I've been running HF tumblers for years. They work well oil them and keep them clean and level. They're also very quite. Most people just don't know how to maintain and use them. You can add a voltage regulator to control speed but depending on load should run between 30 -50 rpm. Yours looked about twice that? Your gonna crack a lot of rocks. What's the amperage and wattage of that motor because if you run that thing continuously your gonna see an increase in your electric bill.
For the backup and for any Harbor Freight Tumbler, to stop the rubbing, buy 1 inch diameter self stick felt pads, stick one on the I side of the frame on each side so the aluminum lid will rub up against them. Clean the lids very well and start rolling. Mine has lasted for two years and still no issues, cheap fix, about a dollar at the dollar store. No engineering, no worrying about slope, sick them and wipe the off on occasion.
how long does it take for the original rock tumbler to wear out ??1yr..2yrs..3yrs?? even after 2yrs/24months and the tumbler is say $75,that is a bit more than $3 a month.just buy a new tumbler and keep the old for spare parts if there are any.
po dunc - this was never an exercise in budgeting, I invent for fun. I 100% agree with you if that was the goal. I can watch something I made that was well designed for hours, adding a second dimension to the love of rock tumbling!
Bravo.......got one going my self........dc worm drive......runs solar.....big screw on thermos or 5 gallon water container .....polyurethane ribs on inside ......cheers.....
I wonder how long the wood pulleys will last. They seem to be a little wobbly. My end goal is to make a cabinet tumbler so I can run a bunch all at once. The barrels are so freaking expensive though.
Its been 4 years. Wobbly cause I didnt use a drill press. Other than that - there is no real points of rubbing friction... if the tension is right and the belt isnt slipping. Looking at them now, guessing 10 years
Great job Jonathan! You have taken your great idea and replaced the bearings because that will wear out over time. Why not replace Harbor Freights two tiny tumblers with a larger single barrel to do a bigger job. With your 1/4 hp motor you could do a bigger job in the same amount of time. Spread your rotating arms out further to accommodate a lager barrel. What were the diameter sizes of your pulleys? I like your ideas!
Thanks Larry. If you look closely, there are two more sets of holes in the frame to allow for two further spacings. It will run one of the large Thumler red octagon barrels with ease. Thanks for the interest!
Thanks Larry! The reason I didnt go for the larger Thumbler class barrel was the same reason I made this thing, no cash! Tried to buy a used read hex Thumbler with the wing nuts at the Tucson Mineral/Gem show and he still wanted $60. There is that thrill of scrap Frankensteining to life mostly.
So for all the time, expense, and engineering you could just take the stock tumbler back to Harbor Freight any time ( if!) you have a problem and they will give you a new one no sweat. With a little maintenance The HF tumbler will last years. Stick it in the corner of the garage and you wont even realize its running.
If my calculations are correct it looks like it is spinning about one rotation per second or 60RPM. Would you say about 45RPM is a good ballpark or would you go even less RPM?
Seriously all of you trying to reinvent the wheel, it's not that complicated, take a plastic card fold it in half and drop it in the end opposite of the motor, the card is the same size as the radius of the barrel, you don't need a welder or drill or skateboard wheel or shower door wheels none of that, the bands will delaminate and split, so use a large O ring instead.
I have a HF tumbler that has run a ton of rocks for three years with no problems at all. I do dip my finger in oil and rub it on the wear point on the drum lid and have yet to replace the plastic wear tabs. Maybe I am just lucky lol. Havagudun my friend.
That motor is not going to last for long. I've got one of these Harbor Freight tumblers, and they are absolute trash. I've bought three new belts for it in the past year and now the bushings have worn out. It's made to use on little Johnny's new rock polishing hobby for the approximate week he will be interested in it, and not much else.
The replacement Fasco 1/4 motor I used has a little over 4,700 run hours on her w/60% of the brushes left. I'm not making any claims - just having fun with what looks like another 3 years of run-time (belts, about one a year).
I've been running HF tumblers for years. They work well oil them and keep them clean and level. They're also very quite. Most people just don't know how to maintain and use them. You can add a voltage regulator to control speed but depending on load should run between 30 -50 rpm. Yours looked about twice that? Your gonna crack a lot of rocks. What's the amperage and wattage of that motor because if you run that thing continuously your gonna see an increase in your electric bill.
For the backup and for any Harbor Freight Tumbler, to stop the rubbing, buy 1 inch diameter self stick felt pads, stick one on the I side of the frame on each side so the aluminum lid will rub up against them. Clean the lids very well and start rolling. Mine has lasted for two years and still no issues, cheap fix, about a dollar at the dollar store. No engineering, no worrying about slope, sick them and wipe the off on occasion.
The addition of the shower curtin reel was genius!
Nice usage of the 6000 SUX clip from Robocop! I needed a grin, today.
Love the Mr. Burns attached to it! I can see him now tapping the ends of his fingers together and saying, "excellent, smithers."
I’m impressed. Love the nerdy engineering
Wow great build. I'm going to steal some of this design.
