Tru-Square Metal Products Rotary Tumbler Review
Who doesn’t appreciate the natural beauty of rocks, glass, and other minerals? If you’re a convinced aficionado of geology, owning a rock tumbler is a must, as it allows you to transform rough rocks into smooth ones in a relatively short timeframe.
And the best part about it is that the results are beautiful – as long as you pick the rocks carefully.
That being said, if you are clueless regarding the rock polishing device you should pick, perhaps our review of the Tru-square Metal Products Heavy Duty Rotary Tumbler will guide you in the right direction.
We’ll briefly present the main characteristics of the item to make sure that you make an informed purchase.
About The Product
As the name already implies, the product we’re about to present to you is a rotary tumbler. What does this mean? When you use this kind of machine, you place rough rocks in the barrel; from that point onward, the barrel will continually rotate the rocks, while smoothing the edges.
As a rule of thumb, when you shop for a rotary tumbler, you’ll get rounded rocks. This makes such an item more than ideal for jewelry making.
At the same time, beginners might find rotary tumblers suitable, because they are easier to use than their counterparts – vibratory tumblers. Now that we’ve clarified that, let’s have a look at the key features of this product, shall we?
The Results
To start with, this is a unit that indicates high-quality and first-rate craftsmanship. We specifically like that it is suitable for the majority of rock tumbling applications. To be more specific, the 15-pound capacity will accommodate the needs of most hobbyists.
For instance, smaller units are capable of shaping rocks whose diameter is of one inch. Nevertheless, if you’re serious about your tumbling goals, we believe that this unit will meet, if not surpass, your expectations – as it did in our case.
After conducting a series of tests with this unit, we could wholeheartedly recommend it to all rock polishing hobbyists out there and collectors. It might be appropriate for equipping schools and laboratories, as well – considering the durable build of the item.
Additionally, it is engineered so that it can accommodate all types of rocks – which is always an advantage. At the same time, it is quite easy to operate, which would make it a suitable investment for both beginners and more advanced users.
Moving on, we were definitely keen on the motor’s powerful operation. Nonetheless, carry in mind that the speed setting isn’t variable – this could be a source of disappointment for some users, but still, it’s nothing major.
Also, as we tested the tumbler with rocks of different sizes, we determined that one shouldn’t place rocks whose diameter is larger than three inches. In this respect, the rule of thumb is to avoid adding rocks that are larger than half of the barrel’s diameter. So, regardless of the product you pick, you should keep this rule in mind.
You should also remember that the barrel must always be filled at least ½ to 2/3 full capacity. In the case in which you don’t have sufficient tumbling material, you might consider getting ceramic media to compensate.
On the other side, you must note that this isn’t a rock tumbling kit – meaning that you need to buy all the additional accessories separately. This could be an inconvenience to some people; however, we find that for the quality of the item, the price is on point.
At the same time, the fact that you need to purchase grit isn’t too bad. It merely means that you can fully customize the equipment you purchase depending on your personal applications.
What Others Say
Evidently, customer reviews can indicate whether a product is worth the purchase or not. This is why we took the time to scan through reviews, and, for the most part, we’ve noticed that most people are happy with the product.
It appears that not only is this unit suitable for rock tumbling, but many people use it for polishing brass. Therefore, if you need a unit for this application as well, then you might have found your pick.
As for its general rating on Amazon, it is above 4 stars, which could only mean that we’re dealing with a high-quality unit. Most people outline that the unit is reliable and is likely to bring the anticipated results. The fact that it is sturdy and well-built is often mentioned in reviews.
On the other side, some users believe that the motor is underpowered for a 15-lbs capacity. Additionally, the fact that it is rather noisy to operate is widely agreed upon.
What We Liked
As we’ve pointed beforehand, this product comes with a nice set of features. The overheat protection is definitely a plus, ensuring that the motor doesn’t fail.
Source: ebay.com
At the same time, the rubber liner facilitates easy cleaning, which is just as important. Of course, the item’s durable construction is worth mentioning, as well.
What We Didn’t Like
Moving on to the not so good things about this unit: it is, as former customers outlined, rather noisy. Therefore, it is pretty mandatory to use it in the garage, or any other well-insulated place – unless you’re a fan of the noise. What is more, if you don’t handle them accordingly, the side plates are prone to bend.
Buying Advice
Amazon is usually the site where we place online orders. And we did the same for this rotary tumbler. At the time of the purchase, we got free shipping and a 32 percent discount, which is not too bad.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, this is a great unit that is likely to address the needs of most rock tumbling hobbyists. It does the job, it has a sturdy construction, and you may use it for a wide variety of tumbling applications. If you’ve already tested this unit, do share your thoughts with us in the comment section!
Our Rating
