Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First I’ll ask why the price went up $20. I paid about $30 and as I’m typing this now (3weeks later) the price is $50 which is WAY ABOVE the average cost for this stuff. Seems rather extreme for this price and I wouldn’t pay $50 if I were you. Ok. On to the review... I’m a novice and if you’re looking at this product I’m guessing you are too... I bought a rock tumbler for my kids on a whim one day. Thought I better throw in some polishing grits while I was at it. At the time I hadn’t done much research and chose this product because it came in nice hard plastic containers with lids (as opposed to plastic bags). Wish more suppliers did this. After doing more research I came back here to see what the particle sizes were for each grit. Nope... no particle sizes to be had anywhere. That aside. The first three stages have done a good job. At the end of Stage 3 the rocks are super smooth. The grain of the rocks is really popping. They’re not polished at this point yet (they shouldn’t quite be) and are dull when dry. I’ve just started the final stage and will update after complete. But here’s where my lack of research comes in. The final polish in this kit is not aluminum oxide (which is what pros use). I don’t know what it is. Carbide? Tin? Cerium? Chrome? Or other? A customer has asked if final polish is aluminum oxide or fine grit and the answer was “fine grit”. Which really is an obtuse question and answer because yes, polishing is done with ‘fine grit’ lmao. What is the material of the grit and what particle size. Now I am concerned as to whether we will be able to achieve that wet polished look. Like I said... will have to update upon completion. Method used: Tumbled about 2 to 2.5 lbs of rock Stage 1: 4 tablespoons tumbled for 5 days Stage 2: 4 tablespoons tumbled for 5 days Stage 3: 6 tablespoons with plastic filler pellets tumbled for 6 days Stage 4: 6 tablespoons with plastic filler pellets tumbled for 7 days Stage 5: will burnish with plastic filler pellets and soap for a day or so needed. Stage 6: if wet look is not achieved I will try an aluminum oxide polish purchased for the lowest prices I’ve found yet from TheRockShed (you can find them on the internet) only downfall is you have pay a shipping fee as opposed to free amazon shipping. Update: final stage does not polish. Rocks are still dull after 7 days. All the forums say to do the final stage for 7 days. NO more. NO less. I also burnished the rocks. No help to be had there. I said I’d try the aluminum oxide but I’m not. I’m calling this first batch a waste of time. I’ve since purchased a larger tumbler with two drums. One for stage 1&2 and the other drum for stage 3&4. I’ve gone with a grit pack with all grits from the rock shed. Ceramic pellets for polishing stage. Rock packs containing rocks of similar hardness Etc..etc.... Starting over with everything I’ve learned from reasearch. I will beat my wife if the next batch also does not work Update: I did a whole new batch of rocks with with all the grit from TheRockShed... plainly, they are beautiful and wet looking