|
|
Post by superioragates on Aug 28, 2009 6:59:12 GMT -5
Someone I know has a Chicago twin 3 lb. barrel rotary tumbler for 50.00. I'm not sure how old it is, or anything. I was wondering if this is a good buy, or should I scrap it, and forget it, before I do it? I know the lortone and thumlers are the favs, but are the Chicago's good tumblers, or junk?
Thanks,
Marie
|
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Aug 28, 2009 7:28:21 GMT -5
Never had one, but all comments I've seen on this site have been negative. Avoid.
|
|
chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
|
Post by chassroc on Aug 28, 2009 8:20:37 GMT -5
Junk is too harsh a critique! They are similar to the Lortone but have a few breaking points like the belts and fan pulley that are extremely annoying especially if you are do a do-it-yourselfer. The Lortones are twice the price of CE's and last a good time and are easy to get parts for
$50.00 is too high a price for the CE...see the recent thread about Blue CE's
Charlie
|
|
|
|
Post by superioragates on Aug 28, 2009 8:30:37 GMT -5
ok, I'm gonna offer him 25.00 for it, if he doesn't wanna take it, then oh well, guess he'll keep it. Might be worth it just to get the extra barrels, huh? I totally missed the other thread about these, wish there was aharbor freight close by to here...man I could afford those tumblers almost!!
Thanks guys appreciate it!
Marie
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Aug 28, 2009 8:38:36 GMT -5
The biggest problem with them is the belt, it breaks the first day you can replace it with a lortone. The little pulley on the motor will will go at about 1 year use. The motor goes at about 2 years. These can both be replaced with lortone. That will give you a good tumbler for a bit cheaper than a lortone with a bit of hassel. If you gan get it for $25 though, thats 2 cheap (and good) barrels.
|
|
cman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2009
Posts: 207 
|
Post by cman on Aug 28, 2009 9:51:59 GMT -5
Buy quality and you will never have to look back.
I bought a used Chicago the sucker seems to like to do the walk.
At least I got a 25lb of walnut shells with it. What I will do with them I have no clue. Spent $25 got W Shells to fill my shelf space.
I'm not going to buy anymore of their products.
You guy's like it great. Think where things are made.
I will zip it for now.
Have A Great Day
|
|
rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
|
Post by rockdewd on Aug 28, 2009 10:09:02 GMT -5
I'm not recommending HF tumblers but your "friend's" price is higher than what you can buy a brand new one at HF right now on sale:  |
|
docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
|
Post by docharber on Aug 29, 2009 21:33:44 GMT -5
The Chicago Freight tumblers are an odd combintion of quality chassis paired with an unbelievable crummy motor, motor pulley, and belt. The barrels will accept Lortone lids and lid liners and the unit even has an on-off switch (you have to scrap it when you replace the motor unless you want to do some soldering) and heavier duty cord than the Lortone. The CE comes with metal sleeve bushings instead of flimsy nylon like the Lortone. My motor lastyed only a month. beltys are a couple of bucks, the Lortone motor and puylley can be had for about $26 from the Rock Shed. Once converted to Lortone running gear, you'll have a better tumbler than a new Lortone. One word about the barrels, though- I have discovered that while the Lortone barrels are thinner and lighter, they actually hold up better. I have two CE tumbler barrels in the Ggarage now with new patches drying on the bottoms. For the aggravation, I would check out eBay for "rle" listings and maybe the Rock Shed. for a Lortone. It's worth the extra money not to have to rebeuild the CE.
Mark H.
|
|
Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
|
Post by Terry664 on Aug 30, 2009 12:03:21 GMT -5
I would suggest you look at e-bay, you can sometimes get single barrel Thumlers, used for around $35 to $40, sometimes even double barrels. I got 2 that were like new, i used 1 for two years, then got a new AR-2 and don't use the model T's anymore. One still works, the other one has an intermittent motor problem. You can also look at Lortones on e-bay, but they usually go higher. I also have 2 CE's, but wouldn't recommend one.
Terry
|
|
|
|
Post by rocklicker on Aug 31, 2009 13:52:38 GMT -5
A used Lortone or thumblers will usually outlast and outperform a CE tumbler. I went down the CE path and nursed two of them along for about a year. I had many of the same problems. I would not recommend them unless you like fixing tumblers.
Steve
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Aug 31, 2009 17:01:07 GMT -5
I currently have two ce double barrel tumblers. I bought these on sale at harbor freight for 34.99 apiece on sale. I purchased a one year warranty on one and when one broke down,I would take it back and get a new one to replace it. Well,I have had about 6 different ones over the past two years. One is rebuilt with a lortone motor. Ive had the belts break. Can be fixed with lortone belts. Motors fried, pulleys split, shaft bearings worn out, and the barrels wearing holes out on the ends and putting layers of plastidip to fix those,and boot gaskets wearing out too soon. Currently,I have no problem with them,as one is new still in the box, and the other one is not turned on. How many you wanna buy? ;D
snuffy
|
|
