Rockhead
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2004
Posts: 4
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Post by Rockhead on Jul 10, 2004 6:40:42 GMT -5
Harbor Freight Tools is a multi-location store specializing in tools of all kinds from simple hand tools to highly specialized stuff like welders and metal lathes. Their claim to fame is very low prices. Most everything they carry is imported from China.
I found 3 lb. rock tumblers in stock there for about $30. Knowing that this is a very good price I bought one. It seems reasonably well made for 30 bucks and they include an extra drive belt. Good thing too - the first belt broke after two weeks. The "belt" is just a large O-ring and O-rings are made for compression not tension. I suspect the second belt will break soon.
I also picked up a nice set of Chinese needle nose pliers and wire cutters for around $10. There are six items in the set and they seem much better quality than the $5 set they had on the shelf right next to it.
Harbor Freight Tools seems to have a store in most of the larger cities. Check out their web site to find the store nearest to you.
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 10, 2004 17:57:29 GMT -5
yes, that is where my dad got my first tumbler (Xmas present), and yes indeed, the belts break with regularity, maybe once a month. the belts that actually come with the units break rather quickly (dried out perhaps?), i ordered 10 more from the 1-800 line they provide (a buck a piece so it is not a bad deal really.) and those ones seem to last a bit longer. it's a good starter machine, cheap and cheerful to see if you are into the whole thing.
but, as usual, you get what you pay for, you buy a 20 dollar helmet for a 20 dollar head i was once told.....in a car racing context, you can get my meaning.
but yeh, that is what i have been happily tumbling with since January and now i have placed an order for a few Lortone #3.........in for a penny in for a pound, i'm in this now for the long haul. more, more, more.
KD
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aquababie19
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since June 2004
Posts: 97
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Post by aquababie19 on Jul 12, 2004 15:40:18 GMT -5
i have that same tumbler from harbor freight. my only complaint is about the belt. i got it when it was on sale for $19.99. i bought some replacements belts from ebay. those have been working great. i've been tubmling for at least 2-3 months on that first belt.
i will end up getting a lortone as well. but this one was ok for me to start on.
i also picked up a six peice plier set for $4.99 as well two weeks ago. i use these for my jewelry making.
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Post by docone31 on Jul 21, 2004 1:13:23 GMT -5
Hey, all of us with the Harbor Freight specials, especially the ones with the infamous belts. I have found a solution! A long time ago, in a Galaxy far far away, Dudley DooRight, and Tennessee Tuxedo came in a vision. Earthworm they said, what is the fuss over the belts? Back when days were cold, and knights were bold, the Singer Sewing Machine company had pedal powered sewing machines.
Yeah but, the point? They had a leather belt and it is still sold, or can be ordered from them and many other sewing machine places.
I had to break out my handkerchief and orange and three candles. But the belt is too big!
They all come in three foot lengths, the caterpillar told me, and they come with three metal clips. Discard the metal clips, get two small brass screw eyes slightly smaller than the diameter of the leather cord. Open one up slightly and you have a durable, removeable belt. Adjustment is done by clipping off small parts when it stretches with fingernail clippers.
Whoah, epiphany! That belt will last for years and I will have 2.5 more feet of repair belts. With the rest I could save for more repairs, tie up the wife, hang a petchuli bottle. Whoah.
Caterpillar, what do I owe you?
A pound of flesh, first born child, sleepless nights, research into stones and an obligation to have friends at the newyears party think you have lost your mind.
The Singer leather belt works great! A little goes a long way, and it is still available.
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Jul 21, 2004 13:50:10 GMT -5
Hey Doc, could you post a picture of one of the belts that you've retro-fitted for a tumbler. I'm having a little trouble imagining what you are describing.
Thanks, Bob
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 21, 2004 14:06:22 GMT -5
i have this image in my head of the belt suspended in air, like the Cheshire Cat's grin, over a rusted pile of dead tumbler.....still turning.....
KD
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aquababie19
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since June 2004
Posts: 97
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Post by aquababie19 on Jul 21, 2004 14:29:25 GMT -5
my mom and i have a singer that is at least 30 years...pedal operated. i can't think of the last time a belt broke. great idea!
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 27, 2004 19:52:03 GMT -5
Harbor Freight is opening a store within 15 miles of me now.......it will be interesting to see how it does.
KD
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Post by Jemima66 on Jan 11, 2005 9:04:30 GMT -5
I bought a new 2 barrel 3 pound tumbler sold by Harbor Freight (Chicago tumbler) off Ebay new. I am new to rock tumbling and know nothing, but I followed the directions precisely. When we first started it up, it immediately began to bounce off one of the stops, wearing away at the plastic of the stop. Not good. By day three, somehow the tumbler had stopped, but had burned a mark in one of the barrels and had rubbery goop on the shaft. As well as rubber particles all over. Got it up and running again (now there was hardly any plastic left on the stops) and the rubber knob started rubbing against the metal case containing the motor, as well as additional rubber flakes, etc. Day four it had stopped again. Got it running again, then the belt broke. Replaced belt, but as long as the barrels were on it, it wouldn't move. The seller could not tell me what he thought went wrong. I sent it back yesterday AT MY EXPENSE . . . OUCH . . . and he said he'd send me out a new model. Can anyone tell me what may have gone wrong, and how it could possibly be prevented? If I get the new one and anything goes wrong with it, I'm out the money.  Thanks! |
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Jan 11, 2005 23:21:23 GMT -5
I started out with a Chicago Electric tumbler. I have also picked up a thumbler's tumber & lortone.
