showet
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2015
Posts: 65
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Post by showet on Aug 4, 2015 17:12:14 GMT -5
I am looking to buy a vibratory tumbler and I see that harbor freight has a 5 lb model for $52. It is not designed to use wet but I have seen reviews from people saying they use it that way without any problems.
Does anyone know if this is worth $52? Sound pretty cheap if it would even last even a couple of years. I don't necessarily want the cheapest thing but I don't want to spend money unnecessarily either if the Harbor Freight model will do the job.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 4, 2015 20:16:33 GMT -5
There are a ton of vibrating tumbler users on the forum but not one that I can think of uses the harbor freight version. Most cheaper vibrating tumblers are really only made for cleaning shell casings. I would say the two most popular brands are thumblers and lot-o but there are a few others too like the raytech and diamond pacific mini-sonics.
I have had my main lot-o vibe running 24-7 for three years with zero issues and lots of pretty shiny rocks. Getting them used on ebay can be a good option to bring the price of a brand name one down to a reasonable range. The two I use now were purchased used and I just ordered another one used this week.
Chuck
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Post by Peruano on Aug 4, 2015 20:20:08 GMT -5
Asking for preferences on vibratory tumblers is as bad as debating motor oils, pickups, or pizza ingredients. Lots of diversity of opinion. I've heard reviews of HF tumblers go both ways so, you might be risking the 50. For me, the Raytech Tumble Vibe 5 has performed great for the $100 it costs. The smallest Gyroc has also done well even when I load it with rocks I suspected were too big for it. Yes you can spend more, but these machines will do a lot for you. Welcome to the tumbling culture. Tom
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,771
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Post by Mark K on Aug 4, 2015 21:36:55 GMT -5
HF tumblers are too light weight. You will waste your money. I borrowed a friend's one time and got a few hour out of it before it broke.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Aug 4, 2015 21:47:24 GMT -5
Check with Mr. Val Carver at Minnesota Lapidary Supply. He usually has a supply of used machines in house that are in good working order !
Harley
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Post by broseph82 on Aug 5, 2015 8:30:57 GMT -5
The HF you speak of are meant for metal and not rocks. There's a reason why people don't suggest them. I think the rocks may tear the machine up. Also I think they vibratory HF models tend to walk around the room or off the table too. I do have some HF rotary tumblers and one has been going strong for a year and a half almost non-stop. We've discussed this in detail in many threads if you'd like to search for them and just do a little light reading.
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showet
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2015
Posts: 65
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Post by showet on Aug 5, 2015 9:06:56 GMT -5
OK, thanks everyone for the suggestions. I guess I am going with a Thumbler.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,771
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Post by Mark K on Aug 5, 2015 10:55:59 GMT -5
Oh absolutely.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 5, 2015 12:42:00 GMT -5
OK, thanks everyone for the suggestions. I guess I am going with a Thumbler. a little warning if you choose the thumbler brand. thumbler makes two versions of their vibrating tumblers. the cheaper ones you will find online are not for rocks. those ones are for doing brass shell casings and metal de-burring. You will want to get one from an actual lapidary supplier www.therockshed.com/tumbler3.htmlwww.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/category.php?catID=1035&page=2Chuck
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 5, 2015 14:19:32 GMT -5
The Thumler's "Industrial" is the one they warranty for rocks.
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showet
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2015
Posts: 65
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Post by showet on Aug 5, 2015 16:22:22 GMT -5
Thank you very much for this info. It is very difficult to find any information about the difference of the yellow and blue stripe even on Thumler's site. They talk about the Industrial model but do not really explain the differences. Of course most sellers don't talk about it or possibly don't even know the difference especially if they are selling the yellow stripe.
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Enigman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 163
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Post by Enigman on Aug 13, 2015 12:42:53 GMT -5
I see that harbor freight has a 5 lb model for $52 One thing to keep in mind about anything from Harbor Freight. They tend to be Chinese made knock-offs of the real equipment. The price is your biggest hint. For example, I bought a Chicago Electric rotary tumbler with twin 3 pound barrels when my wife sent me the eBay link and told me to buy it "for my birthday". I had immediate problems and even tried to call Harbor Freight about parts. They actually disavowed any knowledge of the machine even though they had belts on their website. After pointing that out, they said 'Well, we don't support it any more." So, being a mechanical engineer in a younger age, I set about rebuilding it into a usable machine. I discovered that it is such a ripoff of the Lortone 33 that I could use Lortone parts to fix it up. Had I known about Harbor Freight, a.k.a. Chicago Electric, before-hand, I would have bought the Lortone. Despite what China may think, there is no real replacement for US made equipment.
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