National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit Review
A rock tumbler’s efficiency depends on its tumbling performance. Essentially, the type of finishing you expect to get, your budget and your individual specifications should help you make the right investment.
If your budget is limited, you should be happy to know that there are plenty of options out there for high-quality tumblers under $100. And the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit is one of those products. Nonetheless, the question is: is this the right product for you or not?
Perhaps our review will help you establish that. So, make sure you stick with us till the end!
About The Product
It is implied that National Geographic is a top manufacturer when it comes to rock tumblers and similar science-oriented items. They engineer products suitable for both individual and commercial use, being renowned for their quality and reliability.
Essentially, this kit is a good example of the company’s legacy. What should you know about it? The kit contains a tumbler, sifter, four polishing grits, learning guide, and nine different types of rough gemstones.
The Results
Whoever said that you can’t get a high-quality, sturdy rock tumbler for less than $100 was wrong. This unit demonstrates that. To begin with, the barrel has a stainless steel cover, which is the ultimate guarantee of its durability.
The 1-lbs. capacity is rather small, but beginners and children might still find it suitably sized. It all depends on your need and the way in which you intend on using the machine.
Of course, we like that the unit is engineered so that it emits as little noise as possible. Most rock polishing hobbyists are aware that most units are noisy; therefore, you shouldn’t expect not to hear this at all during its operation.
At the same time, the smart engineering prevents leakage incidents, which is just as important. For instance, as the machine functions on its own for weeks, leakage incidents could easily go unnoticed, which is why this feature is of great importance.
Plus, since you get nine types of different gemstones, you can really get to work the minute after you unbox the machine. So, if you’re eager to give it a run, this is great.
If you’re interested in jewelry making, you will definitely find the jewelry fastenings to be handy, as well. What is more, the automatic shut-off timer will definitely help you to save on energy costs. Plus, this plays a role in extending the lifespan of the rock tumbler.
Considering that the size of the barrel is rather small – 1 lbs. – we would recommend this to hobbyists that are just starting out to tumble rocks. Otherwise, you might be disappointed by this unit’s limited capacity.
What Others Say
As a rule of thumb, we always look for customer reviews before making an important purchase. And it would be safe to say that a rock polishing unit is a significant investment.
That being said, we weren’t a bit surprised by the high number of customer reviews we could find, or by the high ratings. This is definitely a nice unit and both the reviews and ratings reflect that.
Some people indicated that this unit is best suited for children. And this may be true – due to its small capacity. But this isn’t necessarily the case. If you’re a hobbyist on a budget, you won’t be disappointed by your purchase, as long as you can deal with the 1-lbs. barrel capacity.
On the other side, in spite of the noise minimizing design, we noticed some complaints regarding the noisy operation of the unit. Still, this isn’t a fault of the product, as it is something that is implied with most rock tumblers on the market.
What We Liked
If we had to list the things we enjoyed most about this National Geographic Rock Tumbler Kit, the first thing on the list would definitely be the price-quality ratio. It is an excellent budget choice for both children and beginners.
The instructions included by the manufacturer can be really helpful if you’ve never used such a machine beforehand. Plus, the fact that it is lightweight comes as a pro, since you can easily carry it around – even children can do that effortlessly.
Concurrently, the fact that you get a complete, comprehensive kit is another thing we like. In fact, this makes the unit a great idea for a present.
What We Didn’t Like
On the other hand, the unit is a bit loud. While this isn’t necessarily an engineering fault, it can be an annoyance to some people. This also depends on the place where you plan on using the machine. If your insulation is decent, then you shouldn’t be too bothered by this.
At the same time, we noticed that the unit has the tendency to overheat. Therefore, it might be recommended to pause the machine every now and then. It goes without saying that this will make the polishing process last more than you’d want.
Buying Advice
We’ve already mentioned a couple of times that this unit is among the best rock tumblers under $100. And we stand by it. Plus, Amazon has some great discounts if you get it from there – we received a 7 percent discount, which isn’t a lot, but is still something.
Source: walmart.com
The 2-year warranty, as well as the money-back guarantee, offer peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
In summary, you have learned by now that we really enjoyed testing and reviewing the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit for you. Nevertheless, most importantly, we are hopeful that it will help you in the time-consuming shopping process.
This tumbler kit is an excellent product manufactured by a reliable company; it is the perfect gift – regardless of the occasion – and the price is on point. What more can you ask?
Our Rating
