The Stem Rock Professional Rock Tumbler Review

Looking for a cheap rock tumbler that does the job right and is easy to use for beginners? The Stem Rock Tumbler could be your best bet.

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Key Takeaways:

• Big barrelled rock tumbler great for first time rock polishing kits

• Comes with loads of quality extras such as rocks, grits, and ceramic beads

• Has three speed settings

• Has the option to run for a programmed number of days

• Won’t turn if the barrel is too heavy, preventing motor burnout

• Big barrel is kinda heavy and takes away from the volume of rocks you can polish

  
  

About the Stem Rock, Rock Polishing Tumbler

We bought this rock tumbler because it has really high ratings on Amazon and we were looking for a second piece of kit. We have a high output for Scottish tumblestones and we need the space!

We picked this up for about £60 on Amazon UK after some scrutiny. It looked sturdy, the barrel is spacious, and the rocks have plenty of turning space, and it has optional 3 speed and 9 day timer controls. It also promised to be quiet running – but don’t they all. We have yet to meet the truly silent tumbler.

After a few months of use our Stem rock tumbling kit is still going strong. We just used the ceramic beads for the first time so we will have to report back to you about those later. In the meantime, here is what we think of the Stem rock, rock tumbler kit as a rock tumbling tool for beginners.

Reviewing the Stem Rock, Rock Tumbler Kit

Overall, this is an effective rock polishing machine which can tumble your stones well. It has a barrel which offers 2.5lb of rock content, and which gives them plenty of room to move.

We would recommend this product for beginner rock tumble hobbyists but we would add that it is made for adults, even if the listing claims it is a toy. This is a heavier duty model than the kids’ hobby tumblers are. It also comes with loads of bits. So let’s start with what you get for that cool £60 GBP.

What’s in the Box?

The box contains:

·       3 spare belts for your motor

·       A 2.5lb rubber barrel with a large capacity

·       The rock tumbler itself

·       A medium-sized jar of ceramic beads

·       A bag of rocks to get started with

·       A small length of copper coloured jewellery wire

·       A small screwdriver

·       A small pair of pliers

·       A silver plated necklace (chain only)

·       A set of earring backs

·       A blank ring back

·       A gemstone cage on a keyring

·       A gemstone cage on a necklace

·       A book about how to rock tumble

What Rocks Come with the Stem Rock, Rock Tumbler?

There is a mix of different stones in the stem rock pro mix. We got red jasper which was more of a brick red than we find in Scotland, some lovely looking obsidian, a few chunks of green aventurine, three bits of dalmatian jasper, one piece of amethyst of a rich purple colour, and four pieces of a material we are not sure about but that appears metamorphic.

Plastic or Rubber Barrelled?

What’s better, then? A plastic or a rubber barrelled rock tumbler? Well it depends on your needs.

Plastic barrels tend to be louder but produce more friction since they provide a hard surface for the rocks to tumble against. Rubber barrels are softer and provide a more cushioned tumble.

On the other hand, rubber barrels tend to be larger, offering more space to turn as an alternative to that hard plastic.

We prefer a rubber barrel as our tumblers are indoors and these help control the noise.

The Stem rock pro rock tumbler uses a large-sized 2.5lb rubber barrel. This reduces noise while also giving the rocks plenty of space to turn.

How Noisy is this Beginners Rock Tumbler?

The Stem Rock Professional rock tumbler kit is comparable in noise to the National Geographic Hobby rock tumbler kit. We would say it is perhaps a little louder than the Nat Geo, which we put down to the extra space the rocks have to turn.

Can you Adjust the Speed Settings on the Stem Rock Tumbler?

Yes! The Stem rock tumbler allows for three separate speed settings. There is little reason to use the higher speeds.

Does this Rock Tumbler Have a Timer?

Yes! The Stemrock pro has a 9-day timer which allows you to set it and go on holiday, knowing it will be finished when you get back.

As an additional bonus extra this model has a pause option, so you can press the button on the front to pause it in it’s cycle instead of switching it off when you want some peace and quiet.

