Chicago Rotary Tumbler - Model 90979

Dr. Joe- The bearings appear to be polyethylene at best, not nylon, not bakelite, not teflon, not anything that would cost more than a couple of cents to make. For what the Lortone costs, you should get better and they don't even use stainless rods, etc. or anything else of a high caliber under the hood. In comparison, I think the CE is just badly engineered, not necessarily more cheaply made than the Lortone. I think the CE would cost more if they came off the madee assembly line. I have think I should not expect or accept less than I pay for. Looking at the CE tumbler it could certainly be made well and sold profitably fopr the $60 it now costs. Much more sophistyicated tools are made and sold for that. I read a recent thread here saying Harbor Freight had discontinued it. And, I make no appologies for calling the vendiors of such junk predators. An item, regardless of how much it costs, should be expected to perform what it is sold for for at at least a basic level and for a reasonable length of time. One cycle is not a reasonable length of service. The Lortone is simply way overpriced for what it is. We are a captive audience, however, and have to pay what the manufacturers of this and other lapidary equipment ask for their machines. unless, of course, we make our own. Or are we really better off making our own equipment?

I am making a tumbler now. I designed it to hold a gallon sized jar or 12 lb. barrel. I may yet build a Thumbler's style barrel for it with even more capacity. So far I'm out 14.00 for bearings. 7.00 for aluminum rod stock, a couple bucks for scrap MDF, 20.00 for a Lortone motor pulley, QT12 belt, and drive pulley, 20.00 for a motor, and 3.00 for mounting hardware, etc. Add to that the value of my time, and whatever the barrel ends up costing, and a do-it-yourself tumbler can be really expensive. 10" PVC sewer pipe is almost $1 per inch. The end caps in any configuratiomn will cost at leasty another $35.00 If I went that route, the cost will be at least $101.00. No warranty and no spare parts avauilable. I also run the risk of designing it myself, and ending up with an improperly engineered machine that won't give me good service. Makes $160.00 for a Thumbler's look good, doesn't it?

Mark H.