nubierocker
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2010
Posts: 14
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Post by nubierocker on Jan 9, 2010 9:18:49 GMT -5
I have read so many terrible things about these tumblers. My budget is not such to afford one of the premium brands many have at this time. I got one of the Science teck kiddie models for Christmas and love the thing. I really want to add another but all I can afford right now is the Harbor Freight one. In spite of so many having bad to terrible luck with them has anyone had any good experience with them? Would I better to practice some patience for a couple of months and get a better one after tax time? You folks all have to know that it's hard to have patience when you keep adding to the boxes of rocks to tumble and have only a tiny tumbler that holds 8oz at a time. I also homeschool my kids and run a daycare, all the kids bring in rocks and love the watching me check the tumbler, slurry and such on a regular basis. Any advice from you great folks would sure be appreciated. Vicci
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Post by superioragates on Jan 9, 2010 9:39:45 GMT -5
I would save and get a thumlers. I was gonna buy one at the flea market this past summer, and it was a CE, the guy only wanted 50.00 for it, so I was thinking...good deal right. Everyone advised me against it. You might get some diff. responses, and I would wait to hear from the folks here who have had the experiences with them, this is just my 2 cents.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 9, 2010 10:02:55 GMT -5
I'd look for a used Lortone or Thumler's before I spent money on a Chicago Electric. There should be many "used once" up for sale now or very soon now Christmas is over.
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Post by llana2go on Jan 9, 2010 10:50:37 GMT -5
I'd wait too, unless ya' just can't stand it! ;D ;D ;D
I actually had pretty good luck with my CE tumbler. It lasted about a year (I think) and tumbled a lot of rocks. Had the usual CE belt problems, then the plastic fan broke, but the motor was still going.
If I'm not mistaken, I think that somebody here said Lortone parts fit CE tumblers, so if ya' just gotta have one now, you could always replace whatever breaks on the CE with Lortone parts.
I am still using the barrel that came with the CE, so I know the barrels hold up!
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snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Jan 9, 2010 17:26:56 GMT -5
I've had plenty problems with 5 or 6 different CE tumblers. I bought em on sale at Harbor Freight on sale at 34.95.Got a 1 yr warranty on one and whenever one broke,took it back and got another. The first thing to do is get a different belt,got a lortone belt, then the next thing that will break will be the plastic pulley that splits,then the motor at maybe a year,then the shaft bushings,and I have had the barrels wear out rather quickly on the ends,pour about 1/8 inch plastidip in the bottom fixes that.If this sounds like fun.......Good luck!
snuffy
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tinker
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2009
Posts: 3
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Post by tinker on Jan 12, 2010 19:18:39 GMT -5
I'm new to tumbling, and cheap-skate that I am, I bought a new double barrel CE at HF. I think it was $39.00 on clearance. I went through about 6 belts before I finally ordered some good ones from the Rock Shed. So now I am up and running again with better belts.
The CE belts would last anywhere from 2-10 days, so you might as well save your money and not buy those.
I do like the double barrels, and I beleive the ones from CE fit the Lortone, so 1 of these days I will invest in a Loretone, and that will give me 4 barrels--1 for each phase.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Jan 13, 2010 11:59:28 GMT -5
Got my CE at HF like the others here. So far no problems. The belt issue seems odd to me, not lost one yet.
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pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
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Post by pebblepup on Jan 13, 2010 14:08:29 GMT -5
I had to replace the belt ($4.00+-) on my CE tumbler within the first month. A while later I replaced the motor ($22.50). I used Lortone parts for replacement. After that I had no problems for a couple years later when the barrel bottoms wore out. After the repairs I almost spent enough to buy a new small quality tumbler.
Some rock shops sell used tumblers. I have had better luck with the used tumblers. A few times they have been cheap enough that I purchased them just to get the parts for replacements. Good used tumblers pop up on craigslist often.
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