I used to just collect rocks and put baby oil on them, but my 5yr daughter and I loved your rock tumbler videos so much that I bought my own tumbler for us 😂
Over the last 3 years of your channel, your content has remained educational, rewarding, and fun .... you're an amazing person and content creator.... keep up the great work 👍
@AgateAriel you're welcome, I just wish I found your channel sooner ... lots of watching left to do ... and I'm learning how to identify my agate collection while going
What a great tutorial! I've been tumbling for years and love it. You are definitely the "Queen of Rock Tumbling". I enjoy your attention to detail leading to perfectly tumbled gems. Thanks for sharing!
Well done Ariel. I highly recommend 'Highland Park Lapidary' for tumblers. Unlike the impressive 'Lortone', the Highland Park units have no belts to replace, they are direct drive. The motors are not warm/hot running 110V A/C. They are a stepped-down 24V D/C motor, which stay cool and can run 24/7 for a year and cost you very little in electricity. Another suggestion if I may; 1,200 aluminum oxide isn't much of a polish. You may get a much better finish by using no less than 8,000 to 14,000 aluminum oxide. For harder rocks like agates etc in the 1st stage, perhaps use a more aggressive grit like 45/70 or even 30 grit. If you can't afford a sonic vibrator to clean the rocks at the end, try tumbling with ground walnut shells after the polish grit stage. Just suggestions, hope it helps someone out there.
Oh I will have to look into that! I’m always looking for good quality tumblers! Also yes! I have been meaning to try a higher polishing stage I will have to do that soon!
Great video, Ariel! I’m definitely stealing that aquarium gravel idea. Do you still end up with that weird waxy stuff that washes off them? Also, if anyone owns a Nat Geo tumbler that spins too quickly, you can fix it by using a 12v dimmer switch that you can attach between the power cord and the tumbler. Then just adjust the speed until it takes 2 seconds to rotate (30rpm)!
My son got me the Nat Geo rock tumbler for Christmas. I went out to get the one from Harbor Freight. I have now a Christmas batch tumbling and one in the new machine. I am a newbie but gonna love my new hobby. Growing up around a gravel pit started my love of rocks.
@AgateAriel yeah we're paying over $2,000 a month rent so it really doesn't leave anything it's like great we paid the rent now we got a place to starve lol
I put my tumbler on a couple folded-in-half bathroom rugs(fuzzy top, rubbery bottom) inside a tall cooler. I keep mine in my craft studio. It's quieter than the washing machine, I dontbhear it all when the doors closed
@AgateAriel I think even a roll or two of thousand a mile an hour tape would have the same effect as it's just a foil with an asphalt backing killamat etc I'm trying to remember what the stuff on the role was called I think they use it to sealing around roofing and chimneys and stuff the peel the plastic off and it leaves the black asphalt stuff / aluminum behind behind but even a plastic container lined with that would probably work
My first tumbler was the National Geographic one. And was disappointed with the results. Got a new tumbler and grit still disappointed. Until I found this channel it’s been a huge help my rocks came out shiny. Now I just need to find rocks the downside is I live in salt lake and have no idea where to look for rocks.
For the softer stones (really any stones), you probably should go to aluminum oxide for stage 3 vs. silicon carbide. Also, 1200 grit aluminum oxide is really more like a "pre-polish". Go with something more like 8K grit for your polish, with possibly a run with the 1200 as a pre--polish. The Rockshed grit and polish is much better than what you are showing in your video. The quality of the grit and polish is very important, as you found out with the stuff that comes with NatGeo.
SUBSCRIBED!!!!! New rockhound here...Would that be a rockpup? Anyway, I used to be a jeweler so ultra sonics and tumblers aren't new to me but sniffing around for cool rocks is so here I am. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I'm looking forward to a lot of future content!
Just starting, and I find the NatGo tumbler works very well for stage i. It is faster than other tumblers and I am finding grit pretty much broken down after 3-4 days. You can do in 3 days what takes a week in other tumblers.
I recently discovered your channel, and as a fellow Minnesotan, it has been so much fun learning more about the rocks we have around! I spent most of my childhood focused on fossil hunting, but loved looking for agates in our gravel driveway when we lived up in Cloquet. Now I just need the weather to warm up so I can go rock-hounding with all the new skills I've picked up from your videos! I don't have a tumbler (yet...), but I wonder if the same kind of isolation pad that they make for subwoofers might help reduce the noise? 🤔
My boyfriend and I are looking to collect our own stones for engagement rings and I was wondering if you had any recommendations on where to start with that journey?
