The major cause of unsatisfactory results usually stem from hastiness and lack of cleanliness. Your unit is not functioning as it should be, please contact us directly at help@natgoetoy. Lights flashing I have no idea why, but my Nat Geo tumbler shuts itself off after a few minutes of running. We begin with a barrel that is about 1/2 to 2/3 full of tumbling rough, then add two level tablespoons of coarse grit (we use 60/90 grit silicon carbide) for each pound of rock. Some rock tumblers are fairly precise on how they are to be installed on the rollers/motor. This image shows a lid that is not completely seated in the barrel. This rock tumbler kit makes it fun and easy to turn rough rocks into beautifully polished gemstones, thanks to its simple operation and durable design. This one might seem really obvious, but youd be surprised how often a lack of power to the tumbler is actually the culprit. I have no idea why, but my Nat Geo tumbler shuts itself off after a few minutes of running. I set the days, turn it on, and then it will just stop suddenly with all seven of the lights flashing on and off. . The tumbler stops after 5 minutes and all lights are flashing on the front. Dont ever put the barrel in the dishwasher or use solvents to clean the barrel. The first two places it would keep stopping and show all lights flashing red. This can be a major problem, especially on large load tumblers which are full of water and rocks. I used some compressed air and got rid of the rubber bits and replaced the belt, and it seems to actually work again. Starter kits are especially interesting because tumbling is so customizable that whenever a kit gives more diverse options, it is usually a great pick. Weight is the most important factor. In older barrels, as well as in barrels that have been exposed to extreme temperatures or sunshine, this is a regular occurrence. Tiny pieces of grit that are too small to see can cause a leak. Tons of metal dust. Q: Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Thats exactly what this article is about. I bought the tumbler for my 7 year old but have had more fun than him. The barrels rubber may develop small fractures or deform over time due to exposure to heat, cold, or sunlight. We use a toothbrush to scrub the rim of the barrel and the outside edge of the lid. Keep the outside of the barrel clean by wiping it down with a soapy wet cloth and rinse with clean water. Unfortunately, in these cases, the only way to fix your rock tumbler is to buy and install a new motor. Check our rock tumbling library. An unchecked and unreplaced lid might lead to an unsightly mess, if the leak isnt noticed in time. Easy Instructions, Lortone 33B Rotary Rock Tumbler Reviews and Buying Guide, The Thumlers MP-1 Tumbling Kit Reviews | 2022, Tru-square Metal Products Heavy Duty Rotary Tumbler Review 2022, MJR Professional Rock Tumbler Reviews 10lb & 20lb, Lortone QT-6 Rock Tumbler Kit Review | 2022, The Thumlers A-R1 Rock Tumbler Review | 2022, National Geographic Hobby vs Professional Rock Tumbler | Reviews 2022, Discover with Dr. You will notice that they become easy to squeeze as they wear thin at this point it could be time to change rather than risk a spill. First, you must consider what types of rocks youll be polishing. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Rock Tumbler Grit - Rock Polishing Grit Media, Polish Up to 20 lbs. and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. If this is the case, youll need to purchase a new lid. How to Make a Rock Tumbler at Home ? December 2, 2021 0 votes Question: Can this tumbler work with pieces of glass? Wanted one of these for.as long as I knew they exsisted. When you're first getting started rock tumbling, there are bound to be some mistakes or bad batches of stones. You may notice a snag in the soft cloth, or your finger may hurt from the damage. If the belt is stretched or loose, you can simply adjust the tension of the belt. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rough Gemstones, 4 Polishing Grits, Jewellery Fastenings, Great STEM Science Kit for Geology Enthusiasts. The best plac. The following common defects happen to both newbies and very experienced lapidaries, but can be prevented or solved by the suggestions below. I had a different brand do the same, read the reviews with the Nat Geo, common 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. This set includes all the. 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. Do not ever overload your motor. (631) $109.99 FREE shipping. Jewelry enthusiasts will appreciate the inclusion of jewelry fasteners allowing them to use their gemstones in jewelry creations with minimal fuss. 2-year manufacturer warranty. . ). Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, We reinforced the inside of a tumbler barrel lid by GOOP-ing a thin circle of sheet rubber to the back of the lid. This premium tumbler comes with National Geographic's 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 1 year warranty. If youre in the market for new gear to support your rock-hunting hobby, check out our list of the best rock tumblers. 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. Reviewed in Australia on 6 January 2021. But mounting the motor and wiring are extremely easy. I think it might be something wrong with the wheels. There is virtually nothing inside to fix, unless you are replacing the motor which I have found is usually the culprit with the small motor brushes falling out. 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. 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. They may be under the rubber feet, I dont recall. Thankfully, they'll all miss. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thank you, I am having the stoppage with flashing lights issue as well. Press J to jump to the feed. There is nothing worse than placing a pristine new batch of rocks on a filthy dirty tumbler! thank you. This tumbler is leak-proof so you know everything will stay in place during use. The National Geographic Rock Tumbler Supplies pack includes all the rock tumbling accessories you need to dramatically improve your rock polishing results! Limited time deal. Great gift for an enthusiast of stuff from the ground. But why is your rock tumbler not working? 