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Thumler Tumbler: The Directions

Properly polishing rocks takes time and patience. Without following the steps correctly, your rocks will come out dull and cracked. Thumler offers quiet, high quality rotary tumblers. If you follow the steps, you will produce beautiful, flawlessly polished rocks without any hassle.

Things You'll Need

Grit packets
Dishwashing flakes

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the rock tumbler barrel. Fill the barrel two-thirds to three-fourths full of rocks. Rocks can be a combination of various sizes. Fill the barrel containing the rocks with water until the water is level with the rocks in the barrel. Add 4 tbsp. of first step grit to the barrel. First step grit will be labeled in a package. Close the barrel and return to the tumbler. Run the tumbler for five to seven days. Remove the barrel from the tumbler. Remove the rocks from the barrel and clean both the rocks and barrel thoroughly with warm water.
- 2
  Return the rocks to the barrel. Fill the barrel with water to rock level. Add 4 tbsp. of step two grit from the step two package of grit. Close the barrel and return to the tumbler. Turn the tumbler on and run for five to seven days.
- 3
  Remove the barrel from the tumbler after five to seven days. Remove the rocks and wash both the barrel and the rocks with warm water. Return the rocks to the barrel and fill with water until the water is level with the rocks. Add 6 tbsp. of step three grit from the step three packet. Close the barrel and return to the tumbler. Run for five to seven days.
- 4
  After five to seven days, remove the barrel from the tumbler. Remove the rocks from the tumbler. Clean the rocks and the barrel thoroughly with warm water. Return the rocks to the tumbler. Fill the barrel so water is level with the rocks. Add plastic pellets so the barrel looks three-quarters full instead of half full. Add 6 tbsp. of step four grit from the step four packet. Close the barrel and return to the tumbler. Turn the tumbler on and run for five to seven days.
- 5
  After the rocks tumble for five to seven days, remove the barrel from the tumbler. Wash the barrel as well as the rocks thoroughly. Return the rocks to the barrel and fill with water until the water is level with the rocks. Add 2 tbsp. of dish washing flakes to the barrel. Return the barrel to the tumbler and turn the on. Run the tumbler for two to four hours. Remove the rocks after two to four hours and wash thoroughly. Rinse the barrel out thoroughly.

Rocks & Minerals