This is not "converting" a HF tumbler into something better. This is junking the HF tumbler and building your own.
how long does it take for the original rock tumbler to wear out ??1yr..2yrs..3yrs?? even after 2yrs/24months and the tumbler is say $75,that is a bit more than $3 a month.just buy a new tumbler and keep the old for spare parts if there are any.
po dunc - this was never an exercise in budgeting, I invent for fun. I 100% agree with you if that was the goal. I can watch something I made that was well designed for hours, adding a second dimension to the love of rock tumbling!
Bravo.......got one going my self........dc worm drive......runs solar.....big screw on thermos or 5 gallon water container .....polyurethane ribs on inside ......cheers.....
Solar, you say? 😮
Uhhhh, wow! Well done!
I wonder how long the wood pulleys will last. They seem to be a little wobbly. My end goal is to make a cabinet tumbler so I can run a bunch all at once. The barrels are so freaking expensive though.
Its been 4 years. Wobbly cause I didnt use a drill press. Other than that - there is no real points of rubbing friction... if the tension is right and the belt isnt slipping. Looking at them now, guessing 10 years
Great job Jonathan! You have taken your great idea and replaced the bearings because that will wear out over time. Why not replace Harbor Freights two tiny tumblers with a larger single barrel to do a bigger job. With your 1/4 hp motor you could do a bigger job in the same amount of time. Spread your rotating arms out further to accommodate a lager barrel. What were the diameter sizes of your pulleys? I like your ideas!
Thanks Larry. If you look closely, there are two more sets of holes in the frame to allow for two further spacings. It will run one of the large Thumler red octagon barrels with ease. Thanks for the interest!
Thanks Larry! The reason I didnt go for the larger Thumbler class barrel was the same reason I made this thing, no cash! Tried to buy a used read hex Thumbler with the wing nuts at the Tucson Mineral/Gem show and he still wanted $60. There is that thrill of scrap Frankensteining to life mostly.
Without the thumb screws on top of your barrels, what's holding your lids on? Or, were they left off just for this demonstration?
Good eye.... just left off for visual clarity.
So for all the time, expense, and engineering you could just take the stock tumbler back to Harbor Freight any time ( if!) you have a problem and they will give you a new one no sweat. With a little maintenance The HF tumbler will last years. Stick it in the corner of the garage and you wont even realize its running.
RPM looks high but cool design put a bigger pulley on and slow it down or add a speed controller
Motor still works? Ginge me pls a link to buy. BR
would you sell this item or make anither? and if so how much? thanks
Looks like it's spinning the barrels a little too fast.
If my calculations are correct it looks like it is spinning about one rotation per second or 60RPM. Would you say about 45RPM is a good ballpark or would you go even less RPM?
Kind of like fixing an old Junk car, Simply Jack the Gas cap up and Drive a Brand New car under it 🤣😂🤣
Good design. But needs a different size pulley. It's running a bit fast.
I tried looking up the motor you have there. Is it the Fasco refrigeration fan motor P/N25300101 Model:71639384 Type U63 RPM1550 HP1/20?
That is awesome!
Literally the only part of the HF rock tumbler remaining is the containers. It’s not a conversion it’s a replacement.
Good job. Feel free to embed your video on our homemade tools forum; looks like you're one of us :)
Search homemade 12v rock tumbler
What is the model number of the motor?
Fasco U63, 1550 rpm I think.
Seriously all of you trying to reinvent the wheel, it's not that complicated, take a plastic card fold it in half and drop it in the end opposite of the motor, the card is the same size as the radius of the barrel, you don't need a welder or drill or skateboard wheel or shower door wheels none of that, the bands will delaminate and split, so use a large O ring instead.
Why using chain like bicycle and gear of a bicycle .
Cool idea! Didnt have the welding gear
Yea I’m just gunna buy the name brand one . I love harbor freight but they do have cheap equipment. It’s all made in China and you know how that goes
I have a HF tumbler that has run a ton of rocks for three years with no problems at all. I do dip my finger in oil and rub it on the wear point on the drum lid and have yet to replace the plastic wear tabs. Maybe I am just lucky lol. Havagudun my friend.
How are the bearings free if you have to buy the skates? Btw they're rollerblades not roller skates 🤦
The set I used first was from a set of 4-wheel skates found at community dump pile.
For $50 bucks I'll just buy a new one when the HF TUMBLER fails
Better than a bought one well done 🇦🇺👍
So..... dint buy a HF tumbler and modify it to work. Buy a HF tumbler, do one thi g to it, throw it out, and build a tumbler from scratch.
Got it!
6
Completely relatively ????????????
After buying the HF tumbler and new motor etc you could have just bought a better tumbler.
Unprepared video and I don’t put up with “umhs”!
First mistake is walking into a HARBOUR FREIGHT unless you enjoy being let down.
That motor is not going to last for long. I've got one of these Harbor Freight tumblers, and they are absolute trash. I've bought three new belts for it in the past year and now the bushings have worn out. It's made to use on little Johnny's new rock polishing hobby for the approximate week he will be interested in it, and not much else.
The replacement Fasco 1/4 motor I used has a little over 4,700 run hours on her w/60% of the brushes left. I'm not making any claims - just having fun with what looks like another 3 years of run-time (belts, about one a year).
*this video has been flagged as false by Corporate Rock Tumbling*