fredda
starting to shine!
Member since May 2007
Posts: 25
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Post by fredda on Jul 8, 2007 10:55:58 GMT -5
I am wondering if anyone has a Chicago rock tumbler- single or double barrel? Appreciate any comments/opinions you may have on this brand of tumbler. Thanks, fredda  |
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Post by catmandewe on Jul 8, 2007 11:58:25 GMT -5
HI fredda,
I have several of them, I got a good buy on an estate sale.
They seem to wear out quite a bit faster than the name brand tumblers, and they go through belts/motors much faster than the name brand tumblers. I also have some lortone and some thumlers tumblers and I have to do very little maintenance on them, but I am constantly fixing the Chicago electric ones.
Good luck with whatever you get.................Tony
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Post by deb193 on Jul 8, 2007 12:11:46 GMT -5
Yeah, most folks here hate CE tumblers. ALso, the CE vibe is not for rocks - can't add water.
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cleo12797
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 279
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Post by cleo12797 on Jul 8, 2007 13:05:35 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up Tony! A local shop here tried to sell me one. I'll stick with the Lortone then.
Ang
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fredda
starting to shine!
Member since May 2007
Posts: 25
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Post by fredda on Jul 8, 2007 15:38:46 GMT -5
Thanks for your replies. Yes, I have read that belt breakage can be an issue. Any more opinions are welcome. fredda |
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Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Jul 8, 2007 16:47:12 GMT -5
fredda rock tumbling can be frustrating enough without having to deal with bad Equipment. Save yourself the headache and get either a lortone or thumlers. Stay away from the CE brand. You will spend more time fixing than tumbling.
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lndcrz47
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2007
Posts: 153
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Post by lndcrz47 on Jul 8, 2007 17:51:51 GMT -5
l've worked with tools my whole life,if you only need a tool for one job-one time CE from Harbor Freight is a good deal,don't plan on it working for job two,lol E  |
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Jul 8, 2007 19:23:58 GMT -5
I bought 2 CE,s when I first started, along with all the above, my other problem was getting parts when I had a problem. They sent me a bad barrel and it took me 3 months to get it replaced. I now use Thumlers.
Terry
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fredda
starting to shine!
Member since May 2007
Posts: 25
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Post by fredda on Jul 9, 2007 8:33:25 GMT -5
I really appreciate all the comments about this product. Sev of you expressed probs--motor, etc. Hate to ask but could yas be a bit more specific as to the probs. Small words, please.
Thanks, fredda ;D
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nightop
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 132
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Post by nightop on Jul 9, 2007 15:54:43 GMT -5
I have one of the CE dual barrel tumblers. It was always (everyother day or sooner) breaking belts. I then bought a few Lortone belts, the first one lasted a week or more and the current one has lasted several months now. Have not had motor problems yet and it has served me well enough. However if it had not been given to me as a gift I would have bought a Lortone.
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fredda
starting to shine!
Member since May 2007
Posts: 25
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Post by fredda on Jul 9, 2007 17:47:18 GMT -5
Nightop-- I am wondering if you ever use your double barrel model with just a single barrel? I have read that that is not advisable, but it did not say why. Any comment on that? I have never had a 2 barrel tumbler and am wondering if 2 single barrel ones might be better--- Thanks, fredda |
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Jul 9, 2007 17:50:15 GMT -5
Looks like I am alone here but I have never had a problem with the CEs, I have three. One has been running every second for ten months.
As for the belts, I knew about them before I bought the tumbler so bought better belts from ebay and replaced the original before it was turned on, not one of those have broken.
Spike
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Post by Michael John on Jul 9, 2007 18:02:39 GMT -5
So what happens if you use water in a Chicago Electric vibe tumbler? Seems odd since hardly any water is used.
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Post by catmandewe on Jul 9, 2007 18:07:20 GMT -5
I have 6 CE's and only 2 still have working motors, I also buy my belts in lots of 25, their belts are wishy washy, one will last a day, the next one may last a week, right now I have 3 that have had the same belts for several months, until the motor let go on one of them last week so I am now down to 2 that still work. But if you look on the bright side, I have 4 parts machines (as long as I dont need motors!!!)
And running one barrel in a 2 barrel machine shouldn't make any difference, the shaft still turns the same, if anything it should put less stress on your belt and motor. I have done it when I have not had time to fill a barrel for a week or so, but I usually try to keep all my barrels full.
Tony
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fredda
starting to shine!
Member since May 2007
Posts: 25
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Post by fredda on Jul 9, 2007 18:09:48 GMT -5
Spikeict-- It has been suggested to me to replace the orig. CE belt with a Lortone. Are the Ebay ones you got the kind listed 5 for $ for CE or what? Can/will you link me to the seller you used?
Appreciate it, fredda
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Jul 9, 2007 18:19:48 GMT -5
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hoganflagle
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 62
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Post by hoganflagle on Jul 9, 2007 18:27:51 GMT -5
I have both a single barrel Harbor Freight CE and a dual Rock Shed Lortone 33B. I have run both since April. The CE went through it's original belt after three weeks and I replaced it with an Ebay belt that has held up since.
Both machines shed black dandruff from the belts. Both machines had to have the belts tightened a few times. The CE has a shutoff switch, the Lortone has none and has to be unplugged for shutoff.
I like both, but Harbor Freight does not offer replacement belts or drums that I can find. Rock Shed has a large selection of parts and is faster with shipping.
I am kicking around the idea of creating a 3 barrel machine with parts from Grainger because 1. Whoever it was that said I would want to expand my tumbling equip is right. and 2. I like being a mad scientist sometimes.
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
Member since May 2006
Posts: 898
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Post by dtcmor on Jul 9, 2007 21:16:39 GMT -5
I have been using a CE dual 3# now for about a year. The only problems I've encountered are the belts. I replaced the original plastic motor pulley with a metal one that Rocklicker sent to me. Another thing to watch out for would be the plastic bushings on the roller shafts, but if you keep a drop of oil in them from time to time they won't wear as fast.
I did find some o-rings from the local NAPA auto parts store that do seem to last longer than the replacement belts. When worst comes to worst, I have even used rubber bands with good results to keep a load going until I get more belts. If you don't mind having to tinker with them - the CE tumblers will get you tumbling for cheap.
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nightop
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 132
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Post by nightop on Jul 10, 2007 9:25:14 GMT -5
Yes, I have used a single barrel on the 2 barrel machine, in fact I would guess that it probably has ran more with a single barrel than 2 barrels because I only use polish in the 2nd barrel. In the primary barrel I do the 2nd grit, another finer grit, and finally tripole, then I move the rocks to the polish barrel. It is probably just an illusion but when running the single barrel it seems to turn faster than when running the dual barrel. Could be belt slippage or strain on the motor, I don't know.
Hoganflagle: Harbor Freight does offer replacement parts, I know the first time I needed belts that I ordered them through Harbor Freight. Look in your instruction manual or you can find the manual online and there is a number to call along with the parts list. I am thinking I am going to need a new barrel at some point in the not too distant future.
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Post by Tonyterner on Jul 10, 2007 9:58:31 GMT -5
I purchased a single barrel model about 2 months ago. It was on sale at Harbor Freight for $20. I have had it running constantly ever since. The belt that came with it only lasted a couple of days but I knew about this ahead of time and purchased extra belts on ebay, 5 for $5. These belts are of much better quality. They last about 3 weeks or so. I do oil the bearings every couple of days.
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
