richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 3, 2016 12:54:45 GMT -5
I've had my Harbor Freight 3lb tumbler for almost a year and recently I noticed a problem with the rubber that is on the lid. Basically a hole has worn in the rubber over the little bump where the screw penetrates the metal plate that gives the lid its rigidity.
Does anyone know know where I can find a replacement for that piece of rubber?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 3, 2016 13:10:54 GMT -5
I thought I had heard on here before that the lortone boot gaskets for the harbor freight barrels. Might be worth calling shawn at the rock shed. He may know the answer. Some folks place something in between the top of the screw and the lid gasket to prevent that problem. I only use lortone barrels and have never worn through one yet. www.therockshed.com/partslortone.htmlChuck
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Post by wigglinrocks on Dec 3, 2016 13:25:12 GMT -5
I read somewhere the barrels and barrel parts are interchangeable . We put a band aid over the screw end to give it some extra cushion . Not sure if it helps , but someone on here suggested it so we figured what the heck , can't hurt .
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 3, 2016 14:31:50 GMT -5
Thanks, hopefully it will work. Looks like the Lortone one has a bit of extra rubber to avoid this problem. I think I might be able to just buy a complete Lortone barrel and use that
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Post by wigglinrocks on Dec 3, 2016 18:16:44 GMT -5
I just got a lid liner for a lortone 3a a couple weeks ago for someone . That rubber is quite a bit thicker than the ones on our harbor freight . Also , the lortone liner has a bump formed into it where the screw head is . May be some extra protection .
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Dec 5, 2016 13:08:56 GMT -5
The lid liner from a lortone 3# will work on your HF tumbler barrel. A complete lortone barrel did not fit my old HF single 3# tumbler however.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 5, 2016 14:44:38 GMT -5
That is very useful information, thanks for letting me know. So far nothing is leaking. Is there harm running it with that hole in the rubber? So far it isn't leaking but if a problem does come up I will order the gasket for the Loretone 3#
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Dec 5, 2016 15:07:16 GMT -5
richardh, one of the "how-to" guides recommends putting a band-aid over the screw on the metal lid to help prevent this. It doesn't fix your current issue, but might prevent future ones.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 5, 2016 15:39:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the band aid suggestion. I'm not sure if it would have helped. From looking at my lid it looks like the rubber has worn very thin all over.
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Post by spiceman on Dec 5, 2016 20:12:51 GMT -5
I had the same issue with my HF barrel so I made some out of PVC. One for each stage. Some people don't like them but they are cheaper and do the same thing. Jamesp likes them also. The cost
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 5, 2016 20:26:22 GMT -5
Yes, I made a PVC barrel for mine but my lack of construction skills resulted in mine having less capacity than the barrel that came with the tumbler. It might work better if I make one for the two barrel tumbler so the tube can be longer and the cap doesn't take up so much volume.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Dec 7, 2016 21:23:12 GMT -5
Yes, I made a PVC barrel for mine but my lack of construction skills resulted in mine having less capacity than the barrel that came with the tumbler. It might work better if I make one for the two barrel tumbler so the tube can be longer and the cap doesn't take up so much volume. I still think one can be made with the Fernco rubber coupler and some Starboard. If you took the 6" version of that and were able to cut a channel into the inside lip, then you could create a top/bottom that would be like a Thumler's barrel. If that could be done, you'd have a VERY close match to the barrels that come with the 3# tumblers, but a bit more capacity.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 7, 2016 23:28:49 GMT -5
Yes, I made a PVC barrel for mine but my lack of construction skills resulted in mine having less capacity than the barrel that came with the tumbler. It might work better if I make one for the two barrel tumbler so the tube can be longer and the cap doesn't take up so much volume. I still think one can be made with the Fernco rubber coupler and some Starboard. If you took the 6" version of that and were able to cut a channel into the inside lip, then you could create a top/bottom that would be like a Thumler's barrel. If that could be done, you'd have a VERY close match to the barrels that come with the 3# tumblers, but a bit more capacity. I will definitely play around with it more. It isn't easy for me to shop around for a lot of these sorts of items. So far I have been to Lowes and Home Depot and my building materials have been limited to what was on the shelf there. The selection isn't that great, I guess I need to get more creative.
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
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Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 8, 2016 1:00:31 GMT -5
Order some 1/8" thick buna-n rubber from W.W.Grainger. Cut a circle a bit smaller than the o.d of the lid and Gorilla Glue it on. I have saved barrels and lids on my 12lb Lortone barrels doing this.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 8, 2016 6:06:19 GMT -5
Order some 1/8" thick buna-n rubber from W.W.Grainger. Cut a circle a bit smaller than the o.d of the lid and Gorilla Glue it on. I have saved barrels and lids on my 12lb Lortone barrels doing this. Thanks, I will give that a try!
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Post by greig on Dec 8, 2016 9:18:26 GMT -5
I have no idea if this will work, but why not try a bicycle tire repair - glue on a patch?
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 8, 2016 10:35:03 GMT -5
I have no idea if this will work, but why not try a bicycle tire repair - glue on a patch? I had a similar idea. I went to the auto parts store and bought a thin sheet of rubber for making gaskets from. I cut out a piece about the size of a quarter and used epoxy to glue it on. When I opened the tumbler the next time I noticed that the rubber around the edges of my patch was already starting to form another hole and also the epoxy doesn't seem to be holding my patch on very well. I can see one side is already starting to lift up. I need a much larger patch and different adhesive or at lest a better technique for applying the adhesive.
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Post by greig on Dec 8, 2016 12:03:26 GMT -5
For sure don't use epoxy. It is too hard. You want something that stays flexible. This is why I was thinking the rubber cement used on inner tubes. Good luck with your project.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 8, 2016 14:54:56 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice, I will get some rubber cement.
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Post by spiceman on Dec 9, 2016 13:05:43 GMT -5
As a quicker fix, maybe. First, I don't know how big the leak is but try Vaseline or Chapstick around the surface. It keeps the rubber pliable and could seal the gap. Again don't know how big it is. Make sure the area around the lid and can are clean. Also the metal lid can't have any areas that are not smooth all around the lid. (No concave or convection areas) if the barrel pictured is correct.
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