Hello from Southeast Idaho

I'm tumbling rocks for my wife. She ran into health problems early this spring and I started tumbling rocks to use as a pleasant and calm distraction on the hard days.  It's been very good for that and she looks forward to seeing the progress each week.

I'm using a Harbor Freight dual drum rotary tumbler for shaping and a TV-5 for the rest. The original plan was to just use the rotary and tumble finds for a few shiny cool rocks. You all know what can happen  once you get started.

My first polished batch is done. The rocks are random rocks mostly found on our property. I'm mostly happy with how they turned out and I think I learned a thing or two along the way. I made a mistake and added too much water at the end of the polish cycle to make it easier to clean out and during a burnish cycle which caused a few bruises. I think. My second batch is in polish now so I'll know soon if I improved..

I have been wanting to do a little rockhounding all summer for rocks to tumble but it wasn't possible so I 'found' some online. I might have more than I can get done in a year.

I'm trying to get good enough at tumbling to put a good shine on some malachite I have, as requested by my wife..