Which Rock Tumbler Is Right For Me?

The suitable rock tumbler for you depends on its intended use. If the tumbler is meant as a gift for a child and you do not know if he or she will be interested in the hobby, we would suggest a cheaper, smaller tumbler like those made by National Geographic. These come with all of the rocks and grit you need to tumble a few small stones.

If you are a more serious hobbyist looking to process a large barrel of 15 pounds of rock at a time, and want a durable machine that can be used over a decade, we would look to models like the Thumler's Model B or the Lortone QT12. Both of these rock tumblers are built with high quality components and are made for extended, continuous use.

Generally speaking, the more expensive the tumblers are, the higher their capacity and the more durable the machine is for long term use. The two major brands of rock tumbler manufacturers are Lortone and Thumler. Both of these companies make their machines in America and have been doing so for many decades. Both produce a range of reliable products with capacities ranging from 3 pounds to 15 pounds.

Three Main Types of Rock Tumblers

TOY ROCK TUMBLERS

Do you know of a child who might be interested in rock tumbling but are not sure of his or her long term interest in the hobby?

We recommend the National Geographic Rock Tumbler Kit that also comes with a small amount of grit and rocks. This kit provides everything you need to produce tumbled stones. This is the cheapest and simplest way of getting into the hobby without having to worry about buying the tumbling materials and tumbling grit separately.

Keep in mind that at half a pound of barrel capacity, these small tumblers will only be able to fit and tumble polish small stones (including those that are included with the kit).

The Starter Rock Tumbler Kit below is one of the most cost-effective way to get into tumbling, while the more expensive tumbler kit below is slightly better built and comes with an automatic tumbler shutoff timer.  

HOBBYIST ROCK TUMBLERS

Two U.S. manufacturers, namely Lortone and Thumler, have been making hobbyist rock tumblers since the 1950s.

These machines have components that are primarily made of metal instead of plastic. The barrels are made from thick, industrial grade rubber. Being made of rubber has the benefit of being durable and quieter in its operation compared to the cheaper plastic barrels of typical toy tumblers. With higher quality motors, these tumblers are designed for constant, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week use. Even with constant usage, these tumblers can last several years before parts need to be replaced.

These machines are built to last, and you will find used versions of these machines that are decades old still being passed around and sold today. Little of the design has changed over time.

The most reliable machines in this category are made by Lortone and Thumler, two companies that have been making tumblers in the United States for decades.

Alternatively, you can purchase a Chicago Electric tumbler. While these machines are not made in America and are not known for the same level of reliability as the Lortone and Thumler tumblers, many users are quite satisfied with the product given the much cheaper price.

SERIOUS HOBBYIST ROCK TUMBLERS

Unlike the smaller versions made by Lortone and Thumler, these machines are built for continuous, 24/7 usage over multiple years.

Heavier duty motors means that these tumblers can last over a decade with proper care.

The most popular and well-made tumblers in this category are the Thumler's Model B, with a 15 lb barrel, and the Lortone QT12, with a 12 lb barrel. Having this size of a barrel means you can process a lot more material at once, and the larger barrels have the added benefit of being able to tumble stones faster (we estimate around 30% faster) than the smaller 3 lb barrels. However, you also need to have at least 10 lbs of material to tumble. The tumblers are a little bit louder than the hobbyist tumblers but still a bit quieter than your standard washing machine.

Now that you have your tumbler, all you need are the rough rocks and the grit!

Which Rock Tumbler Is Right For Me?

The suitable rock tumbler for you depends on its intended use. If the tumbler is meant as a gift for a child and you do not know if he or she will be interested in the hobby, we would suggest a cheaper, smaller tumbler like those made by National Geographic. These usually go for $50 to $70, and come with all of the rocks and grit you need to tumble a few small stones.

If you are a more serious hobbyist looking to process a large barrel of 15 pounds of rock at a time, and want a durable machine that can be used over a decade, we would look to models like the Thumler's Model B or the Lortone QT12. Both of these rock tumblers are built with high quality components and are made for extended, continuous use.

