Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling & Cabochon Making: A Simple Guide to Finishing Rough Stones

I own 2 quality rock tumblers I've used over the years to clean modern coins I find metal detecting for recirculation. The urge to try tumbling rocks has only recently bit me. Correspondingly, I also wanted to learn a little more about lapidary arts and the related equipment. This book delivers and has a handy page in the center with formulas for various stones and finishes with both rotary and vibratory tumblers. Additionally, I couldn't get a true feel for how to properly load barrels from online resources. Hints and tips are interspersed throughout the book. I especially like the section with photos that details the differences between quality and inferior 'rough' material so that I just didn't blindly buy stones. Further chapters detail cutting, drilling, and shaping. As another reviewer said, this is also easy to read cover to cover. Since the advent of the internet, I have found many hobby books lacking. This reminds me of the old days when you got interested in something and found 'that great book' at the library or elsewhere you really liked. Highly recommended.

Very informative. I really like this book. I am a beginner at rock tumbling and I need to get to know all about rocks. It has been very helpful.

Very thorough manual more pictures would be helpful.Good for anyone getting started or needing a refresher. Limited number of equipment suppliers listed. Good step by step process.

I'm new to rock tumbling and have read some comments pointing to incomplete instructions that come with many rock tumbler purchases. This book has more detailed instructions and important tips to follow in achieving glossy polishing. It includes a chart to follow for the various tumbling and polishing steps for both rotary and vibratory tumblers. I like having a ready reference handy since I'm an old guy with short-term memory issues. By following the book's instructions I got shiny rocks on the first try.

I make 'natural' stone jewelry, and I had been wanting to be able to do more with the stones than just tumble-polishing them, but when I looked at lapidary equipment, it seemed like there were SO MANY different kinds of machines on the market and I wasn't sure which kind(s) I needed for what I wanted to do, or what features were needed, or how to tell what was worth the price, that I just didn't buy anything. But this little book covers it all: how you go about cutting, shaping and polishing rocks, how to use the different equipment, even which brands are reliable. There is even a great section with fantastic pictures about how to tell 'good' rock that will make beautiful polished stones, from sub-par rock that isn't worth the trouble. This little book was EXCATLY what I needed. Now I know exactly WHICH machine(s) I need!

Very simple and easy understand for beginners book.

Nice little, easy readable book with very good, basic information, learned at least one thing new from it. Pleasantly worded text and good to understand instructions. Not too many pictures, but very good ones and very big illustrations.

I only had time to flip through the pages (moving), but this looks like what I was looking for.