jeanette
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2010
Posts: 11
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Post by jeanette on Oct 11, 2010 20:41:19 GMT -5
Hi, I'm another newbie. I have two questions. Sorry if they've been answered in another thread--I cd just be incompetent in doing searches.
First question: I read here that AlOxide is used for polishing, but what about other stages? Grit is very expensive to ship so I'd rather buy it locally. The only thing I've been able to find is Grade 70 Aluminum Oxide. Can that be used for the first step?
Second question: Does anyone have experience with Chicago Tools rock tumblers? I've read mixed reviews on-line. The motor has started making A LOT of noise. Usually a hum, sometimes loud, sometimes not, and it sounds like one of the rotating parts is hitting smtg. When I start it, it just hums loud and the roller doesn't turn. I have to turn it by hand, and finally it catches and starts rolling. It is getting harder and harder to start but so far, once it's started, it runs ok, apart from the noise. Sometimes the motor feels hot, but not hot enough that I can't touch it.
I tried replacing the belt, and I've oiled the roller bearings. I have no idea whether to be worried or not. Can anyone help?
Thanks, Jeanette
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Post by deb193redux on Oct 11, 2010 20:59:47 GMT -5
The motor is dying, but keep parts lubed and you can draw the death out.
Must use SiC grit.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Oct 11, 2010 21:05:04 GMT -5
This has been covered many times in the past. Did you get a 1year or 2 year warranty on it? If so you can return it for another one or get your money back. They just dont last.I speak from experience because I've had 7 of them over the last couple of years. The Lortone motor can be purchased and with some minor adjustments will fit. It can roll quite a while with that motor. I've got one working now.
snuffy
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 11, 2010 22:16:56 GMT -5
Jeanette, can you post a pic of your motor ? I may have a Loretone motor that will fit it. Don
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Post by tanyafrench on Oct 12, 2010 6:28:55 GMT -5
I also had a Chicago tumbler that did not last much more than a month and I did oil it. My son just replaced the Chicago motor with a Lortone 33B motor and the Lortone pulleys and it is working fine now. Of course that was the twin 3 lb barrels. That is cheaper than replacing the whole tumbler. Good luck! Welcome aboard the RTH, this is the place for answers. Tanya
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jeanette
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2010
Posts: 11
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Post by jeanette on Oct 12, 2010 9:42:25 GMT -5
Thanks folks. I wish I had discovered this forum before I bought the tumbler. At least the CE tumbler wasn't that expensive. The motor seized up this morning. Funnily enough, I never had trouble with the belts! Don, I'll try to post a photo tonight if I figure out how! -Jeanette
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 12, 2010 9:56:07 GMT -5
Jeanette, do you have a Photobucket account ? That's the easiest way to post pics on here. Put your pics in Photobucket. Put the curser over the pic you want to send here. A drop down menu will appear under the pic. Left click on IMG code, then copy and post that code on here where you want it. Don
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bdport
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2010
Posts: 13
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Post by bdport on Oct 12, 2010 12:28:10 GMT -5
The CE tumblers from Harbor Freight just had a facelift. The newer RED ones are much better built than the older BLUE ones. I have multiples of both revisions.The newer ones have a stronger motor.Higher density plastic pulleys.Multiple replacement belts.A little bigger "tumbler box" area (not as much rub). I think they must have engineered out a few of the faults of the older model. Too many returns and warrentied replacements probably.
As has been said before,these are NOT "works out of the box" tumblers.You must align the motor for belt tension and grease/oil the roller bearings if you want any sort of satisfaction from these. All listed in the manual, pretty easy to do though.
If this is done, no problems.
Hey they aren't Lortone or Thumblers, thats for sure. But they are 1/2 the price.
BCD
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jeanette
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2010
Posts: 11
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Post by jeanette on Oct 12, 2010 13:06:22 GMT -5
BCD, mine WAS the red one!
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Oct 12, 2010 14:24:04 GMT -5
Ditto that. the red ones are the older models. I'm glad that the product is improved, but I won't buy another one. Thje motor, pulleys, and belts on mine were total junk . The motor would be OK if the shaft bearing/cap assembly on the rotor wasn't flexible/soft/heat sensitive plastic and allowed the rotor to contact the field magnet causing, eventually, seizing. You have to toss it at that point. Lortone motors, pulleys, and belts fix the problem with some inconvenience and additional expense, but the Lortone motor is sort of gutless. The bearings on the roller shafts, housing, electric cord, and barrels themselves are actually as good as or better than the original Lortone equipment on my 33B, except that the barrels seem to wear a little faster (th3y are such close copies of the 33B that you can use the lid seals and metal lids from Lortones on the CE tumblers. The knurled nut is a different size though. The barrel bay is longer on the CE chassis, too.
About grit- you will use LOTS of coarse grit. Go ahead and buy 50 lbs from Kingsley north for a hundred bucks. It's pretty cheap in bulk. Always use silicon carbide for grinding/sanding- aluminum oxide is for prepolish and polish stages only. Think about a vibrating tumbler for all but coarse grinding. They are many times more efficient and economical to operate than rotary tumblers, but doooooon't round the stones as much as a rotary. I have a GyRoc 10 pounder (model A) I bought on this forum used and I'm totally enthralled with it. It breaks down the grit quickly and and com0pletely and requires only 3 stages to completion, not 4. I do the initial grind in the rotary to get more rounding.
Sorry you got stung on a CE (Chicago Electric) tumbler. Been there, done that. Lots of us have, too. If you want to PM me I'll walk you through the rebuild. It will take maybe 30 minutes and $30 to completely rebuild your machine.
Mark H.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Oct 12, 2010 22:11:29 GMT -5
My ChiTumbler works fine but the belt is busted. I'm thinking of upping to something with bigger buckets. Anyone interested, $12 plus shipping! Has the two three pound tumblers...
If interested I can post pics....
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bdport
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2010
Posts: 13
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Post by bdport on Oct 13, 2010 12:10:55 GMT -5
Jeanette..sorry for the probs I guess. I thought the red ones were the newer model,Ill have to look up my part numbers to be sure. I do know that my local HF had the blue ones for a long time and just recently changed to the red one which Ive had much better performance and part quality. Ive had my share of busted belts and oiling roller bearings (if you call them bearings) I suppose it it what it is..a cheap tumbler. Works for me for the price and my budget :-)
Id buy another red one if I needed it.
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jeanette
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2010
Posts: 11
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Post by jeanette on Oct 13, 2010 12:30:42 GMT -5
bdport, the price makes this a good tumbler if, like me, you're brand new to the hobby and want to find out if you like it before investing a lot of money. A Lortone is expensive if you're not going to use it. Now that I know, it's time I either buy a proper tumbler or build one!
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