Generally speaking, the more expensive the tumblers are, the higher their capacity and the more durable the machine is for long term use. The two major brands of rock tumbler manufacturers are Lortone and Thumler. Both of these companies make their machines in America and have been doing so for many decades. Both produce a range of reliable products ranging from $80 to $200 with capacities ranging from 3 pounds to 15 pounds.

Three Main Types of Rock Tumblers

TOY ROCK TUMBLERS

Do you know of a child who might be interested in rock tumbling but are not sure of his or her long term interest in the hobby?

We recommend the National Geographic Rock Tumbler Kit that also comes with a small amount of grit and rocks. This kit provides everything you need to produce tumbled stones. This is the cheapest and simplest way of getting into the hobby without having to worry about buying the tumbling materials and tumbling grit separately.

Keep in mind that at half a pound of barrel capacity, these small tumblers will only be able to fit and tumble polish small stones (including those that are included with the kit).

The $50 tumbler kit below is one of the most cost-effective way to get into tumbling, while the more expensive $70 tumbler kit below is slightly better built and comes with an automatic tumbler shutoff timer.  

• Cheapest tumbler that is still reliable.

• Comes with everything you need to take a handful of rocks from rough to polished and is easy to use.

• Good for kids or beginners investigating an interest in the hobby

• 1 LB barrel can tumble about half to 2/3 a pound of rock at once.

HOBBYIST ROCK TUMBLERS

Two U.S. manufacturers, namely Lortone and Thumler, have been making hobbyist rock tumblers since the 1950s.

These machines have components that are primarily made of metal instead of plastic. The barrels are made from thick, industrial grade rubber. Being made of rubber has the benefit of being durable and quieter in its operation compared to the cheaper plastic barrels of lower quality tumblers. With higher quality motors, these tumblers are designed for constant, 24 hour a day, 7 days a week use. Even under constant usage, these tumblers can last several years before parts need to be replaced.

These machines are built to last, and you will find used versions of these machines that are decades old still being passed around and sold today. Little of the design has changed over time.

The most reliable machines in this category are made by Lortone and Thumler, two companies that have been making tumblers in the United States for decades. These tumblers typically cost around $100 to $160 for machines with 3 to 6 pounds of capacity.

Alternatively, you can purchase a Chicago Electric tumbler for around $50 to $90 for the 3 and 6 pound version, respectively. While these machines are not made in America and are not known for the same level of reliability as the Lortone and Thumler tumblers, many users are quite satisfied with the product given the much cheaper price.

• Very durable and reliable tumbler that can operate 24/7 for multiple years.

• Recommended for more serious hobbyists that know they will be tumbling multiple batches of rocks.

• Very easy to use. Equipment does not require any modifications and can be immediately used.

• Quiet operation due to rubber barrels and tumbler design.

• The Lortone 3A has a 3 LB barrel that can tumble 2 pounds of rocks at once, while the Lortone 33B has twice that capacity with two 3 pound barrels.

• Made in the USA.

• One year manufacturer's warranty.

SERIOUS HOBBYIST ROCK TUMBLERS

Unlike the smaller versions made by Lortone and Thumler, these machines are built for continuous, 24/7 usage over multiple years.

Heavier duty motors means that these tumblers can last over a decade with proper care.

The most popular and well-made tumblers in this category are the Thumler's Model B, with a 15 lb barrel, and the Lortone QT12, with a 12 lb barrel. Having this size of a barrel means you can process a lot more material at once, and the larger barrels have the added benefit of being able to tumble stones faster (we estimate around 30% faster) than the smaller 3 lb barrels. However, you also need to have at least 10 lbs of material to tumble. The tumblers are a little bit louder than the hobbyist tumblers but still a bit quieter than your standard washing machine.

• Very durable and reliable tumbler that can operate 24/7 for multiple years.

• Recommended for serious hobbyists that want to tumble at least 8 to 10 pounds of rock at a time.

• Easy to use, although larger barrels can be heavy and cumbersome.

• Can process rocks faster and utilize grit more efficiently than smaller hobbyist tumblers.

• One year manufacturer's warranty.

• Made in the USA.

Now that you have your tumbler, all you need are the rough rocks and the grit!