National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit Single Product Review

Is the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit worth it?

Nature can take thousands or even millions of years to turn a rock into a polished stone. However, if you have the right rock tumbler, you can speed up the process considerably and have beautiful results in a matter of weeks.

National Geographic has a rock tumbler that not only teaches kids how natural forces shape the world, but it lets them create their own gemstones. Children (and adults) can collect these polished rocks or use them in other projects, such as jewelry making.

BestReviews wanted to see if the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit was a worthwhile investment. So the Testing Lab evaluated this product to learn how it performed.

BestReviews Testing Lab is made up of a variety of everyday people. Some have a great deal of experience with specific products, while others are first-time users. Occasionally, when the age range warrants it, kids are brought in to offer their raw and honest feedback as well.

For National Geographic's rock tumbler, both grown-ups and kids were called on to explore and evaluate the kit. This provided a comprehensive picture of how well the product performed across a broad age range (from 8 to adult). It also allowed the lab to better understand how the rock tumbler was seen through the eyes of the younger side of its target audience.

What is the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit?

A rock tumbler uses water, grit and rocks to create polished stones that are suitable for use as pieces of jewelry. As the name implies, you accomplish this by putting all three elements in a barrel that rotates slowly for about four weeks. The National Geographic model employs a leakproof rubber barrel that dampens the noise created by the constantly tumbling rocks.

The Testing Lab found the packaging design to be very appealing — the before and after photos give you an exciting glimpse of what the tumbler can do. Also, the "National Geographic" logo gives you faith that this rock tumbler can do what it claims because the society has been active for over 130 years, so there is an assumed quality.

This STEM toy promises simple operation with a durable design that allows kids (and adults) to create beautifully polished gemstones. Upon opening, BestReviews found all parts securely packed and in pristine condition. The contents included the tumbling machine, a 1-pound capacity rubber barrel, a 0.55-pound bag of assorted rocks, four bags of polishing grit, a rock strainer, five jewelry settings and one learning guide with instructions. In short, it comes with everything you need to make your first set of polished stones.

See how the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best rock tumblers.

National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit price and where to buy

You can purchase the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit for $69.99 on Amazon.

How to use the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit

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It would seem like creating gems from stones would be a complex task. However, BestReviews Testing Lab discovered it was actually quite simple when using this science toy. The hardest part (besides the waiting) was opening the stainless steel lid of the rubber drum for the first time — you may have to use silverware to pry it open.

Once opened, all you need to do is fill the barrel roughly halfway with rocks, add the appropriate grit — Step 1 requires coarse grit, Step 2 requires medium grit, Step 3 requires pre-polish grit and Step 4 requires polish grit — and fill with just enough water until the rocks are submerged. The key here is not to overfill with any element because the rocks need room to tumble so they can wear down. Also, if you overfill the barrel, the built-in sensor will shut off the motor to protect it from being overworked.

Since each step takes a week (or longer) to complete, the entire process takes a little over a month.

While this rock tumbler has a rubber barrel to reduce noise, the Testing Lab concluded it is still too loud to run in a normally occupied room of your home. Since this will rumble for at least a month, the ideal operating space is a garage or a shed (with an outlet).

The before/after difference is phenomenal. BestReviews started with rather ordinary rough and dull rocks. A month later, they were transformed into much smaller, shiny, smooth and round stones with vibrant color. These small, colorful, polished gems can be easily inserted into the included keychain and necklace accessories, but the ring and earrings require a little more skill because they must be held in place with hot glue or an all-purpose adhesive sealant. 

National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit benefits

This rock tumbler is easy to use and it produced truly impressive results. The barrel never leaked and even though it makes a lot of noise, the sound could be considered soothing to some, like rain on the roof. It's affordable, teaches patience and helps kids understand how simple items, such as water and grit, can make gemstones in nature.

National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit drawbacks

Since so much of this STEM toy is focused on experiment and discovery, curiosity pushed the Testing Lab to wonder what other effects could be produced if the tumbler had different speeds. More experienced users may prefer a more advanced model with separate barrels for the different stages, but since this kit is an entry-level model for hobbyists, that isn't a deal-breaker. Besides the noise level, which may not be a factor depending on the size of your home, this rock tumbler didn't have any structural or performance flaws.

Should you get the National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit?

The National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit is a fantastic learning toy. It's best suited for hobbyists or kids 8 and older who wish to learn a little bit about how erosion works in nature, as well as the beauty it can create. It's also an excellent product for young crafters and individuals who like geology. The low price and top performance make this tumbler a great value.