Home >> Science & Nature >> Rocks & Minerals

Rock Tumblers for Children

Rock collecting inspires a child to go outside and explore her natural surroundings. A rock tumbler is an essential tool for a young rock collector to finish and showcase her collection. Your child will create polished stones she can use in a variety of projects. Give your child a rock tumbler and watch her interest grow and expand.

Rotary Tumblers
- Motivate your child to collect more rocks.
  
  Rotary tumblers rotate rocks in a rubber or plastic barrel. Tumbling wears down the outer surface, creating a smooth and polished stone. Rotary tumblers are designed for larger stones that need to be shaped and polished.
Vibratory Tumblers
- Turn unfinished rocks into artful objects.
  
  Vibratory tumblers vibrate the stones in a bowl. Vibratory tumblers are ideal for smaller stones that only need polishing. A vibratory tumbler will not break and shape stones. You will need grit, tumbling media and polish for rotary and vibratory rock tumblers.
Rock Tumbler Kits for Children
- Don't leave your child with a plain bag of rocks.
  
  Rock tumbler kits for children are only available in the rotary style. The barrel is made of plastic. Most kits include rocks, grit and polish. Children's rock tumbler kits are ideal for a young novice rock collector.
Ideal Location for a Rock Tumbler
- Processing rocks takes time.
  
  You will also want to consider where the rock tumbler will be used in your home. Rotary rock tumblers can be noisy, depending on the barrel material. Plastics barrels are noisier than rubber barrels. A vibratory tumbler may need to be bolted to a table. A tumbler needs to run continuously for the rocks to be processed. Tumbling time for a rotary tumbler is about six weeks, compared to tree weeks for a vibratory tumbler.
Quality Rock Tumblers Are Expensive
- An expensive rock tumbler is more durable.
  
  Rock tumblers vary in quality and cost. Thoroughly consider your child and his needs before spending your money. A children's rock tumbler kit is an inexpensive way to introduce rock collecting. The rock tumblers designed for children are not intended for longterm use. You may want to consider an advanced rock tumbler if your child already has a strong interest and will be using the tumbler frequently.
Determining Which Rock Tumbler is Right for Your Child
- Rock collectors can tumble rocks anywhere.
  
  Examine your child's rock collection before purchasing costly equipment. Bigger stones will need to be processed in a rotary tumbler. Smaller stones should be processed in a vibratory tumbler. If your child has not started collecting yet, inspect the rocks she will have access to. You want to buy equipment suitable for your environment. You can purchase rocks if you want your child to experience rock tumbling and don't live in an area featuring a variety of rocks.

Rocks & Minerals