Anybody have a rock tumbler?

[Drew Riley]

I'm also thinking about trying stonewashed, but looking at options. So, say if the vibratory unit was running in your garage, would the neighbors actually be bothered by it? I too want to be respectfull of neighbors and am wondering just how noisy is noisy? Thx ...and I wonder if there would be a way to drape something over it or build a sound blocking box over it, or if that might make it overheat.

I wouldn't worry about the neighbors. I used to run mine overnight with the doors closed, and you really can barely hear it from inside the house or by the time you get to the end of the driveway. You could built a sound proofing box to help maintain your own sanity. Just leave some space around the sides for air flow. It won't cut the noise to zero, but it'll help.

 

[Daniel Macina]

I've seen a couple guys get really good results with a concrete mixer filled with some media, rocks, etc.... It'll take up a little bit more room than a benchtop tumbler (and require more media initially), but you'll have a much larger capacity.

I've been looking at this cheaper one from Amazon: cement mixer, which is the same price as the 18 lb tumbler from Harbor Freight.

I may just wait until one pops up on my local craigslist though, since I don't really do a lot of stone washing right now, and I've already got an 18 lb tumbler. If I had it to do all over though, I'd probably get the mixer.

now that is an idea! It would take a lot of media and would probably be louder than tarnation but it would be the ticket for big stuff like axes and that sort of thing!

 

[Bruce McLeish]

I'm also thinking about trying stonewashed, but looking at options. So, say if the vibratory unit was running in your garage, would the neighbors actually be bothered by it? I too want to be respectfull of neighbors and am wondering just how noisy is noisy? Thx ...and I wonder if there would be a way to drape something over it or build a sound blocking box over it, or if that might make it overheat.

You could build a box, cover the inside with that egg crate foam, and, voila....sound proof box.

 

[Drew Riley]

now that is an idea! It would take a lot of media and would probably be louder than tarnation but it would be the ticket for big stuff like axes and that sort of thing!

Honestly, I'm not sure it would be that much louder than your average vibratory tumbler. You could probably even cut down on a little bit of noise by making a lid to go over the opening. As for media, it would take a bit more to be sure, but it's not like you'd have to fill it to the top or anything.

 

[Gliden07]

If your worried about noise from a vibratory machine I would put it inside a decent sized cardboard box. It would isolate the feet and you could close the box top. The corigations would be the bulk of the sound deadener. It wouldnt be sound proof but I bet it would kill 50% of the noise. Then the garage and space would take care of the rest?? This is a guess at best I never had to worry about noise at my place?

 

[John Wilson]

I'm also thinking about trying stonewashed, but looking at options. So, say if the vibratory unit was running in your garage, would the neighbors actually be bothered by it? I too want to be respectfull of neighbors and am wondering just how noisy is noisy? Thx ...and I wonder if there would be a way to drape something over it or build a sound blocking box over it, or if that might make it overheat.

Nobody will hear it outside of your garage if the door is closed. I have heard that some people will wrap a blanket around the tumbler. I think if I was going to do it regularly I'd make a plywood box and line it with closed cell foam so that I wouldn't have to hear that racket inside my house.

 

[Bill Hubbell]

Nobody will hear it outside of your garage if the door is closed. I have heard that some people will wrap a blanket around the tumbler. I think if I was going to do it regularly I'd make a plywood box and line it with closed cell foam so that I wouldn't have to hear that racket inside my house.

Ok. I have a detached metal building with 6" insulated walls, so doesn't sound like the noise should be a deal breaker. Thx

 

[chrisstaniar]

I've seen a couple guys get really good results with a concrete mixer filled with some media, rocks, etc.... It'll take up a little bit more room than a benchtop tumbler (and require more media initially), but you'll have a much larger capacity.

I've been looking at this cheaper one from Amazon: cement mixer, which is the same price as the 18 lb tumbler from Harbor Freight.

I may just wait until one pops up on my local craigslist though, since I don't really do a lot of stone washing right now, and I've already got an 18 lb tumbler. If I had it to do all over though, I'd probably get the mixer.

I have that cement mixer!! hmm, now the gears are turning......

 

[Jon Buescher]

I put sand blasting sand in a vibratory tumbler one time, makes a nice matte finish, don’t have a pic of it at the moment, I’ll have to try that again.