National Geographic Rock Tumbler Kit – Hobby Edition Includes Rough Gemstones, and 4 Polishing Grits, Great STEM Science Kit for Geology Enthusiasts, Rock Polisher for Kids and Adults

Are you wondering if it works well? It does!Any problems? None!Results? Incredible, I was truly shocked!Pros:Almost no assembly, at all.Extremely easy to understand the directions(Tumbling time will vary depending on the rocks. Don't let it scare you away when it says one phase should tumble for 6-8 days (I haven't had to tumble any that long! The longest has been 3 days). That being said, an extremely hard rock that's very jagged may need more time. Using the rocks they include, or your own collection of crystals/gemstones is a great route. A plain piece of gravel or a rock of that type is very hard and dense and may take more time (who wants polished gravel anyway though?)Extended project to do with children, lots of engagement. Because their are 4 different grit types with different purposes, the children get to return to their project, dump the rocks and check on the progress and start a new phase. It's a great opportunity to teach to teach about erosion, and show / explain what a rock looks like through millions of years of erosion and then further explain how incredible it is that we are doing this project together that mimics what nature does, we are polishing these rocks in a few weeks that takes millions of years to do in nature! It's a wonderful learning opportunity for children, as well as an extremely engaging project that although it may take quite some time for it to finish, the ongoing project itself is what makes it fun. Returning to the rocks and seeing the progress, (we actually started taking pictures each time we open it so then we can look back on the pictures and see how the rocks have changed!). I cannot say enough how great of a project this is for children to get them excited about science!Personally, I find this to be very satisfying regardless of children. This would be an extremely fun hobby for an adult as well, the above is not to say that this is a children only experience. Use or find or buy your own natural gemstones or softer rocks (look in River beds if you can!). Tumble them, polish them, and then make your jewelry or just save them to display. It's quite a satisfying feeling to see the project from beginning to end, and to know that the beautiful smooth shiny rocks were not store-bought, but that you did this with that with this machine!Cons:I've been through the tumbling process in full, twice now. I honestly cannot think of any cons at this point. It's not to say that no one has had issues, but the machine I received functions perfectly and I have had no issues with leaks or ill-fitting pieces, tearing of the belt or anything of this nature.I did take a very small amount of oil on my fingertip and lightly rub it on the belt to keep it lubricated, with the constant friction I could see how the belt can eventually wear down just like any other belt of this nature whether it's in a car or in a fan. So, keeping it very slightly lubricated will help with the health of the band. Should it break, the kid includes an extra belt and it is incredibly easy to repair, the belt is divisible and an outside piece of the equipment you simply take one off and put the other on there is no sophisticated way of connecting the belt, it is truly something my six-year-old could do with almost no instruction, so an adult will have zero issues with that!If you are interested in rock tumbling, or you just want a very fun project for your children to stimulate their interest in science or to just keep them busy using their imaginations (regarding the possibilities of what to do with the rocks, and imagining whether it will look like and the brilliant colors!) - then this is absolutely a perfect kit to start with.DO:Make sure to not put too many rocks. I've never filled mine more than one third of the way, and I wouldn't recommend doing more than that. The amount of rocks you can tumble at a time will vary depending on the size, but I also recommend not doing anything smaller than a dime because during the tumbling process it could crack and chip. I would also recommend not doing anything larger than a half dollar as well (height and width, and that'd be on the largest size). Remember, this is just the hobby edition. I do have to say though, the results are quite sophisticated for just a hobby edition!All in all, it's an excellent piece of equipment to buy if you're interested in rock tumbling but are unsure if you would stick to it or are not ready to spend a few hundred dollars on a professional Tumbler.** I did read a few comments about the machine leaking, I have not had this problem at any point. Make sure you are putting on the inner lid correctly, as well as the top lid, then turning the black lid securing piece as tightly as possible. If you do end up having problems, I highly recommend exchanging instead of giving up, because I really have seen that it works and I just want everyone who wants to try this to have the experience I've had!It's been great fun. Wonderful purchase, no regrets!

Actually got this to turn sea glass and it works great! I collect sea glass/beach glass and sometimes it has not been turned enough by the sand and waves. I bought this, hoping that it would work and I was pleasantly surprised.

This was purchased for my grandson as a Christmas gift. He liked the one I bought his cousin so he wanted one as well. He loves it. Now I find rocks here and there, save them for him to look up what they are and to polish them.

I purchased the National Geographic Rock Tumbler Kit as a Christmas gift for my dad, and it has been a fantastic introduction to the world of rock tumbling. Designed with beginners in mind, this kit comes complete with all the essentials—from a reliable tumbler to the necessary abrasives and polishing compounds. The clear, step-by-step instructions make it easy to follow, ensuring that even someone new to the hobby can get started quickly.My dad has thoroughly enjoyed the process, watching rough stones transform into polished gems over time. While the kit is excellent for getting started, advanced enthusiasts might eventually crave additional accessories or a larger capacity tumbler. Nonetheless, for anyone looking to explore rock tumbling as a hobby, this kit offers great value and a fun, educational experience.

Great tumbler for the money, I don't recommend running on carpet as the only air vent for the motor seems to be on the bottom.Comes with everything you need to get started,and if there are issues, customer service is amazing. A+

Great hobby for kids. Works great. Will produce a fair amount of noise.

Purchased as a gift for my dad! He loved it! Works amazing! Great for beginners!

Great little tumbler! Very easy to set up and use. The rocks in the pic were from round 1, after 5 days. They look shiny because they were wet. When they dry, they had a haze on them. They don't get polished to a shine until step 4.This set comes with everything you need to get started, including the grit and stones. The stones in the photo are a mix of ones I already had, and the ones that come with the set.The set comes with enough polish to do one full round and all 4 steps of tumbling. I have read reviews that say the Step 4 polish doesn't work well, so I went ahead and purchased a new set of grinding and polishing grit from another company. I have not tested that out yet.Just a warning that you need patience, as each step takes about a week.Plus, you'll need an outdoor location where it will be safe from rain. It is too loud to keep in the house! We have it in the garage and it's not bad in there, but very noticeable. You can even hear it a little bit in the house, when the house is quiet, as it is against the wall of the garage.This is my first experience with a rock tumbler, and I've wanted one since I was a kid! It's really neat so far, and I look forward to finding new stones to tumble.Technically I did get this for my son as a gift. He was very excited when he got it, and then again when the stones came out after the first round. Everything in between is not very exciting, lol.