Time
starting to spend too much on rocks
Making something positive out of COVID restrictions by learning to create jewelry out of stones.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 154
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Post by Time on Mar 15, 2023 15:16:05 GMT -5
Just wondering what issues you have had with Harbor Freight tumblers. When I started tumbling a couple of years ago it was with a Thumler M-T that I had from my cleaning pistol brass a number of years ago. After a few months the motor went out and checking Craig’s list garage sales there was a rock tumbler listed and I drove over to check it out. It was a Harbor Freight 2 barrel tumbler, the red paint was faded but every was there and at $10.00 I thought, what the heck, and bought it. I oiled the bushings and motor bearings with WD-40 and loaded it up with rocks and started it up. So far I have run it about 6 months out of the last year with no issues, I haven’t even had to change the belt that came with it. I keep a lookout for a Lortone 33 B on Craig’s list but so far no luck. I am just wondering what problems others have had with Harbor Freight tumblers that may be ahead.
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Post by liveoak on Mar 16, 2023 7:01:10 GMT -5
I've had the motor die - but at $10 what do you have to loose. Happy Tumbling
Patty
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 16, 2023 7:07:04 GMT -5
If you do a search on here for Harbor Freight, you'll see a ton of comments...
I do know a lot of people recommend 3 in 1 oil for oiling the machine...
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Post by fernwood on Mar 17, 2023 0:57:22 GMT -5
Been running one since 2016 almost constant. I changed the belt to an O-Ring before use. I use carbine oil for the bearings. Make sure the unit is level. The only problems I have had is with the nuts. The threads became stripped. I changed them for Lortone nuts and no problems since.
From what I have read, quality is hit or miss.
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dbotte
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2022
Posts: 18
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Post by dbotte on Mar 26, 2023 13:33:23 GMT -5
Due to a scam on Facebook I, instead of getting a Lortone 33B that was being sold, got a Harbor Freight "33B". I managed to get my money back and since the seller never contacted me back, I was able to keep the HF "33B" as well. Several days later the real 33Bs were in stock and was able to buy one. In the end, I ended up with the HF "33B" for free.
Anyways, I've been using it nearly everyday for several months now and it's run nearly perfect. When I say nearly perfect, I mean that mine has a bit of a "bump" on one of the rolling bars so the rolling action isn't completely smooth but not enough to affect the tumbling of rocks inside the barrel. The other thing I did was take apart the main housing and did a once over on all the moving parts, applying a little bit (a little bit goes a long way) of 3 in 1 oil to each part. The oil thickens into a black paste like crude oil or tar after a while, so you'd need to clean every month or so. Not terribly hard to do. Another gripe I have is that there is very little clearance between the house, the first barrel, the second barrel and the end of the tumbler. It's a snug fit having both barrels on at the same time. The tensioner tabs that you can move to keep the barrels away from the edges of the barrel housing are difficult to turn but if you don't have those tabs turned and always putting pressure on the barrels, the barrel's lid nut closest to the metal housing will grind away at the tip of the plastic nut. The tabs are also made of cheap plastic and they rub against the top of the barrel lid and just grind away. I put a little oil on those as well.
Other than those minor issues, the tumbler works well. Tumbles as well as a real 33B from my experience, sometimes, based on feel, it tumbles better if you can believe that. Some people say the belts are junk and snap within a week but mine hasn't snapped yet, knock on wood.
Anyway, I would get it.
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