# Rock Tumbler/ Stone Washing **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [February 7, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775 "2025-02-07T20:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cmchappell97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/cmchappell97/32/699328_2.png) [@Cmchappell97](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cmchappell97)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/44 "2025-03-03T20:18:24Z")
Wow thats definitely more sludge than I had for sure. But then again I changed out my water probably every 3-4 hours ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 5:01am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/45 "2025-03-04T05:01:57Z")
24 hours was too long. Stuff got kinda weird. Moving to a finer grit. ![IMG_8479](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/a/c/3acf5a3b7e21a5c401f073bf143f60aa24662157.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 6:29am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/46 "2025-03-04T06:29:14Z")
Looks like half that time and you might be in to something super cool for 3d printing. Awesome experiment ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/47 "2025-03-05T03:45:29Z")
The steel prints are still more or less the same, maybe some of the new imperfections rubbed out but I’m going to move to a fine grit out of worry of overdoing it. Now the tungsten print. Holy cow. It looks so much better. Before ![IMG_8335](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/7/e/0/7e0d0c526ba2266f193866d176de30d3be8911aa.jpeg) After ![IMG_8547](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/f/c/5/fc5a49cb55421011874a9b9ccee6b4cca7b82aa6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Xanadu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/xanadu/32/84910_2.png) [@Xanadu](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Xanadu)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/48 "2025-03-06T14:17:11Z")
@AudreySickburn I have never used a rock tumbler before, but based on my knowledge of wet sanding I’m wondering if you had damage due to too much debris and possibly heat building up in the tumbler. I’d suggest having a higher ration of media to yo-yos (loading less yo-yos at a time) and rinsing out the debris periodically. ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/49 "2025-03-06T14:46:14Z")
Yeah I think I didn’t have enough media. It was a tiny bag included. I ordered some more! I suspect since it was the corners and edges damaged it was them crashing into each other. It also happened on speed 2 out of 3 so I lowered the speed back down to the slowest setting. ---
**Author:** ![Xanadu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/xanadu/32/84910_2.png) [@Xanadu](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Xanadu)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/50 "2025-03-06T15:39:54Z")
Can you get small ceramic beads? I’m winding if you could get something that would work into the gap as well? :thinking: ---
**Author:** ![SlowThrow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/slowthrow/32/307451_2.png) [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/51 "2025-03-06T15:40:57Z")
Well, that can’t all be winners lol ---
**Author:** ![MinerJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/minerj/32/629515_2.png) [@MinerJ](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/MinerJ)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/52 "2025-03-06T15:53:20Z")
I’ve got copper, brass, and steel filament, and my kids have a rock tumbler. :thinking: ---
**Author:** ![Cmchappell97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/cmchappell97/32/699328_2.png) [@Cmchappell97](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cmchappell97)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/53 "2025-03-06T15:58:21Z")
ceramic beads of different sizes can be found on amazon. I would figure than any metal media would be too damaging to the throw. when i did mine, i only did one throw at a time with a decent amount of media and water in it. These tumbler doesn’t really move fast enough to generate heat built up, it works very similar to waves, sand and sea glass. ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/54 "2025-03-06T16:08:15Z")
I ordered ceramic round bead media from Amazon and a bucket of extra fine grit. It’s running late though, so will probably be reserved for the next batch. ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/55 "2025-03-06T23:31:00Z")
Welp lessons learned. Next time, more media, slower speed, and don’t put all of the yo-yos you printed in at once!!! The prints are really gorgeous shiny and smooth on the face. ![IMG_8575](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/2/f/32fdbbbe486b73ccdace8d4700d33a6cd7a927c3.jpeg) But the edges and corners took a brutal beating. ![IMG_8577](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/9/d/7/9d72c65c3c81566ab719eb495afe86ea313768f0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/56 "2025-03-17T19:56:56Z")
Okay round two. No more Leeeeeeroy Jenkins it’s one yoyo at a time. Boring. I have way more ceramic media as well as only fine grit loaded. Before shots for posterity. ![IMG_8673](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/5/2/0/52019147e7cefd12617d359d709d8720a968b1be.jpeg) ![IMG_8674](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/1/5/8/158a30a467414f883fe94970cd53f55b4b0db3c3.jpeg) ![IMG_8676](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/f/8/2/f8296a6afdbe51e4a9f383136eedbc2378924928.jpeg) ![IMG_8675](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/1/a/a/1aadbc39e4ad58365e74def054a126d357da627c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/57 "2025-03-19T01:56:09Z")
Roughly 30 hours later. Excuse the foam, all the ceramic beads and stuff got foamy. Solid progress and back into the tumbler it goes. ![IMG_8679](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/0/2/4/0242d99e26f761a0e26fa45eca8bf8d9a0b2d99b.jpeg) ![IMG_8678](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/0/3/b/03b63bc0ee0996cbf36d7a0bc6192cd848a14fe0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Cmchappell97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/cmchappell97/32/699328_2.png) [@Cmchappell97](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cmchappell97)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/58 "2025-03-19T01:57:37Z")
Leave it in there for a year ![IMG_9208](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/7/8/c78098f93a175a00f87e6bc093042a87d362ee19.webp) ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/59 "2025-03-19T02:03:27Z")
If it doesn’t end up being useful and producing good results I will probably do something like that. Or toss some gravel in with it to polish up lol. ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/60 "2025-03-24T02:03:20Z")
6 days on slow speed and fine grit. We have a really gorgeous shine, imperfections smoothed out a bit more, but also a few new imperfections, some tiny chips in the top part that you can’t really make out from the pictures. I think the ceramic beads might be too rough. I might need a gentler media, maybe walnut shells or plastic beads. ![IMG_8696](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/6/d/b/6dbfe8a086485c071d18e65f375274f1d70feda3.jpeg) ![IMG_8695](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/7/8/8/78873e40c476720e0b9757c27c4645ebb58bee1c.jpeg) ![IMG_8698](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/d/d/f/ddf0748ad13e0b9719438ca00b400e325dade9fb.jpeg) ![IMG_8700](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/7/1/c/71cb82fc5014fb83bc74fa30bb32f207938d6677.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![SlowThrow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/slowthrow/32/307451_2.png) [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/61 "2025-03-24T02:39:42Z")
Just a buncha denim lol ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/62 "2025-03-24T02:41:26Z")
Not the worst idea lol. I ended up ordering 2 lbs of polypropylene beads (really tough but squishy plastic). If they also fail I will try turning it into a tiny washing machine with some denim next. ---
**Author:** ![Nic\_from\_Adelaide](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/nic_from_adelaide/32/272038_2.png) [@Nic\_from\_Adelaide](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Nic_from_Adelaide)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775/63 "2025-03-24T08:17:11Z")
Have you tried the green triangles? Supposed to be good for aluminium yoyos ![Screenshot_20250324-184337~2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/d/0/3d067b8110a549405aa06f76b5104ff8774f3ca8.jpeg) [Previous page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/rock-tumbler-stone-washing/418775.md?page=4)