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. Rock tumbling barrels can and do wear through typically they get thinner and thinner (mostly with 80 grit) until they are thin enough to crack. Q: Did you have to send the machine back to get a replacement? Also, consider how quickly you want the tumbler to work. Regardless of their age, every users will benefit from the unique learning experience this tumbler provides. Just a heads up, the one they sent back to me broke, but it's worth a shot. It could be said that some manufacturers do not emphasize this enough in order that they can make sales on replacement parts, however all good quality machines should have lubrication instructions and these should definitely be adhered to. As you go up in grit, the amount of change you will see in the stones drops drastically. Answer: Theres nothing more frustrating than finally deciding to run a few batches of rocks through your trusty old rock tumbler. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. When gas pressure builds up in the barrel, water will seep out around the lids edges. Australian users will require a power adapter for the plug pack hence the 3 stars as you cannot use it straight away unless you happen to have an adapter handy. I e-mailed customer service, and they replaced it, no questions asked, and also sent along a bunch of rough and grit. The one-touch timer makes it easier to get the tumbling started faster so you can get maximum enjoyment, plus there's also an automatic shutoff for maximum convenience. The noise comes from the rocks tumbling, not the machine. what do you recommend? Not only is this tumblers barrel leak-proof, but it also produces less noise than many similar models by as much as 75%, a sure win if quiet operation matters to you. Said they would be happy to replace it. I got ours 2 weeks ago.. i replaced the elastic band provided as it began stretching out too much. Were you able to do it? Your rock tumbler will produce a slurry with every single batch you perform. Im going with the faster speed but not sure . The nat geo tumbler stinks. how did you contact their customer service? 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.) Check the manufacturer of your rock tumbler to find out what yours is. Hope it doesn't take too long! Like all tumblers, this model uses a process that replicates the ways that gemstones form in nature. Professional Quality Rock Tumbler by National Geographic MSRP: $119.99 . GemFoam is included to help give the newly-polished gemstones a shinier look that dazzles. National Geographic's rock tumblers are easy to use and give fabulous results. in Anthropology & Sociology and English Literature & Criticism. It started about 2 weeks into the polishing process. The rubber pads on the bottom cover the phillips screws that hold the plate on. The listing says a lot but not what's important. If it isnt 100% level, say only 99% then that is better than 80% as there will be less friction on the points of contact. 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. Four levels of grit and a pound of stones make an excellent starter batch for all ages and everyone will love seeing the results. (Image credit: Dan&Darci . This tumbler has a nine-day timer, allowing users to let it do its thing and polish the stones while they go about everyday life. Error posting question. This top-of-the-line rock tumbler from National Geographic includes . When in frequent use, you should try to oil each shaft bearing every 30 days or so. A rock tumbler is a necessary purchase for anyone who calls themselves a rock collector, whether youre a beginner or a lifelong geology enthusiast. Pay attention the rails if you do get a spillage, often the slurry will run along them and get into the bearings along with its grit this is devastating. I think it is a reasonable product. The safety features such as cut off it fingers are caught in the rollers are great, not that it is any concern as it is only the weight of the rocks. 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. Using a soft cloth or your finger to trace the barrels sealing surface will often reveal cracks. The heavy-duty tumbling machine features a built-in programmable timer and a 1-pound capacity rubber barrel to reduce noise. Rock tumblers will fail miserably if they are allowed to freeze, this does happen if it is situated in a garden shed or even a garage if the winter is cold enough. Interesting. If this happens and the motor sticks, a fire is the worse scenario. If youre noticing that the rock tumbler motor is cutting in and out, or will run for a short period of time and then stop, thats usually a sign that the motor is bad. Screws on the bottom. - YouTube Great way to start a rock collection!Learn about the exciting hobby of rock tumbling with National Geographic. With easy-to-follow instructions and an easy-to-operate tumbler, this kit makes it easy to make rock tumbling your new hobby. 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. The middle of the lid will become increasingly thinner as a result of this over time. I highly recommend it but be prepared to find your own rocks and grit after. Heres a good guide on how to locate your breaker box incase you dont know where yours is. I have only had the tumbler going for about 7 days. Lol no problem. Q: Be careful not to sand the lids edges too much. I am no expert, (on grit 3 of my 3rd set of stones now) but 2" might be pushing it. All you need is a small Phillips head screw driver. I just can't real seem to figure out HOW to get into it. A barrel full of rocks is turning, and this is the place at which the resulting friction is most concentrated. Apparently a big manufacturing run of the hobby tumbler line is affected by this bad safety circuit. 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. With all the features that make it easy to produce beautifully-polished stones, the National Geographic Professional Tumbler provides the power that you need. NG will give you a whole new kit if you call them. Haha. So thanks for the rec, u/saucepanicus - I'm going to check that out. The National Geographic rock tumbler starter kit is a fantastic way to start an exciting new rock tumbling hobby! If this happens, simply roughen up the outside of the barrel with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Yes, I got mine on Amazon and had to provide an order number. Each barrel holds up to three pounds of rocks, so youll get plenty done with one of these. That worked great For me, thank you! 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. Blistering. 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 . Rock tumbling is one of the most popular educational activities for all ages and this tumbler certainly helps spark interest. You want to occasionally open of the lid to the barrel in order to allow the gas to escape. Join National Geographic as we inspire future generations by showing them the wonders of the natural world. 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