoration, and more each of which remains popular today. 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. What pound tumbler is this product? Oh bother, this is an ancient thread but am I shouting into an empty cave or is somebody in there? 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. Check to ensure that the drive belt is tight enough to turn the barrel without being too tight. I had the same problem. We use a reinforced lid when tumbling large pieces of angular rough that might cause excessive wear on the plastic lid. A barrel full of rocks is turning, and this is the place at which the resulting friction is most concentrated. I have only had the tumbler going for about 7 days. by National Geographic. RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. Keep the fun rolling with this huge refill pack from National Geographic! Introduce your kid to science the fun way! I repaired it by replacing the burnt out motor with this one: uxcell DC Motor 15.8V 2900RPM 0.09A 2 Wires Electric Motor Round Shaft for RC Boat Model DIY Hobby https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L11WY29/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NAHDG14FNRS8ZVXTV9JF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1. Did you have to send the machine back to get a replacement? It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness. Q: I e-mailed customer service, and they replaced it, no questions asked, and also sent along a bunch of rough and grit. 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 . She has written articles about products using gemstones for LinkedIn and posts about theimpact of artifacts like gems for her blog, AJ the Irish Lass' Ramblings. Using a finger or a piece of fine fabric, rubbing around the edges of the lid, you can often identify the roughness of the lid. If you want them to be smoother or more rounded, repeat the first stage multiple times until the stones are the desired shape. Make sure that your barrel is properly installed and aligned correctly on the rock tumbler. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L11WY29/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NAHDG14FNRS8ZVXTV9JF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1. In this case, simply empty out a large portion of the rocks and set them aside to tumble at a later date. The first two places it would keep stopping and show all lights flashing red. But mounting the motor and wiring are extremely easy. Remember take care of your rock tumbler and it will take care of you! Starter kits are especially interesting because tumbling is so customizable that whenever a kit gives more diverse options, it is usually a great pick. I see that the plastic wheels are just getting eaten away by friction. As photos show, there is stuff coming out of it, not sure whats happening. Home Rock Tumbling Library Leaking Rock Tumbler Barrel. Then make sure that the inner lid is correctly seated on the rim inside the barrel. Make sure it's completely clean outside and inside the rim. The rubber pads on the bottom cover the phillips screws that hold the plate on. The nat geo tumbler stinks. (Image credit: Dan&Darci . Overloading a rock tumbler is simply not a good idea. Like many other tumblers intended for hobbyists, this model features a relatively quiet operation, so theres no need to worry about homework or sleep time being disrupted! Compared to other rotary tumblers it's very quiet, which cannot be said for many other tumblers. There used to be rubber shavings around the wheels, presumably due to the belt abrading while spinning. There are two main differences:The Hobby Rock Tumbler has a rubber tumbling barrel with a. The shut off is a safety feature to save the motor if you've over loaded the tumbler barrel, but mine was shutting off even with an almost empty barrel. Complete subsequent steps with more additives. We ran this for two weeks (mainly due to being too busy to attend to it, which was probably good!) Press J to jump to the feed. Great gift for an enthusiast of stuff from the ground. This happened to me and NatGeo sent me an UhpGrayDDe (with two D's for a double dose of ex, Q: Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If this happens and the motor sticks, a fire is the worse scenario. The National Geographic Rock Tumbler Supplies pack includes all the rock tumbling accessories you need to dramatically improve your rock polishing results! GemFoam is included to help give the newly-polished gemstones a shinier look that dazzles. Select a location to see product availability, Customer Questions Dont use a wrench, pliers or any other tool to tighten the nut. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Includes Rough Gemstones, 4 Polishing Grits, Jewelry Fastenings, Learning Guide, Great Stem Science Kit. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. The listing says a lot but not what's important. I got a replacement, but I want to know if I can fix my broken one? I had a different brand do the same, read the reviews with the Nat Geo, common problem. