Why did I not have one of these sooner!!

[Mila Jewellery]

I tried my "National Geographic Rock Tumbler" out today on a few pieces I made today and....WOW! Soooooo much shinyness! For a budget one, it's perfect!
Thanks for all the tips and info everyone offered me xx

[MuranoSilver]

Glad you're finding it useful. I've found if you put them onto thick rubber matting it cuts the noise down a bit
nic x

[Green Beetle]

Looks like a good find! How long did you tumble your pieces for and how much shot, barrelbrite? At £25 it seems worth a try.

[snow_imp]

So far all I've tumbled in my borrowed nat geo tumbler is steel shot - but it came out nicely clean.

'cos everything I make has beads as an integral part I'm afraid to tumble them as I don't understand the "has to be harder than steel" bit of what is safe to tumble and what isn't. Also, water isn't good for some things as I understand it so that adds to the "don't tumble" list.

I've just made a bracelet and earrings using amethyst beads - does anyone know if I can tumble them?

[Di Sandland]

Ann - Amethyst has a Mohs scale of 7 so theoretically they can be tumbled. However, I'm not sure I would risk it. George is around somewhere and I'm sure she'll be a little more helpful.

The theory is that you can tumble anything with a mohs scale of more than 5.5 to 6. If you don't have a 'gem bible' just type the gem (i.e. the name of the one you're looking for) + mohs scale into google

[mizgeorge]

I'd happily tumble amethyst beads, as long as they didn't have any really obvious cracks or chips.

I often use tumbling as a test of whether I think a piece is up to everyday wear and tear - if it doesn't survive 20 minutes in the tumbler, it certainly won't survive being worn for very long.

I do have exceptions to the hardness rule - stones like kyanite can be very friable, and some labradorites can look a bit 'crackly' and seem to lose lustre if they're tumbled for any length of time. You'll get a feel for what will and won't work before long though!

[lesley]

You'll get a feel for what will and won't work before long though!

You're so right.
I used to be quite nervous about what I could tumble but I'll give most things a go now, as long as they're hard enough and not too porous.

I've only had one failure with some lampwork beads but gemstone beads have all been fine.

[mizgeorge]

Did you tell the maker of the lampies Lesley? If they didn't stand up to tumbling, they may well not have been properly annealed.

[lesley]

It was a while ago, George, and I didn't. Everything else I've had from this person has been fine - and I mean REALLY fine - so I think it was a one off.

[snow_imp]

Thanks for all the replies - I'll get started on tumbling items.