A barrel full of rocks is turning, and this is the place at which the resulting friction is most concentrated. Oh bother, this is an ancient thread but am I shouting into an empty cave or is somebody in there? I've not had any leaks with the NatGeo. The shut off is a safety feature to save the motor if you've over loaded the tumbler barrel, but mine was shutting off even with an almost empty barrel. Lets take a look at whats happening with your rock tumbler and figure out how to fix it. Perhaps everything starts out alright, but at some point during the tumbling process, things take a turn for the worse and your rock tumbler stops working. Australian users will require a power adapter for the plug pack hence the 3 stars as you cannot use it straight away unless you happen to have an adapter handy. This can be a major problem, especially on large load tumblers which are full of water and rocks. This happened to me and NatGeo sent me an UhpGrayDDe (with two D's for a double dose of ex, Q: If tightened too much, the edge of the lid will pry up off the rim of the barrel just enough that it doesnt seat well and will lead to leaking. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). They may be under the rubber feet, I dont recall. Limited time deal. But mounting the motor and wiring are extremely easy. The design is simple enough for even kids to use, but durable. However, in addition to just making sure that the cord is plugged into the outlet, be sure to check all connections to any extension cords that you might be using. Have a question? The one-touch timer makes it easier to get the tumbling started faster so you can get maximum enjoyment, plus there's also an automatic shutoff for maximum convenience. we have many rocks from "mining" gemstones that i would love to polish. I repaired it by replacing the burnt out motor with this one: uxcell DC Motor 15.8V 2900RPM 0.09A 2 Wires Electric Motor Round Shaft for RC Boat Model DIY Hobby https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L11WY29/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NAHDG14FNRS8ZVXTV9JF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1. Rather y. Four grit packets and half a pound of rocks come with the tumbler to provide users with a great start. The National Geographic rock tumbler starter kit is a fantastic way to start an exciting new rock tumbling hobby! http://imgur.com/gallery/6G9I85L. Wear on the bushes is bad news and once it starts it just keeps getting worse eventually leading to a very uneven and sometimes bumpy ride for the tumbling stones. This can drag on the motor, wearing it out faster, and cause wear and tear on the barrel lid and bearings. A Great Spring Rock Hunt on My Favorite Lake Huron Beach Michigan Rocks 96K views 9 months ago DIY Rock Tumbler - Episode 1 - Building a Homemade Tumbler Not Handsome but Handy 25K views 2. Q: Edit: I also took apart one of the hobby tumblers and it will fit them as well. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Wow, mine/the kids' Nat Geo rock tumbler is doing the exact same thing! Interesting. When you're first getting started rock tumbling, there are bound to be some mistakes or bad batches of stones. So thanks for the rec, u/saucepanicus - I'm going to check that out. Does anyone know how to take apart one of the nat geo hobby rock tumblers? Other than that an excellent product. The LCD display will help you there. Rocktumblerreviews.com is a participant in theAmazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.com, co.uk, .ca etc.) Nat geo tumbler keeps shutting itself off? Same problem. Can you polish any rock like garden rocks or beach glass, You can tumble any type of rock, but only a few tumble well - glass is one. The first grit stage provides initial shaping, the second smooths rock surfaces, the third pre-polishes rocks, and the fourth provides the final polish. Use a spirit level to ensure the rock tumbler itself is level from left to right in particular. Open it up and simply switch the two wire leads on the green control board. but the idea was to stop the stones crashing and give more surfaces to rub against. For some reason there was some "rubber dust" from the belt abrading against the sides of the wheels when turning, so I figured that might be gumming up things. Q: I highly recommend building a box for it and filling lining the inside with foam to heap deaden the noise, then put it in a garage. Im going with the faster speed but not sure . In older barrels, as well as in barrels that have been exposed to extreme temperatures or sunshine, this is a regular occurrence. Lol no problem. Check to ensure that the drive belt is tight enough to turn the barrel without being too tight. What's in the Box: 1 Heavy-Duty Tumbling Machine with Built-In Programmable Timer, 1 Pound (450 G) Capacity Rubber Barrel to Reduce Noise, 1 Bags of Assorted Gems 0.55 lb (250 g), 4 Bags of Polishing Grits 0.7 oz (20g . by National Geographic. The National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler kit is a fantastic way to transform rough rocks into extraordinary gemstones! This rubber construction helps reduce the amount of noise when the tumbler is in operation, making it one of the quietest models and less likely to disturb the rest of your household. Rock tumbling is a fun activity for children of all ages and promotes an interest in geology and science. . I am new to this hobby, but for the price, and if it keeps going.. Its good. Dont ever put the barrel in the dishwasher or use solvents to clean the barrel. The machine will keep on turning and the spillage will consist of a rapid dripping through the crack until there is nothing remaining to escape and still it will carry on turning! Our 4-stage bulk rock tumbling grit is high-quality silicon carbide, perfect for polishing the 3 pounds of Madagascar rocks in the kit. Professional Quality Rock Tumbler by National Geographic MSRP: $119.99 . What is the power consumption of this unit over a week of continuous use? As photos show, there is stuff coming out of it, not sure . Dont use a wrench, pliers or any other tool to tighten the nut. Remember take care of your rock tumbler and it will take care of you! I highly recommend it but be prepared to find your own rocks and grit after. Glad to hear it went well! To fix this issue, use an extra fine sandpaper to lightly sand the lid edges. . We begin with a barrel that is about 1/2 to 2/3 full of tumbling rough, then add two level tablespoons of coarse grit (we use 60/90 