Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
|
Post by Rogue Trader on Dec 22, 2008 11:44:13 GMT -5
Anyone have any experiance with using these suppliers and/or this model of tumbler?
Thanks in advance
John
|
|
pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
|
Post by pebblepup on Dec 22, 2008 11:54:31 GMT -5
I have a Chicago Rotary Tumbler and have had many issues with it before I rebuilt it. The link is to a post I did on my web site that explains my experience with this tumbler. www.pebblepup.com/chicago-electric-tumbler |
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 22, 2008 13:15:08 GMT -5
I don't have any experience with them myself, but from the posts I've read you end up spending more time and probably more money repairing them than if you had bought a better quality tumbler to begin with.
If you buy one, buy extra belts at the same time or find a brand name belt that fits. Those go frequently. If you look on eBay, you'll see auctions for just the belts. Look for spare motors, too, as pebblepup found out.
Chuck
Chuck
|
|
CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
|
Post by CUL-Ann on Dec 22, 2008 13:19:29 GMT -5
trash !!!
not having $$$ for a tumbler I got 2 one didn't last though one tumble the other one we have it's not running more then running. We also went though a lot of belts and the only item we found to work as a belt for more than 24 hours is a hair holder band the kind without a clip.
|
|
Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
|
Post by Rogue Trader on Dec 22, 2008 13:21:30 GMT -5
I'm not thinking of buying one. An online friend of mine bought two of them off ebay. He sold all his UK made ones to fund buying the two new ones off ebay. He's had them for two weeks and one has a burnt out motor now and the other has somehow bent and twisted. Does anyone know if he can do a claim back from paypal because the goods were not fit for purpose   |
|
1rockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 286
|
Post by 1rockhound on Dec 22, 2008 13:32:09 GMT -5
No!!!!!!!!!! They are not the manufacturers there just the resellers. I am a seller on eBay and I would be quite pissed if somebody did a charge back on a new factory sealed item. Plus if you do a paypal claim you are required to send the products back to the seller at your own expense and provide proof of delivery. Being in the UK and assuming the seller is in the states that probably will cost you more than the actual price of the item.
|
|
drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
|
Post by drjo on Dec 22, 2008 13:55:54 GMT -5
Just fix them for him ;D
|
|
chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
|
Post by chassroc on Dec 23, 2008 9:06:48 GMT -5
It is not a good way to start, but then again, neither is the Rolling Stones plastic tumbler, but that is the way lots of people start the hobby. I guess it is better to start with inexpensive equipment and buy quality if you enjoy it.
If you like to tinker, there is nothing wrong with CE tumblers. I don't know them by model number but I have a single 3 pound CE tumbler for quite a while.
The first thing to go is the drive belt. I have about 5 at home on any given time so it's never an issue to me.
The pulley goes next. It is plastic and shears; you can try gluing or other remedies but eventually you will want to buy a lortone metal pulley; you might have to bore out the center hole a fraction to fit.
The barrel is slightly too large(or the tumbler is slightly too small) and there is excessive friction, but just an annoyance.
The motor seems to last as long as the Lortone.
csroc
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Dec 23, 2008 10:02:47 GMT -5
Harbour freight is the actual distributer for them. The Ebay guys are just reselling them. www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90979I don't think he has much of a paypal claim as he recieved the product he bought in the expected condition. They are Chinese made junk, but thats what he bought. I think I would follow chassroc's advice and repair it. Just use an o-ring untill you get a lortone belt. Then use lortone parts for the pulley and motor if/when they go. Or do what I did (yes I own 2 of these) throw out everything but the barrels and use them on a homebuilt tumbler. |
|
CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
|
Post by CUL-Ann on Dec 23, 2008 11:07:58 GMT -5
Saskrock,
can you tell us how you made your own tumbler to fit the barrels??
photos with would be nice;-))
I now have 4 barrels and 2 junk tumblers!!
|
|
drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
|
Post by drjo on Dec 23, 2008 11:35:20 GMT -5
Since there wasn't a link to the original sale, I can only speak about the HarborFreight unit. People are over using them since in the advertisement it states... "Get a smooth, polished finish on rocks, semi-precious stones, glass, even metals! Quiet low-speed tumblers are designed to run for days at a time, ensuring a smooth, lustrous finish. That's the reason I didn't purchase them, no matter the cost. Same as buying a vibe that's intended for munitions and then not being happy with it when it doesn't tumble your rocks well enough.
