nymaryannct
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2016
Posts: 15
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Tumbler
Jul 29, 2016 10:08:37 GMT -5
Post by nymaryannct on Jul 29, 2016 10:08:37 GMT -5
The first night I used my Harbor Freight Tumbler it crapped out. I will take it apart and try to fix it, n the mean time, what is a good tumbler for me to get. I will tumble mostly Slag and Rock any help will be great. the Lortone looks just like the HF one in blue. is there any difference on the motor? Thank you thank you Thank you
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Tumbler
Jul 29, 2016 10:18:31 GMT -5
Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 29, 2016 10:18:31 GMT -5
The harbor freight tumbler does not have a good reputation. There are a few people here who have had luck with them though. I prefer Lortone tumblers. My 33b has been running for about four years with few problems. I've had to replace the plastic bearings and lid liners. I also have a QT66 that has been running for about three years with no problems. I have a Thumlers AR-2 that I hate. The barrel has come off the rollers, the barrels have leaked several times and the lids wear out much quicker than the Lortone lids.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Tumbler
Jul 29, 2016 11:48:38 GMT -5
Post by richardh on Jul 29, 2016 11:48:38 GMT -5
My experience is very limited but I have a HF 3lb tumbler that I have been running continuously since April. I think maybe the product is OK but QC isn't so hot. If you can exchange it for another one you might be able to get one that lasts longer.
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Tumbler
Jul 30, 2016 15:29:59 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Toad on Jul 30, 2016 15:29:59 GMT -5
The only rotary tumblers I've had are Lortone. Love them.
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salpal48
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2015
Posts: 136
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Tumbler
Aug 9, 2016 20:08:15 GMT -5
Post by salpal48 on Aug 9, 2016 20:08:15 GMT -5
. Harbor Freight Products are Good If you don't Use Them. I only use Lortone, Sears, Star diamond . The older One still seem to be the Best.
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Tumbler
Aug 9, 2016 20:44:40 GMT -5
Post by vegasjames on Aug 9, 2016 20:44:40 GMT -5
I have a HArbor freight 2 barrel tumbler running right now. It has been going for several week now just to soften up some edges on some sharp rock. Have run it several times like this for weeks with no problem.
Maybe people are putting too much weight in the barrels causing the motor to strain.
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Tumbler
Aug 9, 2016 22:42:27 GMT -5
Post by spiceman on Aug 9, 2016 22:42:27 GMT -5
Well, I have a HF single barrel and it will be a year real soon. Replaced the lid liner but nothing else...yet. Doing a good job. Dale
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Tumbler
Aug 10, 2016 9:31:19 GMT -5
Post by tkvancil on Aug 10, 2016 9:31:19 GMT -5
I'm thinking the lortone motor may be a little better.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Tumbler
Aug 12, 2016 14:25:26 GMT -5
Post by huskeric on Aug 12, 2016 14:25:26 GMT -5
I would tend to believe that the Lortone tumbler is at least much more consistent in quality. The best HF is probably on par with the worst Lortone, which is still pretty good, but whereas Lortone's quality may waver 3% on the assembly line, HFs quality would waver about 50%. This is my opinion, but it's based on reading a LOT of posts about this very topic. The motors are probably built off from the same base mechanical spec, but the QA on the Lortone is very good, whereas on the HF, it's just cheaper to ship it without testing as rigorously. Lortone probably doesn't build their own motors, but their vendor qualification process is probably pretty darn stringent. HF, on the other hand, just says, give me a motor that meets that spec, and I want it for half of the price of the Lortone motor.
I have purchased a Thumler Model T, a Thumler AR-2, and a knockoff Thumler. All were purchased second-hand, and all have worked just fine. Heck, that may be the way to get the knockoffs is second-hand. If someone bought it and it works, they've played the Russian Roulette for you already. =) Good luck!
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Tumbler
Aug 12, 2016 22:22:52 GMT -5
Post by spiceman on Aug 12, 2016 22:22:52 GMT -5
And I had the same thing here. Went to a flea market and bought 2 tumble tumblers for 10 bucks. Still working good after months of work.A deal I could not pass up and now Im building my own. If they fail, then I'm ready... I think.
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