Which Rock Tumbler to Buy (USA Version): National Geographic/Blue Marble Rock Tumblers
- Katriona MacMillan
- Dec 20, 2025
- 6 min read
The Stone Circle’s USA audience don’t have to miss out on our recommendations of what to look for in a rock tumbler. This article explores which rock tumbler you should consider buying if you live in the USA or Canada.
<This article contains links to Amazon.com products because a girl’s gotta eat…>
We already covered which rock tumblers we bought/have tried/currently use here in Scotland, but rock tumbling is a worldwide hobby, and a lot of the advice is universal. Plus, some of the models we have already used are available on amazon.com, which seems like a good enough crossover to warrant a blog post into the world of National Geographic rock tumbling kits.
Whether you are a rock tumbling newbie or an old hand at this, we will give you upfront information and honest, experience-based advice on what to look for when shopping for your next rock tumbling kit.
This might be a long ‘un. You can use the table of contents below to skip to the relevant section which you are looking for.
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About the National Geographic Rock Tumbler Range
If you are a fan of the page, then you will know that we are avid fans of the Nat Geo rock tumblers. Our first tumbler was their hobby rock tumbler and honestly, we didn’t know how good we had it until we started buying cheaper models and trying them.
In general, National Geographic rock tumblers are quieter than your average tumbler. The rubber barrel means they are comparatively less noisy than any rock tumbler model which has a plastic barrel.
Another generic feature is that these rock tumblers spin slightly faster than other models. Some people believe that this extra 10-20 rpm makes the tumbler less effective, but we have not done a direct one-on-one comparison yet to certify that for ourselves.
Nat Geo tumblers tend to have timer controls allowing you to program how many days you want the tumbler to run for. This is ideal for anyone who has ever left the rock tumbler to polish rocks on stage one for so long that they are tiny when you check the barrel… we all make mistakes.
There is one more thing that makes National Geographic our favorite brand and that is their customer service. If you overload your tumbler (you should always weigh the barrel before you put it on) or if you wear out the motor through heavy use, National Geographic will replace the whole thing – if it is within the warranty period. Typically, we have found on UK models that this period is between one and two years.
Top Tip for National Geographic Rock Tumblers: If you can get an extended warranty plan, do. This guarantees they will replace it if anything goes wrong. It is a stellar reason for shopping for your new rock tumbler from the National Geographic range.
National Geographic Rock Tumblers We Recommend
So, which one should you buy? That depends on what you need it for. Here are the details.
The National Geographic Starter Tumbler Kit (Aimed at Kids)
If you can get your children into STEM toys early, then they will have a bright future. A rock tumbler teaches patience, transformation, an awe for planet earth and a healthy respect for nature. Plus, at the end of it they get their very own treasure!
This kit is hard wearing, comes with extras like a kit to make a necklace, ring, and earring, and has everything you need to start tumbling rocks immediately. It is designed for kids, so it is brightly colored, durable, and leak proof. You will probably want to put this one in the garage or in a cupboard as it is probably the noisiest of the bunch.
The National Geographic Rock Tumbler Kit – Hobby Edition
With 4.5/5 stars it is not just team TSC who thinks this is a great rock tumbler. It doesn’t just come with the tumbler; you get a whole set of bits in the box. Including an instruction manual, enough grit to start you through your entire first cycle, enough rocks to fill your barrel at least twice, and jewelry findings such as a necklace and keyring. You also get a tiny sieve.
The rock mix which comes with the hobby rock tumbler includes Dalmatian Jasper, Tiger’s Eye, Sodalite, Red and Black Jasper, Rose Quartz, Aventurine, Agate, and Amethyst. This is the same mix of nine types of rock that they include in the rock tumbler refill kits that they sell.
At the time of writing the Nat Geo hobby rock tumbler was on sale with 26% off. Buy it in the January sales and you could save a packet. It is already very reasonably priced for what you get.
Unsurprisingly, we recommend this rock tumbler for hobbyists, beginners, and lapidary artists. It is great all round
This item also comes with potential upgrades. Buy the Hobby Rock Tumbler with Extra Rocks here or buy the Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit with Gem foam included.
The National Geographic Professional Rock Tumbler
With 4.4 out of five stars, this machine is one of the better rock tumblers available in the USA through Amazon.com. It comes with all the optional extras that the other machines do, including the gem foam and enough rocks to start off with. It has jeweler findings, strainers, and grits.
The barrel is a leak proof, durable rubber 2LB capacity barrel. The kit comes with 1LB of rocks. The barrel has been redesigned for anti-leakage and quietness. The professional rock tumbler is hard-warning and more durable than the other model hobby rock tumbler.
Basically, you pay a little more for this model to make sure that it takes up the distance. The hobby rock tumbler will suit you to begin with, but this is the National Geographic rock tumbler that you want to progress on to once the hobby is more of a collection.
When it becomes an obsession, it might be time to move on to something bigger.
The 3LB Capacity Barrel Rock Tumbler Kit from National Geographic
This rock tumbler kit is ideal for people like us who want to tumble as many rocks as possible at the one time. We recommend this bigger rock tumbler for people who have experience of rock polishing and specifically in using rock tumblers.
Although suitable for kids this is an adult’s machine. It comes with a selection of three speeds and a timer capable of being set for up to 9 days. The barrel fits 3lbs of material and this rock tumbler comes with that specialty Gem foam. Blue Marble are the brand responsible for producing these.
Rock tumblers are not suitable for kids under 8. The set comes with 3lb of rocks to tumble, grits, jewelry fastenings, a strainer, instructions, and a few other goodies.
Rock Tumbler Refill Kits from National Geographic
If you enjoyed tumbling the rocks that came with this kit, then you might want more of them. They offer rock tumbling refill kits in different weights especially for you. The fact that they take care of everything from rock tumbling grits to rock refill kits is what makes us huge fans of the brand.
Options for Rock tumbler Refill Include:
The 1lb kit of genuine rough agate rocks for tumbling
The 1lb kit of jasper stones for tumbling, including 8 types of jasper.
Don’t forget to refill your grits too. This pack of rock tumbler grit contains all four stages and enough carbide to polish 20lbs of rocks.
There is an unboxing video of the 1.36kg rock refill mix on our TikTok channel, here. Give it a quick watch to see what you get.
A Final Shout Out to the TSC Rock Tumbling Mix
Finally, a final shout out to our Scottish rocks for Tumbling mix. We will send you half a kilo or a kilo worth of rocks to put in your new rock tumbler if you send us some money. We’d love to give them out for free but shipping alone is a pest. You can read all about the Stone Circle’s rock tumbling mix on our website or visit us on Etsy to place an order.
$50
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$50
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$50
Product Title
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