Choosing a Tumbler

Rotary Tumblers

Covington

Covington’s tumblers are designed for tumbling small to medium sized stones, gems, glass, jewelry castings, coins, bullet casings, and other small products. The Roll-N-Tumble Gem Tumblers feature solid LLDPE barrels with 2 raised ridges to promote the grinding process by causing the media to fold over on itself instead of sliding down the barrel’s side. These barrels are available in 3 sizes: 1-gallon, 1/2-gallon, and 1-quart.

Machines are available in sizes ranging from single barrel to triple barrel. Additional barrels are available for purchase and the larger units allow you to mix and match barrel sizes. For instance, a double gallon tumbler will accommodate 2 gallon barrels, 3 half-gallon barrels, several quart barrels, or a mixture thereof. You might like to have a barrel for each step of the grinding process that allows you to inspect your pieces and move them
on to the next step without eliminating all of the grit from the first process.

Covington’s Deluxe Tumbler is unique in that it provides a 3-way action that promotes the grinding process. Whereas the rolling tumblers only tumble in a single motion, the Deluxe Tumbler is hexagonal in shape and sits at a tilted incline. The barrel’s 6 sides and the incline of the barrel allow for a faster and more effective tumble.

Tumble-Bee

For an even more affordable choice for the beginner or those that have small tumbling needs, we have the Tumble-Bee 1 x 2 which gives you a 2 lb capacity, the 2 x 2 that gives you more versatility with two 2 lb barrels and the 1 x 4 that gives you a 4 lb capacity in a single barrel.

Vibrating Tumblers

A vibratory tumbler doesn't change the shape of the stone, it only smooths and polishes the surface. Vibrating tumblers are faster and use less grit, saving you both time and money on grit and electricity.

You can tumble cabochons in 3 to 4 days and agates take only 5 to 7 days. Brass shells for reloading are polished up in only a few hours. They do a great job of polishing slabs, cabs and Apache Tears.