Great video, I bought the Harbor Freight tumbler for my grandson for christmas. I am a little confused though with the tablespoon and teaspoons ratios as they seem to be mixed up in the video to me. Could you please clarify, I would really appreciate that. Please and thank you very much. My grandson wants to be a geologist when he grows up and he watches your videos as well.
FYI If you live in America the rock shed is the place to buy. Very cheap prices. If you live in Canada this is not the place for us. The shipping is insainly expensive to get to any of the provinces Just thought I'd let people no who are Canadian and watching your TH-cam video✌️
I used to just collect rocks and put baby oil on them, but my 5yr daughter and I loved your rock tumbler videos so much that I bought my own tumbler for us 😂
That's so awesome! I hope you and your daughter have a blast with it!
She can't wait to see the first batch done. It's a test in patience for both of us. 😅
Over the last 3 years of your channel, your content has remained educational, rewarding, and fun .... you're an amazing person and content creator.... keep up the great work 👍
Thank you so much! It means a lot to me!
@AgateAriel you're welcome, I just wish I found your channel sooner ... lots of watching left to do ... and I'm learning how to identify my agate collection while going
What a great tutorial! I've been tumbling for years and love it. You are definitely the "Queen of Rock Tumbling". I enjoy your attention to detail leading to perfectly tumbled gems. Thanks for sharing!
Aw that means so much to me! You are too kind!
NEVER GONNA MISS A AGATE ARIEL UPLOAD!!!
Heck yeah! 😎
Well done Ariel. I highly recommend 'Highland Park Lapidary' for tumblers. Unlike the impressive 'Lortone', the Highland Park units have no belts to replace, they are direct drive. The motors are not warm/hot running 110V A/C. They are a stepped-down 24V D/C motor, which stay cool and can run 24/7 for a year and cost you very little in electricity. Another suggestion if I may; 1,200 aluminum oxide isn't much of a polish. You may get a much better finish by using no less than 8,000 to 14,000 aluminum oxide. For harder rocks like agates etc in the 1st stage, perhaps use a more aggressive grit like 45/70 or even 30 grit. If you can't afford a sonic vibrator to clean the rocks at the end, try tumbling with ground walnut shells after the polish grit stage. Just suggestions, hope it helps someone out there.
Oh I will have to look into that! I’m always looking for good quality tumblers!
Also yes! I have been meaning to try a higher polishing stage I will have to do that soon!
Your personality is as beautiful as the rocks you create. You should be on tv. Definitely getting the Harbor Fright tumbler this week. Thanks!
I am now a proud owner of my very first rock tumbler. So excited 🎉
That is awesome! I hope you love it!
niiccceee
Sameee😊
Great video, Ariel! I’m definitely stealing that aquarium gravel idea. Do you still end up with that weird waxy stuff that washes off them?
Also, if anyone owns a Nat Geo tumbler that spins too quickly, you can fix it by using a 12v dimmer switch that you can attach between the power cord and the tumbler. Then just adjust the speed until it takes 2 seconds to rotate (30rpm)!
Yes the weird waxy stuff just washes off!
Also great idea for the nat geo tumbler! I will have to try that!
Beautiful rocks add charm to life. Thanks Ariel.
My son got me the Nat Geo rock tumbler for Christmas. I went out to get the one from Harbor Freight. I have now a Christmas batch tumbling and one in the new machine. I am a newbie but gonna love my new hobby. Growing up around a gravel pit started my love of rocks.
I'm glad your back. Wonderful video on how to tumble rocks. Thank you! I missed the spund effects.😂 😷⚒️
This was fascinating!
Pretty Awesome video , Sounds like something I could spend time on , thank you for all the imformation
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just started my Tumbling journey just a couple months ago.... Am Soooo Glad I have you to follow!!! Love your channel!!! (And you) ❤❤
Thank you so much!
@@AgateAriel Kepp making the Great vids! You have the BEST Energy Ever!!! If I feel kinda low, I watch you and am smiling! Thank You!!!
Now I start also the tumbling 🙂Kind regards!!
That’s what I love about the hobby. I mean obsessed over😅
By the way... for PolyPlastics... I've learned that little lid cover under the lid is one tablespoon when level.
What that is so cool!
I love stones
Oh the green one was just beautiful ❤ I'm sorry but I wish I could afford to still be a patron , have you ever thought of a lower tier ?
I was actually thinking about that! I think I am going to lower the prices of the first tier!
@AgateAriel yeah we're paying over $2,000 a month rent so it really doesn't leave anything it's like great we paid the rent now we got a place to starve lol
I put my tumbler on a couple folded-in-half bathroom rugs(fuzzy top, rubbery bottom) inside a tall cooler. I keep mine in my craft studio. It's quieter than the washing machine, I dontbhear it all when the doors closed
We use sackorange brand of grit. They each come with their own table spoon.
