How Does a Rock Tumbler Work?
What Does a Rock Tumbler Do? Rock tumblers mimic the natural forces of nature to wear down and polish stones until they are shiny. The most basic kind of rock tumbler is a rotary rock tumbler. It works by mimicking the natural action of a river. Rotary tumblers roll a rock over and over, in a similar fashion to the action of a river. By doing this, the sharp edges are gradually worn away, leaving smooth surfaces. Natural polishing of rocks, via rivers, oceans and other water sources, uses small pieces of rock, sand and dirt to wear down stones and make them smooth. How Does It Work? Most rock tumblers use silicon carbide grit to wear down stones. Silicon carbide grit is harder than sand, and as a result, rock tumblers are able to polish stones much faster than is possible using natural forces. In general, rock tumblers begin with a coarse grit to initiate the mechanical erosion necessary to polish a rock. After a period of time, the coarse grit is replaced with a finer silicon carbide