The C/E is always going down and requiring repairs. The "cheap" tumber has cost me more in maintenance than the expensive tumblers (lortone & thumbler's) that have not required any maintenance at all.
My advive, cut your losses & get a better tumbler.The old saying you get what you pay for comes to mind.
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Post by docone31 on Jan 11, 2005 23:51:08 GMT -5
My first tumbler was a C/E 2bbl tumbler. I loved it. The belt broke off real quickly and I replaced it with a Singer Sewing machine belt I shortened. Worked great. I used two screw eyes, one in one end, the other in the other end. I opened up each one so I could connect them.
The motor crapped out much later and I replaced it with a loretone motor. Direct replacement.
I did notice, the machine needed to be solidly set. All four corners had to line to 0. I screwed mine down at all four corners, and lubed the nylon bushings.
I rather enjoyed it. I later got a Loretone 33B and it did not give the service my C/E did. I ended up replacing the motor in the 33B with the motor I had put in my C/E! I eventually used all four bbls to tumble. I just kept one bbl for one grit. I got real good results from the lack of cross contamination. I kinda miss my old faithful.
Watch for it being level. An unlevel condition twists the drive rod, and the slave. That makes the bbls put too much pressure on the nylon washer. Make sure the lid is to the nylon washer. It will tear up the rubber bbls.
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Jan 12, 2005 8:39:10 GMT -5
We have a Harbor Freight here in Flint, MI and I won't go there. That place is a zoo! Too much crowded into too little space with nobody working to answer questions or to help in any way. Two people can hardly pass in an aisle, and with my cane or crutchs it's all can do to keep from being knocked down.
Ron
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Post by charles sroczynski on Jan 12, 2005 16:18:36 GMT -5
I've got a lortone 33b - ;D excellent machine ;D and I would guess American made
I purchased one of those Harbor Freight 3# tumblers and had the same belt problem everyone has, so you go out and but another 5 or ten and the price is suddenly 5-10 dollars more and closer to the Lortone. These machines seem to run faster than the Lortones so I try to use them exclusively for the course grit stage ( assuming that a faster tumble is most desireable for course grinding and more rapid shaping)?? I wonder if faster or slower tumbling speed is more desireable?
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rickityrock
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2004
Posts: 23
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Post by rickityrock on Feb 5, 2005 14:28:44 GMT -5
i to have purchesed supplies form harbor freight tools, i purchesed a compound miter saw and a router, while i was on my first tour of duty, my wife was making a tea table for our little girl and the blade guard hit against the blade and shatered, one of the pieces gracing her arm, and the router is slow and untrustworthy. it is a good thing they have good warrinties.
all i know is that i am never going to purchuse from there again.
rick
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earthdog
Cave Dweller 
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Feb 20, 2005 14:31:33 GMT -5
As far as the belts on the H.F. tumblers, I went to the local vacuum shop and got 2 belts, Hoover belts made by Goodyear, they are v-belts. They work fine and have not broke yet. The belt # are as follows,
3# single= "38528-1394" then "1394"
Dual 3#= "38528-034" then "0624" and "64210
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Mar 25, 2005 22:03:06 GMT -5
I bought my C/E from e-bay, ended up paying $20 more than I could have purchased from harbor freight for. Personally for someone who is new to this and don't know if they will even continue, or just do it occ., I would rather spend $39 for a twin tumbler( 2 3lb barrels). Than pay $89 for a single barrel Lortone, I know people who have had problems with them also. However when I decide I will continue doing this, I will probably invest in a Lortone or Thumbler, or a vibrator tumbler.
Terry
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Post by pinemountaintrader on Nov 9, 2005 11:58:49 GMT -5
I have 2 double barrel c/e 3 lb. tumblers, went through 5 belts in less than a week, ordered the heavy duty ones off e-bay and haven't broken one since (it's been about 6 weeks). Fried the motor on one also. I would probably invest twice as much in half as much equipment if I had it to do again but the prices at HF are seductive. The only saving grace, sort of, it that HF just keeps taking the machines back and cheerfully replacing them (even for just broken belts). Inconvenient though for sure!
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Nov 10, 2005 17:27:04 GMT -5
I had to order barrels and fans, took over three months to get. Meanwhile I went on e-bay, found a double 3Lb, and two singles, Thumlers. One was $53 but $20 was shipping( I don't do that anymore), the other single was $37 total, had been used once, and the double was $35, but it looked old. I had to buy lids for old one they wore thru, other than that, they have all been running for 4 or 5 months no problems. I did re-build one of the c/e's I bought and it has been running now for about 4 months, even same belt. I gave it to kid accross street.
Terry
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