I would tumble. I didn't for my birdbath because I was just too danged impatient, and let me tell you what. That thing has its own theft deterrent system built it!! There are some extremely sharp edges on it. I think I'll go back with my dremel tool and try to dull them a bit.

I've never tumbled.

I don't ALWAYS tumble and sometimes I nip afterwards and have some sharp edges.

Flat things tend to have less sharp edges after grouting. If it's something that will be handled or walked on, I'd tumble for sure. You can grind or sand down after, but it seems tedious to me

Maria

I've never tumbled.

I don't always tumble but when you slice yourself grouting you make the commitment to tumble next project! LOL sometimes I'll find sharps after grouting and just run my knife steel over them to dull.

That tune? Do Bee? oh wait Howdy doody!

I never even thought of tumbling till Slow brought it up, and it think it's great! Less cuts on me as I grout.(I tend to do so much 3d stuff,) now I totally prefer it. Can hardly wait to tumble some tile again and start on my shroom!!! Unlike Klinger, the killer of tumblers!lol! Jab! I have had no problems, only success and ease with tumbling. I'd skip it if it was worth it, as I get impatient to get on with the mosaicing frenzy, but find it is sooo worth it in the long run. Not to mention that I like the finished look also. Smoother.

Personaly I tumble anything that **can** be tumbled! Not plates with gold or silver rims or real Van gogh, etc....just everything else. Got a really inexpensive rock tumbler and let 'er rip!

Pat

Tumble, tumble... bo-bumble... banana pana foe-fumble... fee fie moe-mumble! TUMble! :) I bought a tumbler after reading messages from everyone about them. Used it on the first glass I cut... but then found that I couldn't plan ahead well enough... was cutting smaller pieces and THEY weren't tumbled.
So... haven't done it again.
However... I'm very new at this... and haven't grouted anything yet.

I tumble most everything. I find I am starting to build a supply of tumbled glass, which is great to have. For a while I was in a frenzy, thinking of multiple projects so I cut and tumbled lots of colors. Then I didn't use them. It's nice to be able to reach for some glass that is tumbled now.

My rule is that if I think children might run their fingers over it, then tumble. Grouting doesn't hide or cover all of the rough edges.

And Bama is so right - the heavier your item is, the better to have the glass tumbled. A friend asked her father to move her birdbath and he almost lost his finger by cutting it on the glass. They had to rush him to the hospital for stitches.

I have to say that I was thankful to have tumbled all the tesserae for my column, seeing as I had to heft that against my chest and lower it into place by sliding it down my body. Sharps and wieght don't mix!

I tumbled everything for the Pre K safari table because of children. And I of course will tumble everything that I offer the 10 yr olds at the BD party.

I've only tumbled tiny batches in a jar with water. Mostly use untumbled. Too impatient, and don't own a tumbler. But I KEEP thinking about getting an old electric ice cream freezer for the job.

After grouting warrior.........maybe I ought to invest in a tumbler!

I've never tumbled . Ny fingers show it. I usually lay my pieces down as I Cut - I don't know how I'd get everything back in place if I picked them all up and tumbled them ...

I haden't tumbled until this year. Janie is right I had some tumbler issues, killed one she lent me, and had to get a coworker to fiddle with mine so I didn't kill belts every time I used it. I think it is the only way to go for 3d or heavy items. If something was perfectly flat and all pieces being mosaiced were the exact same height then it wouldn't be as necessary. It really doesn't take too much longer. I've found the bleeding while grouting thing to be a big nuisance, hehe,
Cindy