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, BEST IN ITS CLASS. how did you contact their customer service? With easy-to-follow instructions and an easy-to-operate tumbler, this kit makes it easy to make rock tumbling your new hobby, Whats 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) each, 1 Rock Strainer, 5 Jewelry Settings, Learning Guide and Instructions. Rocktumblerreviews.com is a participant in theAmazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.com, co.uk, .ca etc.) I've not had any leaks with the NatGeo. Were you able to do it? If you need to polish more rock buy a larger machine. This generally means a periodic oiling of the plastic bearings on either side of the tumbler. Limited time deal. - YouTube Great way to start a rock collection!Learn about the exciting hobby of rock tumbling with National Geographic. Over time this rubber belt can stretch out and become loose, which ultimately results in a barrel that no longer turns. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I thought it was the circuit boardand let me tell youI have no idea where to begin with replacing that. Be careful not to sand the lids edges too much. This one is built to last and is used by professional rock tumblers around the world. The best bet it to press the sides of the tumblers each time you start to use them or are about to use them. Professional Quality Rock Tumbler by National Geographic MSRP: $119.99 . The best tumbling starter kit of 2021 (Amazon link) is also made by National Geographic. Spend 30 seconds on this and you will rarely have a leak. Once this happens the microscopic particles will set together and form a solid blockage and the only remedy will be to replace the pipework, you will very unlikely be able to remove it. Merth1983 1 yr. ago. A new barrel is the sole solution to this issue. I don't know but will be very grateful for a functioning tumbler. For example, if you want to polish larger batches of rocks at a time, a six or ten-pound capacity tumbler is a better option than a smaller one. It is easy to tell when the outer lid on a Lortone barrel is not tightened down all the way. An unchecked and unreplaced lid might lead to an unsightly mess, if the leak isnt noticed in time. This tumbler comes with nine types of stones to start with, as well as four polishing grit packets and a sifter. The one-touch timer makes it easier to get the tumbling started faster so you can get maximum enjoyment, plus theres also an automatic shutoff for maximum convenience. Finally, check the breakers in your breaker panel to make sure all of them are delivering power to the outlets. I dusted it off and it seems to work for now. 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. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Rock Tumbler Mega Refill Kit - 3lbs Gemstones of 9 Varieties Including Tiger's Eye, Amethyst & Quartz - 4 Grades of Grit, Jewelry Fastenings & Detailed Learning Guide Brand: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1,898 ratings | 11 answered questions -9% $3198 List Price: $34.99 FREE Returns Style: Gemstone Mix Gemstone Mix Madagascar Mix What wrong with it? The design is simple enough for even kids to use, but durable. Haha. There is a full-color learning guide included with the tumbler that thoroughly explains the process for all ages. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The machine will keep on turning and the spillage will consist of a rapid dripping through the crack until there is nothing remaining to escape and still it will carry on turning! As long as you own your tumbler, youll have to deal with that. Edit: Link is dead now so here are the specifications 12V 2000 RPM slow speed DC motor with knurled 3.17mm shaft. If you overload it, two problems can occur (at least). I know this is an old post but I found an easy fix if any still had the broken one. Reviewed in Australia on 30 August 2020. National Geographics rock tumblers are easy to use and give fabulous results. Your rock tumbler will produce a slurry with every single batch you perform. Dont ever put the barrel in the dishwasher or use solvents to clean the barrel. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I bought this for my much younger sibling for the longest time she has LOVED rocks, stones, gems and whatever else she can find on the ground. However, in addition to just making sure that the cord is plugged into the outlet, be sure to check all connections to any extension cords that you might be using. Press J to jump to the feed. If this happens, simply roughen up the outside of the barrel with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Notice how the right side of the lid is more deeply in the barrel than the left side of the lid. Jewelry enthusiasts will appreciate the inclusion of jewelry fasteners allowing them to use their gemstones in jewelry creations with minimal fuss. I got one for christmas last year and mine broke quickly. Wanted one of these for.as long as I knew they exsisted. How do I troubleshoot when the tumbler stops and all lights are flashing? What is the power consumption of this unit over a week of continuous use? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Reviewed in Australia on 2 September 2022. EDIT: I took some photos. . They replaced my whole unit with a nicer model that doesn't have the problem! 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. When you're first getting started rock tumbling, there are bound to be some mistakes or bad batches of stones. The middle of the lid will become increasingly thinner as a result of this over time. 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. 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