Tumbling glass is a fun hobby that allows you to create beautiful, polished pieces of art. While a tumbler machine is the most common equipment used, you can actually tumble glass without one using simple household items. Here's how to tumble glass without a tumbler:
Supplies Needed
Glass pieces - stained glass, marbles, beads, etc. Avoid thin or delicate pieces.
Plastic container with tight lid - rectangular or round, whatever fits your glass
Abrasive media - sand, ceramic pellets, stones, etc. Use a range from coarse to fine
Vegetable oil or other polishing compound
Soft rags
Rubber bands or duct tape (to secure lid)
Prepare Your Glass
Choose glass that is thick enough to withstand the tumbling process without breaking
Wash glass to remove any dust, oils or residues
Separate similar sized pieces to tumble together for even smoothing
Avoid glass with fragile appendages or thin sections that may break off
Fill the Container
Place glass pieces in plastic container
Fill container about 1/3 with coarse abrasive media
Add a splash of vegetable oil
Fill rest of container with glass, leaving 1/2 inch at top
Secure lid tightly with rubber bands or duct tape
Tumble the Glass
Shake or rotate container to tumble glass inside
Start with short sessions, 5-10 minutes and work up to hours
Shake, rotate or flip container in different directions
Check progress periodically; rinse and change abrasive media
Use finer abrasives and less oil in later stages
Polish the Glass
Once glass is smoothed, rinse well and replace abrasives with softer media
Use plastic pellets, bird seed or walnut shells in polishing stages
Add more vegetable oil or polishing compound in final stages
Tumble polishing media for 1-3 days until glass shines
Tips
Add cushioning like foam or fabric to protect glass
Layer coarse and fine abrasives for efficient smoothing
Reuse abrasives unless they are breaking down too much
Adjust tumbling times for your particular glass and set up
Make sure container seals tightly to prevent leaks
With some basic supplies and materials, you can tumble glass without a machine. Shake, rotate and flip a sealed plastic container to abrade, smooth and polish glass pieces inside. Take precautions, go slowly and you can create beautiful tumbled glass!
FAQs
What kind of glass can I tumble without a machine?
Thick glass pieces like sea glass, stained glass chunks, marbles, beads and ceramic pieces work best. Avoid thin, delicate or hollow glass.
What can I use as an abrasive media?
Sand, ceramic pellets, small stones, plastic pellets and other hard materials make good abrasives. You want a range from coarse to fine.
How long does hand tumbling take?
It depends on the glass and set up, but expect the process to take weeks. Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to multi-hour sessions. Check often to monitor smoothness.
What should I use to polish the glass?
Plastic or ceramic pellets work well in final polishing stages. You can also use bird seed, walnut shells or soft abrasives. Use more oil here.
How do I know when it's done tumbling?
Glass is finished tumbling when it feels completely smooth and has a polished, glossy shine. If it still feels rough, keep tumbling with finer abrasives.
Conclusion
With some basic tools and materials, you can successfully tumble glass at home without a dedicated tumbling machine. While it takes more time and effort, the principles are the same - abrading, smoothing and polishing glass pieces by agitating them with abrasive media in a sealed container. Pay attention to glass condition and adjust tumbling duration, abrasives and oils as needed. With patience, you can achieve beautiful polished tumbled glass.
