The Tumble-Bee TB-22 is a compact, versatile rotary rock tumbler featuring two 2 lb. rubber barrels. Its dual-barrel design gives you the flexibility to tumble two different batches at the same time, experiment with different materials, or keep different stages of the tumbling process separated.
The TB-22 is an excellent choice for beginners, families, hobbyists, and experienced rock tumblers who want a compact machine with the convenience of two independent barrels.
And if you want to start tumbling right away, the TB-22 is also available with an optional Rock Tumbler Kit containing hand-selected rough stones, pre-measured grit, and polish. The kit provides the materials needed to polish a batch of stones right out of the box.
Two Independent 2 lb. Barrels
The TB-22 comes with two complete 2 lb. rubber barrels, giving the machine a total barrel capacity of 4 lbs.
Having two barrels is one of the biggest advantages of the TB-22. You don't have to run the same material or the same tumbling stage in both barrels.
Use the barrels to:
- Tumble two different types of rock
- Run two different batches at the same time
- Keep different stages of the tumbling process separate
- Experiment with different grit combinations
- Tumble different materials such as stone and glass
- Allow two people to use the tumbler at the same time
For example, you could have one barrel working on a coarse grind while the other is working through a later stage of the process.
This flexibility makes the TB-22 useful well beyond the beginner stage.
Available Rock Tumbler Kit
Want to start tumbling without having to figure out which rocks and abrasives to buy?
Choose the TB-22 with the optional Rock Tumbler Kit.
The kit includes two complete sets of the materials needed to polish batches of stones in the two 2 lb. barrels. Tumble-Bee's kit is specifically measured for its 2 lb. barrels, making it easy to get started without guessing how much grit or polish to use.
The Rock Tumbler Kit Includes:
- 1-1/2 lbs. of hand-selected agates, jasper, and petrified wood
- Pre-measured coarse silicon carbide grit
- Pre-measured medium silicon carbide grit
- Pre-measured fine silicon carbide grit
- Pre-measured TXP aluminum oxide polish
- Complete instructions
The kit contains enough material for the appropriate number of batches specified by Tumble-Bee for the TB-22's two 2 lb. barrels.
The Stones Included in the Kit
Hand-Selected Agate, Jasper & Petrified Wood
The stones included with the Tumble-Bee Rock Tumbler Kit aren't simply a random assortment of rocks. Tumble-Bee specifically selects agates, jasper, and petrified wood and sizes the material appropriately for use in a 2 lb. barrel.
These are excellent materials for someone learning to tumble because they are durable stones that can withstand the multiple stages of grinding and polishing when properly processed.
Agate
Agate is one of the most popular materials for rock tumbling.
It is relatively hard and durable, which makes it well suited to the repeated grinding and polishing required to produce a smooth finish. Agates are especially rewarding to tumble because their natural colors, bands, translucency, and patterns often become much more visible as the rough exterior is removed.
Jasper
Jasper is another excellent tumbling material.
Its durability allows it to withstand the grinding process, while its wide range of colors and patterns gives you plenty of variety in the finished stones. Reds, yellows, greens, browns, and other natural colors can become much more vibrant once the stones have been properly polished.
Petrified Wood
Petrified wood brings something completely different to the mix.
Petrified wood began as organic wood that was gradually replaced by minerals over an extremely long period of time. The original wood structure can remain visible within the stone, producing natural grain patterns and interesting color variations.
Once polished, petrified wood can develop a beautiful glossy surface while retaining the distinctive patterns that make each piece unique.
Why This Is a Great Starter Mix
Agate, jasper, and petrified wood make a particularly enjoyable combination because you get three very different appearances from materials that are all well suited to the tumbling process.
You'll experience the complete transformation from rough, natural stones to smooth polished gems while seeing how different types of material respond to the same four-stage process.
The stones included in the kit have also been properly sized for a 2 lb. barrel, so you don't have to spend time figuring out whether the included rough is appropriate for your tumbler.
Four Stages of Tumbling Included
The Tumble-Bee kit provides the abrasives and polish needed to work through the standard four-stage tumbling process.
Stage 1 — Coarse Grind
The 60/90 mesh silicon carbide coarse grit begins shaping the stones and removes rough surfaces, sharp edges, fractures, and imperfections.
Stage 2 — Medium Grind
The 150/220 mesh silicon carbide continues smoothing the stones and removes the deeper scratches left by the coarse grind.
Stage 3 — Fine Grind
The 500 mesh silicon carbide produces a much smoother surface and prepares the stones for polishing.
Stage 4 — Polish
The kit's TXP polish, a micron-grade aluminum oxide polishing compound, produces the final glossy finish that brings out the color and patterns of the stones.
Each stage builds on the previous one, so proper cleaning between stages is important to prevent coarse abrasive from contaminating the finer stages.
Quality Rubber Barrels
Each TB-22 barrel is made from durable rubber and has a 2 lb. capacity.
The rubber construction helps cushion the stones as they tumble and reduces the noise produced by rocks repeatedly striking the barrel.
The barrels are designed specifically for the Tumble-Bee system and include the necessary inner and outer lids, washers, nuts, and sealing components.
Barrel Dimensions
Each 2 lb. barrel measures approximately:
4" inside diameter × 4" height
4-1/2" outside diameter × 4" height
Non-Slip Timing Belt
The TB-22 features Tumble-Bee's grooved, non-slip timing belt.
The belt is made from strong polyurethane reinforced with embedded polyester fibers. Its grooved design helps keep the belt properly engaged with the pulleys during operation, while the reinforced construction helps resist stretching and splitting.