I also have a snowflake obsidian.(little note for agate Ariel)I also collect crystals and rocks my favorite ones are geodes and amethyst
Make a ply wood cover and line the inside with dynamat or killamat sound deadening sheeting , it's sticks on and maybe a few holes for ventilation .
That is such a great idea! I'm going to have to try that out!
@AgateAriel I think even a roll or two of thousand a mile an hour tape would have the same effect as it's just a foil with an asphalt backing killamat etc I'm trying to remember what the stuff on the role was called I think they use it to sealing around roofing and chimneys and stuff the peel the plastic off and it leaves the black asphalt stuff / aluminum behind behind but even a plastic container lined with that would probably work
My first tumbler was the National Geographic one. And was disappointed with the results. Got a new tumbler and grit still disappointed. Until I found this channel it’s been a huge help my rocks came out shiny. Now I just need to find rocks the downside is I live in salt lake and have no idea where to look for rocks.
That is so frustrating! I know the feeling! I’m so glad I could help!
iv tumbble slabs like Picture jasper & agates & lava glass they always come out Cool👍
For the softer stones (really any stones), you probably should go to aluminum oxide for stage 3 vs. silicon carbide. Also, 1200 grit aluminum oxide is really more like a "pre-polish". Go with something more like 8K grit for your polish, with possibly a run with the 1200 as a pre--polish. The Rockshed grit and polish is much better than what you are showing in your video. The quality of the grit and polish is very important, as you found out with the stuff that comes with NatGeo.
Great tips! I just started posting tumbling content on tik tok for fun!
It takes to long, but I still do it. Lol
Your videos are great information. ✌️🇺🇸
SUBSCRIBED!!!!! New rockhound here...Would that be a rockpup? Anyway, I used to be a jeweler so ultra sonics and tumblers aren't new to me but sniffing around for cool rocks is so here I am. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I'm looking forward to a lot of future content!
Just starting, and I find the NatGo tumbler works very well for stage i. It is faster than other tumblers and I am finding grit pretty much broken down after 3-4 days. You can do in 3 days what takes a week in other tumblers.
I recently discovered your channel, and as a fellow Minnesotan, it has been so much fun learning more about the rocks we have around! I spent most of my childhood focused on fossil hunting, but loved looking for agates in our gravel driveway when we lived up in Cloquet. Now I just need the weather to warm up so I can go rock-hounding with all the new skills I've picked up from your videos!
I don't have a tumbler (yet...), but I wonder if the same kind of isolation pad that they make for subwoofers might help reduce the noise? 🤔
One way to cut down on the noise from a tumbler is to place it on a concrete floor instead of a table or workbench.
Oh that’s a good one!
I like to take my polished rejects back to the beach walk and leave them for the kids to find.
Oh I love that idea!!
@@AgateAriel Thank you! Have a beautiful Morning!
Rock tumbling ❤👍
Love this video! I seen that Temu is selling tumblers and grit, could you do a review on them compared to the high quality brand ones?
Yay!!!
Do you guys have good rockhounding spots in California?
(Also got an agate)
My boyfriend and I are looking to collect our own stones for engagement rings and I was wondering if you had any recommendations on where to start with that journey?
Great video, I bought the Harbor Freight tumbler for my grandson for christmas. I am a little confused though with the tablespoon and teaspoons ratios as they seem to be mixed up in the video to me. Could you please clarify, I would really appreciate that. Please and thank you very much. My grandson wants to be a geologist when he grows up and he watches your videos as well.
Yes! It is 1 tbsp per pound of rocks! I also have some steps in my video description that can help!
@@AgateAriel Thank you so so much.
"You can show them at parties that you don't get invited to " 😂
The bad thing for me, I live in an apartment. Quiet time is at 10pm. We can't make any loud sounds. I would have to turn my tumbler off close to 10pm.
wow and zamzam water
Very interesting channel 👍 🫡🫡💯💯
FYI
If you live in America the rock shed is the place to buy. Very cheap prices.
If you live in Canada this is not the place for us. The shipping is insainly expensive to get to any of the provinces
Just thought I'd let people no who are Canadian and watching your TH-cam video✌️
I would love see hematite rock tumbled❤
I don't have a tumbler/can't afford to do it. Can I just send you some to do it for me? 😂
Oh btw you're invited to my party!
i have my 2 tumblers in my bath under the sink Moles dont like it 🤣
Wht tumble rocks? Because hurling them at enemies is not legal.
I would invite you to any ov my parties
,