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lynnm
14-01-2010, 05:01 PM
just got to have one, know what I mean? Trouble is with having bought my torch I need something that isn't to expensive and I have no idea what size would be right... suggestions?
Petal
14-01-2010, 05:19 PM
Hi Lynnm,

There's quite a few bits of info on tumbers on here, but here's one link I've found that might be useful.

http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/jewellery-advice/1466-barrel-polishing.html

good luck

xx
lynnm
14-01-2010, 05:39 PM
thanks... I really want one, was hoping hubby would make me one as he is real good with 'stuff' but finding out what he needs to build one (and can I wait for him to get around to it!) is difficult lol
mizgeorge
14-01-2010, 05:53 PM
Someone here built one themselves (was it Dano?). I seem to recall that they said by the time they'd finished, they weren't sure it was worth the saving. But I may be remembering that wrong.
Fi Wilson
14-01-2010, 05:57 PM
There was a thread on here a couple of weeks ago about tumblers. Quite a few of us bought one of the National Geographic rock tumblers from Argos which were on offer for around £25 at the time. Think they're back up to full price (mine was when it was bought for me for Xmas) but I think it's only about £35/36.

Fi
lynnm
14-01-2010, 06:29 PM
Someone here built one themselves (was it Dano?). I seem to recall that they said by the time they'd finished, they weren't sure it was worth the saving. But I may be remembering that wrong.

remember reading that... I just think hubby can do it... whether it is worth it though...
AlexandraBuckle
15-01-2010, 10:35 AM
I got my National Geographic Rock tumbler in the post today :) Cant wait to try it out.

I bought it from Amazon in the end as Argos had sold out by the time I went to buy it - I think everyone from the forum had beaten me to the :P

I akso think one of you beat me to the one I was bidding for on ebay!
Kermit
15-01-2010, 12:11 PM
I got the National Geographic one from Argos.

I now need to sort out some shot....

I have looked at the stainless steel one here on cooksons, but at £71.50 its very very expensive. on Geological Tools and Fossil Equipment, Earth Science Books and Microscopy (http://www.ukge.co.uk) I have found some stainless steel mixed shot 650g for £15.95.

So why is the Cookies one so much more expensive? :(| Is it just far better quality?????
Rock Hard Fairy
15-01-2010, 12:40 PM
I use the one from Geological Tools and it does the job fine. Cooksons is for a kilo but that still is excessive.
kymbi
15-01-2010, 06:55 PM
Argos are doing the National Geographic tumbler for less than £20 at the moment as I bought one yesterday. I've been having trouble with my normal tumbler and thought this would be cheaper than getting a new rubber barrell.
elliboo
21-01-2010, 01:52 PM
I got the National Geographic one from Argos.

I now need to sort out some shot....

I have looked at the stainless steel one here on cooksons, but at £71.50 its very very expensive. on Geological Tools and Fossil Equipment, Earth Science Books and Microscopy (http://www.ukge.co.uk) I have found some stainless steel mixed shot 650g for £15.95.

So why is the Cookies one so much more expensive? :(| Is it just far better quality?????


Can't answer the question, but I did buy my stainless steel shot from UKGE and used it in my National Geographic tumbler yesterday. It's great to have a working tumbler - I had thought it would cost me a fortune, so had been putting off buying buying one. Glad I did now - thanks so much to everyone on here.
lynnm
21-01-2010, 03:02 PM
just reserved on of the National Geographic one....
lynnm
23-01-2010, 04:12 PM
I am really happy with my NG tumbler! It isn't quite as good as 'the real thing' but hey it cost me £20 and is better than nothing! All the reviews say how noisy it is to but mine isn't that bad, or maybe I am going deaf! lol
lorraineflee
23-01-2010, 06:54 PM
I bought a cheapish one and it seems to work fine. I had my dad's old tumbler but it finally gave up the ghost and decided to stop completely (we'd mended it umpteen times by that point).

Lorraine
Kermit
25-01-2010, 07:16 PM
Ok, so now I've got my tumbler and my shot and barrelbrite have arrived from UKGE........

Next question..... I can obviously tumble anything that is made of just silver, but what about anything else? Glass beads, crystals, semi precious stones.....

And can plated metals be tumbled?

Thank you!

Jane x
mizgeorge
25-01-2010, 08:09 PM
Anything over about 5.5 on the mohs scale is fine. So glass (though not coated and be careful with etched) is fine, so are crystals (again, not coated), stones as long as they're not porous, friable or below 5.5 hardness. Not pearls, turquoise, emeralds etc.

Don't know about plated metal (I never use it), but I would be cautious as any cut edges would be very vulnerable.
kymbi
25-01-2010, 09:57 PM
I am really happy with my NG tumbler! It isn't quite as good as 'the real thing' but hey it cost me £20 and is better than nothing! All the reviews say how noisy it is to but mine isn't that bad, or maybe I am going deaf! lol

Have you had any problems with the barrell rotating? Mine doesn't seem to rotate evenly when it's got shot in, unless I prop the front up a little to redistribute the weight onto the cog.
lynnm
26-01-2010, 03:32 AM
Have you had any problems with the barrell rotating? Mine doesn't seem to rotate evenly when it's got shot in, unless I prop the front up a little to redistribute the weight onto the cog.

No... it went fine, sorry
AlexandraBuckle
26-01-2010, 08:40 AM
I used my NG tumbler yesterday - I'm really pleased with it!

I did find that my wire pieces all went in separate and came out joined together - I guess its because they are all scroll shapes. It took me a little while to untangle everything. Anyone else have that problem? I can't really see a solution to it.

Kymbi, mine seemed to rotate ok. I used 500g of stainless steel shot and the barrel was about a third full as suggested.
lynnm
26-01-2010, 09:13 AM
No... it went fine, sorry

Just thought... you have put the barrel in the right way round haven't you?
kymbi
26-01-2010, 09:52 AM
Just thought... you have put the barrel in the right way round haven't you?

lol, yes I checked that, and it wouldn't have been the first time I've had a dafty moment - it can only go in one way. The tumbler did rotate but kept stopping and starting and seemed to be straining until I propped it up a bit.
amazingbabe
26-01-2010, 10:53 AM
lol, yes I checked that, and it wouldn't have been the first time I've had a dafty moment - it can only go in one way. The tumbler did rotate but kept stopping and starting and seemed to be straining until I propped it up a bit.


I too have to do this with mine ha ha ,,,, whatever works eh !!!:Y: