Rock polisher

[harvey lee]

Here's another non fishing question. From vacumm cleaners to polishers.

My granddaughter would like a rock polisher for her birthday. Do they work and how much money for one that does without breaking the bank?

[IFallsRon]

You can get a basic unit for about $20. They work but you have to be patient. It takes three weeks to a month to process a batch. If you do more than a couple batches, you'll have to get a new supply of polishing grit but they're not too expensive.

[blueroof]

Fun stuff - some of my best memories of my grandfather were hanging out in the basement playing with the rocks and polisher while he reloaded shotgun shells. You can find them pretty cheap at toy stores, bigger and more powerful ones cost about $80-100. The toy ones are great and will last a very long time, however you likely will not be able to polish bigger stuff. For $115 you can get a rotary tumbler that has three separate barrels for doing multiple batches.

LB

[harvey lee]

Will the more expensive ones polish the rocks which are small within a weeks period of time?

[traveler]

Harvey- Hey, at least rocks are outdoors! my wife had one of the smaller tumblers a few years ago, I think it had a 3 lb barrel. It lasted a couple years.Now she has a beast of a tumbler that must hold 4 times that, she bought it from a rockhound who built his from scratch. The tumbling cycle takes about 3 weeks, thru a couple coarseness of grits, and a polisher. I don't think the size of the tumbler will change the time it takes.

[Walterwontfalter]

If she likes to pick agates and is interested in it spend a little more and buy one of the 100 dollar ones. You can order them from Cabelas too. It does take 3 to 4 weeks to polish a batch but you will both be amazed at what comes out of that barrel from what you put in. Plus, picking agates with kids is one of the most fun things you can do for quality time.

[harvey lee]

I purchased one the other day for her birthday. She is 6 and for some reason is really into agates and other rocks.

[Slyster]

NEVER buy from walmart or hobby store etc... go to a good solid source.

I have a vibratory polisher.. see the bottom of the tumblers page.. they are amazing! FULL batch in just 5-7 days... they turn out better than any tumbler too.

Good luck

Give her a 5lbs of rough agates each bday!

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