National Geographic Starter Rock Tumbler Kit for Kids and Adults

This is a great product, however it is extremely hard to open and close the cylinder. My grandson could not open or close, nor could I. Actually, there war two men who could not get it closed. We had to ask someone who was much stronger and he struggled…. But it does a great job once you get it closed. I took it to my mechanic and had him open it for me the last two times….lol Probably just look at the draw.

Just got my hands on the national geographic starter rock tumbler kit and I'm absolutely stoked! this thing is a beast, turns rocks into sparkly crystals like a pro (or, like, a kid, lol). it's a bit loud, but hey, it's worth it - just toss it in the garage and let it do its magic. what i love most is that it comes with everything you need to get started - no extra purchases necessary! the leak-proof design is a total win, too. all in all, this thing is a solid 5 stars - perfect for the little geologists out there (or, you know, the slightly-bigger geologists like me)!

My second grade students became interested in rock tumbling this year after another student brought in their collection. Soon they started collecting rocks on the playground. I knew I had to capitalize on their excitement, so I found this kid friendly rock tumbler. First things first, it is AMAZING. It comes with everything you need, including cool rocks ready to tumble, although you’ll probably need to restock the grinding powders if you’re going to do multiple sets like we have. A few things to note: It is hard to open and close. Have someone strong on hand to do it, because I struggle to do it myself. It is LOUD. I mean, it’s rocks tumbling in a jar. Of course it’s loud. But find someplace to set it up near a plug because it’s going to be distracting otherwise. In the classroom, we stuffed it in a cabinet - still made noise but muffled it enough that we could still focus. At home, we did it on the back porch. I’m sure the neighbors could hear it on quiet nights, but oh well. As long as you muffle it, it’ll sound like a white noise. Last but not least, this process takes a lot of TIME! About a month from start to finish. Be patient. The good news is that aside from opening it, filling it, and plugging it in, there’s minimal upkeep. You just leave it alone and let the tumbler do its job. Opening it every week was the highlight of our week. The process is so cool even after just the first cycle. It’s so worth the time it takes. Don’t drain it in your sinks. The gunk will mess up your pipes. After the last cycle, the rocks won’t be fully polished. We bought some mineral oil and polished them ourselves for a nice sheen. Worth the additional extra few bucks. After school let out, I brought it home to do it again with my toddlers. They loved it just as much as the big kids. I would recommend this to any future geologist in the making!

Got as a gift for nephew age 8. He loves rocks and digging so naturally a rock tumbler was a go to gift. Needs some help from his dad to change the grit powder but regardless loves the final results of shiny rocks.

Amazing rock tumbler—turned rough stones into gorgeous polished gems! This tumbler is a total winner for beginners and hobbyists alike. It runs super quietly (barely noticeable even in the living room), stays cool during long cycles, and the barrel seals perfectly—no leaks or mess. I followed the standard 4-6 week process with the included grit/polish steps, and the results are stunning: dull, jagged rocks came out mirror-shiny and smooth. Easy to use and clean, the motor is strong and consistent—no stalling with a full load. Great build quality for the price—feels durable and reliable. My family loves checking the progress every week, and now we have a beautiful collection of tumbled stones for jewelry and display. If you’re into rockhounding or just want a fun, satisfying project, this is fantastic. Highly recommend!

Our first rock tumbler. at this time, I've only done the rocks that the set came with and used all the grit provided. I have to purchase more grit before I can do rocks that we have personally collected. I am waiting though. Why? Because this thing sounds like a rainstorm in my garage. Yes, I had to keep it in my garage because of the noise level. It is so loud. That is a bummer. Also, it's showing wear and tear already and I have literally ONLY done the rocks it came with. By the time I got to grit 2, I noticed bubbles in the inner liner. When I'd clean it out after a tumble, I'd push the nasty grit mud out of the bubbles and next time, there'd be another bubble in a different location. I've only had it 2-3 months, so I hope this is not indicative of the lifespan of the tumbler. Once that liner starts cracking or breaking, it will no longer function well. Hopefully, the bubbles will not escalate into anything else. Finally, the lid gets harder and harder to remove with time. The first two grits, I could remove it by hand. For grit 3, I had to get my strong teen son to do it...By grit 4, he had to use a jar opener and barely got it open. we try to clean it well between tumbles to ensure no gunky mud build up is present, but that made no difference in our ability to open the container. Pros: Great start up kit for the price, with several good items included; Seemed to accomplish it's purpose of prettying up the rocks. Cons. THE NOISE. IT IS LOUD. Wear and tear on kit after just a couple tumbles and increasing difficulty with opening lid. I won't buy this particular model again...but I would still recommend it to others for a first time tumbler. My kiddos love what it can do and loved the final product.

Fun for the family.

My granddaughter loved it. She has been using it for over a year

It's ok

Volevo qualcosa per lucidare le piccole pietre che raccolgo al mare e questo buratto lo fa ad un prezzo accessibile.

Très bien pour la verre.

De deksel gaat haast niet open, dus moest hij terug.

Todo un descubrimiento para mi hijo de 10 años, un fan de los minerales. Solo tengo una pregunta: dónde se puede conseguir más gravilla de los distintos tamaños que vienen en los sobres?