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National Geographic Pro Rock Tumbler Review
A high-quality rock tumbler is a fun unit that the whole family can enjoy using. Both adults and children can attempt to polish and shape rocks. Whether for jewelry making purposes or for educational reasons, this is truly an enjoyable activity.
Of course, we know that the market features with a wide diversity of products. This alone could make the shopping process grueling and time-consuming. You might be tempted to purchase the first unit that crosses your path just to eliminate the hassle of comparing different items’ specifications.
Still, you don’t have to do that, considering that we’ve done all the legwork for you. Our reviews aim at objectively presenting the item’s features, while outlining our personal experience with it.
Without further ado, let’s see whether the National Geographic Professional Rock Tumbler is worthy of your attention or not!
About The Product
If you prefer choosing a rock tumbling kit over a rock tumbler, then you might have found your pick – this unit by National Geographic comes with everything you need to get started. Aside from that, here are the main product specs.
The kit includes one pound of rough gemstones, jewelry fastenings, four polishing grits, information guide, and instructions.
The Results
There are many reasons why this unit has come to our attention. For starters, it definitely offers a nice mixture of unique features. For one thing, the automatic shut-off timer might come in handy whenever you are away.
Considering that the rocks have reached the right tumbling process, the unit will simply automatically shut off. That being said, since few people have the time to keep on monitoring the tumbling stage, this feature can be really helpful.
Moving on, thanks to the speed control feature, you may pick the desired tumbling speed. This way, you can anticipate when it’s likely to finish the job.
Essentially, we find that the inclusion of one pound of rough gemstones is more than welcome. This will give you a great start on things, meaning that you can begin using the tumbler right away – as opposed to looking for rough stones to polish.
Furthermore, we consider that the noise-reduction design is an excellent innovation. Evidently, this doesn’t mean that you won’t hear this unit operate. All rock tumbling units are loud – this comes with the territory.
Nevertheless, this unit is definitely quieter than others, which is a pro. That is to say, considering that your garage insulation is decent, you might not even hear it tumble round the clock.
Since you also get jewelry fastenings, this means you can use them for your first jewelry making projects – considering that you’re just starting off. Who knows, perhaps this will motivate you to discover an innate talent for jewelry making?
At the same time, we find that the leak-proof, high-impact design plays a crucial role in maximizing the durability of the item. Therefore, you should get a lot of use out of this product, if you utilize it accordingly.
A thing worth noting is that even though the manufacturer advises seven to 10 days for polishing, you can only set the timer for up to five days. This means you’ll need to reset the timer.
On the other side, the rubber and metal lid is a tad challenging to remove. Still, once you get the hang of it, there shouldn’t be any problems.
What Others Say
According to former customers, this unit is excellent for beginners, even children. The fact that it comes as a complete starter kit is quite appealing, as well.
At the same time, customers outlined that the unit does a decent job at polishing all types of rocks, which is the mere purpose of getting such a machine, right?
On the other hand, it appears that some customers received defective products. That means that there might be an issue with the quality control stage of the items. Perhaps the manufacturer should do something in this respect, to minimize the likelihood of sending out defective units.
What We Liked
The thing we liked most about this rock tumbler is the fact that it has some great advanced features. It goes without saying that the speed variation and timer are its most notable characteristics, allowing you to fully customize the operation of the machine.
Secondly, the leak-proof design of the barrel does a decent job at preventing water from getting in during the operation. Novice hobbyists will also find the included educational pamphlet really helpful, as it presents a wide range of details regarding different rocks and tumbling techniques.
Although there’s no rocket science there, it’s nice to have all the information in one place.
What We Didn’t Like
A potential disadvantage of this unit is that closing and opening the rubber and metal lid is a bit of a challenge – at first, at the very least. In time, though, it should get easier.
Plus, the fact that some customers received defective units is a bit disappointing, considering the legacy of the manufacturer.
Buying Advice
Depending on your budget, you might think that this unit is either on the affordable or on the expensive side. We believe that it is fairly priced, since it does have a nice set of features. If you order it on Amazon, you pay less than $150, plus free shipping.
Source: nationalgeographic.com
On a different note, though, National Geographic offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, as well as a 2-year warranty.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re on the lookout for a high-quality rock tumbler that would do the job effortlessly, it’s needless to say that the National Geographic Professional Rock Tumbler fits the description. Evidently, this isn’t a perfect unit, but it comes pretty close to being one.
Thanks for reading so far, and make sure you leave your thoughts and impressions of the product if you’ve already used it!
Our Rating
