Hi,
I bought a Central Machinery 5 pound capacity vibratory tumbler.
I was a bit surprised that it called for dry material, but no matter I can try that - so I gathered my material and followed the directions as close as possible re-doing steps 2, 3 and 4.
Step 2 fine grinding for 10 days seemed to be an improvement - nice rounded smooth rocks.
Step 3 pre-polish for 10 days worked well and gave me high hopes I sorta knew what I was doing
So step 4 polishing had me pumped - I followed the directions to the letter and - visualizing a great final polish, I let it go undisturbed for 20 days!
And my final product came out looking just like POWDERED DO-NUTS!!!!
I surmise I put too much water in with my 2 sprays out of a water bottle. Another possibility is the plastic tile separators I used plenty of for the final polish came from inside my cool house and they created moisture when I put them in the vibrator out in my hot tool shed. Don't know - but now I have 4 pounds of smooth rocks covered in gummy white powdery polish. Bummer
But - I know more now than before so, undeterred, I will continue on down the road of learning of how to produce a polished rock.
Maybe going back to step 1 in my wet tumbler will grind off the powder. We'll see.
cheers,
r