Humvee's and Honda's both have 4 wheels and an "H" but which would you rather run into another car with?
Or sitnwrap complaining cause her mixer doesn't twist the wire right ;D.
We need to buy purpose built equipment, make it ourselves or buy inappropriate equipment, but then live with the decision.
Dr Joe
.
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Dec 23, 2008 12:45:00 GMT -5
Ask and you shall recieve CUL-Ann  It will fit 5 or maybe 6 CE barrels (I only have 3), it will also fit 4" PVC homebuilt barrels such as shown. It uses 2 - 1/2" shafts that ride in bearings that are recessed into the wood supports. Powered by a used furnace motor that I got for free from the local heating/AC company (I had to get it out of a old furnace myself from their metal recycle pile). Its been running 2yrs non stop. If you look at the CE's as a parts source, they are actually one of the cheapest sources of rubber barrels. |
|
88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
|
Post by 88pathoffroad on Dec 23, 2008 13:05:29 GMT -5
I have one sitting in pieces in my garage...first the belt broke, then another and another, then the pulley split in half. AFAIK the motor still works but the rest is just plain cheaply-made, cheaply-designed Chinese crap.  Best bet with the HF tumblers is to buy one new with the warranty and take it back every time it breaks on you. |
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 23, 2008 14:11:17 GMT -5
Saskrock: What did you use for bearings? I have some Chinese pillow blocks, but they weren't very well made, either.
Chuck
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Dec 23, 2008 15:30:00 GMT -5
They are just standard sealed bearings. I just tapped them onto the shaft with a hammer (they are fairly snug) and they sit in holes drilled about halfway through the board. I thought about using pillow blocks, but I thought this would stand up as there really isn't much force on the bearings and it cost under $10 for all 4 bearings. 2 years run time says I'm right. I bet the Chinese pillow blocks would probably work if they have bearings, if they are bushings I would buy 4 bearings like I did. Never had much luck with bushings.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 23, 2008 16:29:01 GMT -5
They're bearings, but they haven't lasted. If I get motivated to build a tumbler again I'll get the missing parts from McMaster-Carr.
Chuck
|
|
drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
|
Post by drjo on Dec 23, 2008 20:14:32 GMT -5
Nice job Saskrock that's what I'm talking about, now if they just sold the drums separately  . Did you use plugs with the PVC barrels? Bushings are only for spinning a shaft, any load and they wear. I had a lot of manufacturers over the years that tried to go cheap and use bushings instead of bearings and ended up discontinuing or upgrading the units. There are harder bronze bearings that can take some load, but it's not worth the trouble. I've retrofitted alot of equipment to bearings also. Do you have any problems with drum slippage without covering the shafts? Dr Joe . |
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Dec 24, 2008 1:25:45 GMT -5
I have it running right now with plumbers plugs (first time). I used to have screw on caps but they were bad for getting grit caught in the threads and sticking. It slipped with the PVC but not the CE barrels at first so I put a few wraps of tape along the shaft. That wore off quickly, leaving the shaft a bit grippy/sticky. Not a problem after that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 24, 2008 7:45:07 GMT -5
Dr. Joe, maybe we should have a tumbler group build?
Chuck
|
|
CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
|
Post by CUL-Ann on Dec 24, 2008 18:10:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the photo==now to get one made;-)))
|
|
Best bet with the HF tumblers is to buy one new with the warranty and take it back every time it breaks on you.
.
Nov 14, 2024 18:17:57 GMT -5
*
Nov 14, 2024 18:17:57 GMT -5
*
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
