Landscaping glass or “cullet” (recycled industrial glass) is perfect for making sea glass. Sea glass is mostly known for its blue, turquoise, and green shades, but you can tumble any color of glass you’d like. It’s not recommended to break glass yourself for tumbling. Not only is this dangerous, but it’ll produce small shards of uneven sea glass.
If you have a large quantity of rough you want to transform into sea glass, it may be necessary to tumble it in multiple batches. Always start with a clean tumbler, making sure all traces of grit or leftover fragments from the previous batch are gone before you add new materials. [1] X Research source
Without filler, the raw glass pieces would smash into one another inside the tumbler barrel and become shattered or scratched. Avoid filling the barrel more than ⅔ of the way. If it’s too full, the materials inside won’t have anywhere to go, which means any time you spend tumbling will be wasted.
Be careful not to overfill the barrel, or you could end up with a big mess on your hands.
Turn the barrel over to inspect for leaks before you begin tumbling.
Most rock tumblers feature a horizontal construction, but some revolve in a more upright position. These types of tumblers may need to be inserted onto a separate spoke to secure them. When you activate the tumbler, the mechanism beneath the barrel will create continuous traction, causing the barrel to spin.
Record the exact time and date you begin running the tumbler, so you’ll know when you need to stop it. [5] X Research source The constant movement inside the barrel will be a little loud. Try placing the tumbler in a basement, garage, or somewhere else where noise won’t be an issue.
Keep an eye on your rock tumbler as it turns. If the barrel looks like it’s bulging, remove the lid momentarily to let the excess gas escape. Baking soda isn’t essential for making sea glass; however, it’s good to have on hand as it could help prevent an inconvenient mishap.
The longer you weather the glass, the smoother it will become. As a result, overly refined sea glass won’t look as authentic.
Do not pour the muddy water down the drain. It will quickly re-solidify inside the pipes, clogging them and wreaking havoc on your plumbing. [9] X Research source To dispose of the liquid grit leftover from tumbling, take the bucket outside and dump it in the grass.
Natural sea glass is somewhat rough and murky, with a sort of “frosting” along the outer surface. Adding ½ a tablespoon (7. 2 g) of TXP aluminum oxide to your final load can lend your tumbled glass a more brilliant, polished finish. [11] X Research source
If jewelry’s not your thing, try stringing pieces of sea glass together to make a keychain.
No piece of sea glass is the same, meaning no crafted sea glass piece is the same. Embrace the odd angles and shapes of the sea glass by arranging them randomly on the frame—just make sure you leave enough window space to see the picture.
Put pieces of sea glass of all shapes, sizes, and colors in the jar or container to add depth to your centerpiece.
Try matching the sea glass color to your flowers to tie everything together.
Try drawing or outlining your image first. This way, you can arrange the sea glass inside the picture before gluing.