grit silicon carbide) for each pound of rock. Once this happens the microscopic particles will set together and form a solid blockage and the only remedy will be to replace the pipework, you will very unlikely be able to remove it. (631) $109.99 FREE shipping. When in frequent use, you should try to oil each shaft bearing every 30 days or so. I just can't real seem to figure out HOW to get into it. The first is the barrel will stall when you are not present because the motor becomes too tired to turn a load for which it is not rated. This generally means a periodic oiling of the plastic bearings on either side of the tumbler. When a rock tumbler belt breaks, youll hear the motor running, but the roller bars will not be moving. Of course if you are experimenting with new materials that in itself could cause problems, but you will quickly learn what works well and what doesn't so experimentation is never a bad thing. Q: This is essentially composed of the material which constitutes the rocks themselves. If you are careful about straining rocks from the grit/water mix, you can . and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Rock Tumbler Mega Refill Kit - 3lbs Gemstones of 9 Varieties Including Tiger's Eye, Amethyst & Quartz - 4 Grades of Grit, Jewelry Fastenings & Detailed Learning Guide Brand: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1,898 ratings | 11 answered questions -9% $3198 List Price: $34.99 FREE Returns Style: Gemstone Mix Gemstone Mix Madagascar Mix He has not received it yet so can't give direct feedback but my check / test (that's my excuse) indicates a very interesting product that will give him many hours of enjoyment. Here is a good guide on how to adjust a rock tumbler belt. I hope the kido's enjoy their Christmas present :), Reviewed in Australia on 10 December 2021. This takes .3 Amps, so (watts = amps x volts) OR watts = .3 x 110 which equals33 watts. Reviewed in Australia on 2 September 2022. BEST IN ITS CLASS. I have only had the tumbler going for about 7 days. Heres a few things you can do to ensure the best results from your rock tumbler. This is a good starting point to consider. You simply want to tighten that nut with your fingers (finger tighten). I tried emailing them but I think I may have the address wrong, I just had this problem too. I had a different brand do the same, read the reviews with the Nat Geo, common problem. RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The tumbler looks good and functions well.. the problem is that it is not designed to work for long enough. Wanted one of these for.as long as I knew they exsisted. I think it is a reasonable product. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rough Gemstones, 4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit - Rough Gemstones, 4 Polishing Grits, Jewellery Fastenings, Great STEM Science Kit for Geology Enthusiasts. What is going on? 2 Year Electronics Protection Plan ($50-$74.99) - Allstate. Merth1983 1 yr. ago. Taking Good Care of Your Rock Tumbler and Associated Equipment. Reviewed in Australia on 30 August 2020. With easy-to-follow instructions and an easy-to-operate tumbler, this kit makes it easy to make rock tumbling your new hobby, Whats in the Box: 1 Heavy-Duty Tumbling Machine with Built-In Programmable Timer, 1 Pound (450 G) Capacity Rubber Barrel to Reduce Noise, 1 Bags of Assorted Gems 0.55 lb (250 g), 4 Bags of Polishing Grits 0.7 oz (20g) each, 1 Rock Strainer, 5 Jewelry Settings, Learning Guide and Instructions. Not for children under 3 yrs. But how do you know which one is right for you? Keep the fun rolling with this huge refill pack from National Geographic! Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Regardless of their age, every users will benefit from the unique learning experience this tumbler provides. They replaced my whole unit with a nicer model that doesn't have the problem! Another thing which can happen is that the barrel will remain still, but the drive will spin rapidly beneath it and not catch and rotate it. All you need is a small Phillips head screw driver. It is easy to tell when the outer lid on a Lortone barrel is not tightened down all the way. Here are a few pointers to help you keep an eye on things as batches progress and new ones begin, this will hopefully keep your machine running longer and therefore providing more enjoyment over time you indulge in the hobby! I opened up one of my busted ones, and there was metal dust everywhere. Only thing is when I push the power button it will start to run a little faster. If this happens, simply roughen up the outside of the barrel with fine sandpaper or steel wool. This kit has everything you need including 1/2 pound of rough rocks, 4 bags of polishing grit, a strainer, and 5 jewelry settings. There is nothing worse than placing a pristine new batch of rocks on a filthy dirty tumbler! A vibrating rock polisher will have your rocks clean within ten days, while a rotary rock tumbler is regarded as the most common type and completes the polishing process within 45 days. The included booklet features a learning guide perfect for all ages, as well as instructions for set-up and use. Check to see if the outlet are GFCI protected. One of the things that distinguishes this tumbler apart from similar models is the leak-proof, rubber-construction barrel. Tiny pieces of grit that are too small to see can cause a leak. Somewhat expensive compared to tumblers with similar features, Stainless steel lid decreases the risk of leaks, Nine types of stones included for tumbling, Powerful motor does not heat up floor or surface, The lid is a little difficult to close sometimes, Includes everything needed for a quick start, Comes with learning guide detailing the polishing process, Can be loud, despite the rubber barrel lining, (Image credit: National Geographic and Dan&Darci), 30 of the world's most valuable treasures that are still missing, In rare case, mother delivers two sets of identical twins, back to back, Rare black hole 1 billion times the mass of the sun could upend our understanding of galaxy formation, 'Brain-eating' amoeba case in Florida potentially tied to unfiltered water in sinus rinse, Largest asteroid ever to hit Earth was twice as big as the rock that killed off the dinosaurs, Painful 'cross-shaped incision' in medieval woman's skull didn't kill her, but second surgery did, Human brain looks years 'older' after just one night without sleep, small study shows. 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