This design helps provide consistent rotation during the long operating cycles required for rock tumbling.
Thermal Overload Protection
Every Tumble-Bee tumbler includes a thermal overload protector.
If the motor becomes excessively hot, the protector automatically shuts the motor off to help prevent overheating and protect the tumbler.
This is an important feature for a machine designed to operate continuously for days at a time.
Lighted On/Off Power Switch
The TB-22 features a lighted on/off switch, making it easy to see whether the tumbler is operating.
It's a simple feature, but particularly convenient when the tumbler is located in a workshop, basement, garage, or other area where you may not always be standing next to the machine.
Shielded Moving Parts
The motor and pulleys are enclosed beneath a protective motor cover.
This keeps the moving components shielded during normal operation and provides a cleaner, more finished appearance.
Rust-Proof Composite Housing
Unlike tumblers that use exposed metal housings, the Tumble-Bee uses a hard composite plastic housing.
The housing is designed to resist rust and eliminates the sharp exposed metal edges found on some traditional tumbler designs.
This makes the TB-22 particularly well suited to environments where water and rock slurry are regularly present.
Compact Design
Despite having two barrels, the TB-22 has a relatively small footprint.
Machine dimensions: approximately 13" L × 6" W × 6" H
Weight: approximately 6 lbs.
Its compact size makes it easy to place on a workbench, table, or other dedicated tumbling area without taking up the space required by a larger-capacity machine.
Tumbling More Than Rocks
Although the TB-22 is an excellent rock tumbler, its two small barrels also make it useful for other tumbling applications.
The machine can be used for materials such as:
- Rocks and minerals
- Glass
- Small metal parts
- Deburring applications
- Polishing small metal objects
The two barrels allow you to keep different materials or processes completely separate.
Great for Learning Rock Tumbling
The TB-22 is especially well suited to people who are new to rock tumbling.
The two small barrels make it easier to experiment with different materials and techniques without committing to a large batch.
And when purchased with the Rock Tumbler Kit, you have the rough stones, four stages of abrasive, polish, and instructions needed to begin your first batch.
Instead of spending time researching which rocks to buy, how much grit to use, and which polish you need, you can start learning the tumbling process immediately.
Important: Load the Barrels Correctly
Proper barrel loading is one of the most important factors in getting good tumbling results.
A barrel should not simply be filled completely with rocks. The stones need enough room to move and tumble against one another while the abrasive works across their surfaces.
For the best results, use a mixture of appropriately sized stones and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the proper amount of rock, grit, and water.
Avoid mixing rocks that are dramatically different in hardness or that may behave differently during the tumbling process.
Specifications
- Model: Tumble-Bee TB-22
- Type: Rotary Rock Tumbler
- Barrels: Two
- Barrel Capacity: 2 lbs. each
- Total Barrel Capacity: 4 lbs.
- Barrel Material: Rubber
- Barrel Inside Diameter: 4"
- Barrel Outside Diameter: 4-1/2"
- Barrel Height: 4"
- Machine Dimensions: Approximately 13" L × 6" W × 6" H
- Machine Weight: Approximately 6 lbs.
- Power: 115V
- Plug: Standard U.S. plug
- Motor Protection: Thermal overload protector
- Drive System: Non-slip timing belt
- Power Switch: Lighted on/off switch
- Housing: Rust-resistant composite plastic
- Moving Parts: Shielded
- Barrel Configuration: Two independent barrels
- Warranty: 1 year
Tumble-Bee states that its rock tumblers are available only in 115V and are supplied with a standard U.S. plug. They should not be used in 220V/240V countries, even with a converter or adapter.
What's Included with the TB-22
The standard TB-22 includes:
- Tumble-Bee TB-22 tumbler
- Two complete 2 lb. rubber barrels
- Clean, lightweight oil
- 3/64" Allen wrench
- Detailed instruction manual
What's Included with the Rock Tumbler Kit
When you choose the TB-22 + Rock Tumbler Kit, you also receive the materials needed to begin polishing stones:
- 1-1/2 lbs. of hand-selected, properly sized agates, jasper, and petrified wood
- Coarse 60/90 mesh silicon carbide grit
- Medium 150/220 mesh silicon carbide grit
- Fine 500 mesh silicon carbide grit
- TXP aluminum oxide polish
- Complete tumbling instructions
The kit is specifically designed around Tumble-Bee's 2 lb. barrels, making it a convenient way to start tumbling without purchasing the individual supplies separately.
Two Barrels Make the Difference
The Tumble-Bee TB-22 offers something a single-barrel tumbler simply can't: two independent tumbling chambers in one compact machine.
Run two batches.
Try two different materials.
Keep different stages separate.
Or let two people tumble their own rocks at the same time.
And with the optional Rock Tumbler Kit, you can go from opening the box to beginning your first tumbling project with the stones, abrasives, polish, and instructions already provided.
A Compact Tumbler With Big Possibilities
The Tumble-Bee TB-22 is a versatile, easy-to-use rotary tumbler that combines two 2 lb. barrels with thoughtful features such as a non-slip timing belt, thermal overload protection, shielded moving parts, a lighted power switch, and a rust-resistant composite housing.
Choose the tumbler only if you already have your own rough stones and tumbling supplies.
Or choose the TB-22 with Rock Tumbler Kit if you want a convenient all-in-one starting point with hand-selected agate, jasper, and petrified wood plus everything needed for the four-stage polishing process.
Two barrels. Four pounds of capacity. Endless possibilities for what you can tumble.
