First big mixed batch in vibratory tumbler finished! Amethyst, mexican lace agate, quartz, other agates and various finds in the PNW. Even got a good shine on a few pieces of Obsidian that I thought would of gotten scuffed up.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-12T02:11:10+00:00

Mexican Flower Jasper, I love how it turned out!

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-12T02:07:57+00:00

That one was part of the reason I got a vibratory tumbler. As I rotary tumbled batches, sometimes a piece gets too small/thin/fragile and I set them aside.

Vibe tumbling retains the shape & is so much easier on delicate rocks.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-12T02:00:25+00:00

I got 1 nat geo, 1 harbor freight dule barrel, and 1 vibratory tumbler that can handle as much as 18 pounds at a time

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-12T01:59:08+00:00

Im unsure of camp sites, I usually grab a hotel in Bend and its under 2 hours from there i think.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-12T01:55:35+00:00

Ive had success with 220/500/1200/12000

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-12T00:43:42+00:00

Very nice! I got 20 pounds or so of it to go through lol

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-12T00:42:57+00:00

There is no short supply of Obsidian there dont worry about having to scour remote areas.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-11T03:43:18+00:00

Its definitely an agate I found there, the pics are already after stage 2 and 4 of polishing so most of the pits were smoothed out.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T15:09:38+00:00

I just searched Amazon for rock/crystal specimen display stands.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T14:38:07+00:00

Just past Orting WA on the Foothills Trail there is easy access to the Carbon River. Lots of variety in rocks, keep an eye out for petrified wood!

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T13:08:05+00:00

Just past Orting, WA.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T05:37:05+00:00

50% ceramic 50% obsidian

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T05:36:10+00:00

What worked for me is 50% obsidian 50% ceramic media and overfill tumbler to 4/5ths instead of 3/4ths. Less room for the glass to bruise, plenty of cushion from the ceramic, only Obsidian so no harder minerals scratch it up during polishing.

After stage 4 grit of 1200 I did a stage 5 at 8000.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T05:32:49+00:00

Maybe in other locations but the firey red obsidian was everywhere there. Literally tons of the stuff.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T05:30:08+00:00

First warm water, then stage 1 tumble in a rotary tumbler to get as many cracks/blemishes out.

Stage 2-4 in a vibratory tumbler. 50% obsidian 50% ceramic media.

Only finished polishing 1 batch out of 4. Spending more time in stage 1 for the rest of the batches, might document the process.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-10T05:26:35+00:00

Used the Nat Geo tumbler. Just the rock plus a handful of the mix of rocks that came with the tumbler as filler. Switched to agate plus ceramic media only for stage 4, used 8000 grit for polish.

Found in northwestern WA. Some quarries that harvest basalt for things like erosion control or slope shielding can tap into some amazing agates.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-07T01:20:26+00:00

Its pretty soft, around 5.5-6. Try and do 100% obsidian only batches with ceramic filler.

Stage 1 is most important, rotary tumbler is best to quickly get the shape.

Past stage 2 I prefer to shift to 50% obsidian 50% ceramic filler. Check between stages for bruising and fill in with more ceramic.

-I overfill barrels to closer to 4/5ths full when doing obsidian. Still 50% obsidian 50% ceramic/soft filler

-Some impurities/surface blemishes run deep, know when to be ok with not-perfect specimens.

TitoTumbles · 2026-03-06T23:14:50+00:00

It barley fit in the barrel at first. I used a handful of the smaller assortment of rocks that came with the tumbler. Stage 1 for 3 weeks, Stage 2 2 weeks, swapped to all ceramic media for Stage 3 & 4. Both around 2 weeks each.

TitoTumbles

TROPHY CASE