[Review] Elenco Rock Polishing Machine | 2024

Pros

• It looks good – so the kids will love it.
• It does the business and has a slightly larger barrel than most kids tumblers.
• The barrel has raised parts inside it – this greatly increases the performance as flats cannot form easily because the rocks are continuously “flipped” over into different positions as the strike against the ridges.
• Handy (and we believe unique) timer facility allowing the user to put a limit on the time the barrel is running.
• Quite heavy due to its size – this is good for stability.
• The motor will not work untill the cover is securely in place – this prevents small fingers getting into the cogs on the inside whilst it is turning.
• Comes with more than enough media such as polish and grit to grind down your first batch.
• A good set of rocks which we suspect is fairly random, but included Green
• Aventurine, Citrine and Tiger Eye (plus others).
• Includes the jewelry starter pack – which isn’t obvious on the sales material.
• Really solid thick walled barrel with excellent seals and the ability to tighten the lid down hard

Cons

• The barrel is turned using a cog which “grips” a rubber ring on the outside of the barrel. Ours was very prone to slippage and it is essential that this whole of the outer barrel is 100% dry before setting up.
• The cover is a bit fiddly to put into place, but not a big deal really – the switch is depressed by a prong on the lid cover itself, we had to press down quite hard to get this into the slot and connect with the switch.
• Again, only one barrel – MUST BE KEPT SPOTLESS!
• The shape of this barrel, whilst its a good size and extremely robust, means that grit can accumulate around the lid parts. Not something to deter a buyer, but bear in mind that cleaning is a little more difficult as you have to get something like your finger bent round beneath the lid – whereas on straight moulded types its just a case of a wipe around the top.