We put ours on pause through the night and start it again when we wake up. It’s not so much that it bothers us, we are just trying to remain good neighbours.

Instructions on tumbling

Is there Grit Left in the Barrel?

There was once. We either used too much cerium oxide or we left it sitting without spinning for long enough that it gathered in the bottom corner of the barrel. Pretty sure that one was user error though. Usually, the answer is no.

Recommended Grits for use with Stem Rock, Rock Tumbler

As usual, we like to recommend British companies if we can. We love when grit comes in a tub instead of a packet, so Shropshire Crystals grits are OK by us. We also hear good things about the Nat Geo Blue Marble grits, which would suit you better if you need larger volumes.

Aesthetics – How Does the Rock Polishing Machine Look?

We like that this is a bulky machine. It looks like it could handle a larger load than it can. If you put over 4.5 lb in the barrel the manufacturers warn that you might damage the motor. So it looks big and industrial but it has a hobbyist rock tumbler capacity.

If you want a rock tumbler that you can rely on to work steadily, then this is it. If you want something cute for your desk, buy something else. Polishing rocks gets messy. This machine can handle the mess and still look reasonably cool.

Compatibility with Other Tumblers and Rock Polishing Machines

The replacement belts are compatible with other models. The other parts that came with it are compatible with other models. The barrel is a little big to sit on the smaller Nat Geo models. The barrel does fit on our dual barrel rock tumbler.

So yes and no on compatibility.

Warranties

If you buy your Stem rock pro tumbler through this link, then you get a limited warranty for one year.

What We Didn’t Like

The barrel is really big but doesn’t hold as much as we thought it would. It still has a pretty impressive 2.5lb capacity though.

Do The Stone Circle Use the Stem Rock, Rock Tumbler?

We do, yes. We bought this one about four months ago at the time of writing. It has been going strong. It is in the cupboard with the dual and the pair of thme don’t make enough heat to cause an issue.

We put it in the cupboard and closed the door. It is quiet enough but we do turn it off at night.

How Much Does this Beginners Rock Tumbler Cost?

When we purchased the Stem rock it was £59.99 or thereabouts. For that price it has run consistently for four months now with daily use. We call that good value for money and a great rock tumbler for beginners who want to polish rocks in the UK.

Rating out of Five?

We like the Stem Rock professional enough to give it a 4/5 meteorite rating. Of course we measure in meteorites. They are bits of star which crashed… right?

Buy Your Stem Rock, Rock Tumbler Kit Here!

The Stone Circle Sells Scottish Rocks for Home Tumbling

You can check out our mix of rocks for rock tumbling at home while you are here, for your convenience of course! No shameless plug intended.

We sell:

• Rough Jasper from Scotland

• Scottish quartz to home tumble

• Agate mixtures

• A Lapidary Mix specifically aimed at rock polishers, made with Scottish rocks.

Rock Tumbler FAQs

While we have you here, let’s run over some of the FAQs we often receive regarding rock tumbling. Everything helps when you are just starting out and the Stemrock pro is an ideal first tumbler for beginners. Here are the answers to the usual questions.

Q) What is a Rock Tumbler Used For?

A) A rock tumbler is a device we use to take stones from rough to polished. Rock tumblers ‘tumble’ the rocks around and around in the same way as a washing machine works, but slower.

Q) Can You Put Any Stone in a Rock Tumbler?

A) Not all stones can be placed in the rock tumbler. Keep batches of rocks for tumbling to the same type of material for best results. Some rocks are too soft to tumble well, such as calcite or gypsum.

Q) Are Tumbled Rocks Worth Anything?

A) You can earn a few pounds for your tumbled rocks. They are worth more if they are gemmy and from specific locations. A rock with a location is worth more than a rock without one.

Q) What Do You Do With Rocks After You Polish Them?

A) You can put them around your home for decoration, use them as gifts, give them as wedding favours, put them in jewellery, make art with them, use them in your rockery, make a garden rockery, add them to the fishtank, carve runes into them, use them to scry with, give them to crystal healers, add them to your shrine, use them to channel the wrath of Cthulhu – whatever you like.