The Kitiki Rotary Tumbler Kit 1 is a home kit, ideal for jewellery, metal clays such as Art Clay and PMC, gold, and silver. It consists of a small motor base, a 700gm plastic barrel, 1000gms of mixed stainless steel shot and shapes, and 500gms of barrelling compound to keep the drum clean. The body is not long enough to hold two drums, or one larger drum.

The CE-marked fully-enclosed motor is rated at 230V 15W, so can use a regular mains socket. Since the tumbler uses less power than a fridge bulb, the cost of using it is about a penny a day. It measures 143mm x 122mm x 205mm, weighs about 2kg, and comes with a 1.8 metre cable ending in a UK plug.

The plastic barrel revolves on two rollers; the drum lid has a push-fit seal; the tumbler body has plastic edges to stop it creeping across the worktop; and the roller end-stops keep the drum on the rollers. The drive belt is soft neoprene.

As you can see in the photo, the 700gm drum uses the full width of the tumbler body, so you can't use a larger drum or two smaller drums. This size drum is often called a half-size or 1.5lb drum.

If you're concerned that a plastic drum will be noisy, or fiddley to open and close, The Kitiki Rotary Tumbler Kit 1 is also available with a 510gm rubber drum. The rubber drum has an inner metal lid, a rubber sealing ring, a metal outer lid, and a retaining threaded collar.

To make sure that the manual is always up-to-date, we don't put one in the box. The latest version is free, and can be printed here, using the link below the menu bar.

To look at a larger photo, hold your mouse over the zoom button below. The photo is 480px x 360px and about 60KB so, if you're not on broadband, it'll take a short while to download.

Zoom: Kitiki Tumbler Kit 1.

Plastic drum lids need to stand in hot water to make them easier to push on. To free the lids, the whole drum needs to stand in hot water. There's a slight risk that, as you pull the lid off, you'll spill your work, shot or grit, and soapy water.

Rubber drums use a different lid mechanism: at one end there's an inner metal lid, a rubber sealing ring, a metal outer lid, and a retaining threaded collar. They're easier to work with than plastic drums, and much quieter in use.

The stainless steel shot, included in some of the rotary tumbler kits, is not just round but a selection of shapes, such as pins, planetoids, and spheres, designed to deal with the range of contours on jewellery.

Although the shot is 100% stainless steel, don't leave it lying around wet: either leave it immersed in the tumbler mix of water and cleaner, or rinse it and dry it carefully.

If you need to replace the shot, don't economise and buy plain or mixed steel: unless you're meticulous about cleaning and drying them every time you use them, they will soon rust, make a mess, and ruin your work.

Grit, included in the craft rotary tumbler kit, is the generic name for the particles used to grind and polish: usually silicon carbide, a hard, sharp, angular material. In use, it fractures into smaller angular particles, so is a very effective abrasive. Grit sizes are confusing, for example: 400 grit particles are not twice the size or half the size of 200 grit particles. You'll soon learn which grit to use for different materials, shapes, and finishes.

A silicon lubricant is used during the manufacture of rubber drums. Before use, clean the drum with a scouring pad and some washing-up liquid.

To learn more about working with metal clays, buying and using kilns and tools, or choosing a course, look at The Art Clay Club, using the The Art Clay Club link above the menu bar.

The Art Clay Club is an information resource, not a shop, providing free on-line help, 24 7 52: you don't have to register, log on, or remember a password.