A money saving tipfor anyone who bought or owns a Harbor Freight rock tumbler..

[Uncle Willy]

As you probably know the drive belt for these tumblers is a cheap piece of crap that breaks every time you turn around, and if your luck is like mine, everytime I go to HF to get a replacement belt they are out of them. I have solved that problem.

Go to your local office supply store and buy a bag of big rubber bands ( quarter-inch wide ) and use these in place of the drive belt on your tumbler. They work great, last longer, cost pennies apiece, and a bag of them should last you a lifetime.

Bill

 

[DavHut]

Good thinking, Bill. Will keep that in mind.

I bought one of these tumblers used off ebay, for like, $11. When I got the thing, the belt was about wore out. It was cracked and slipping and was generally as you described, a P.O.S.

I have the good fortune of working in an industrial plant, where we have a make-a-belt set up. It comes with stock size round polyurethane material which you hot-weld together to make whatever size you want. I made three or four of these belts and they, too, should last forever.

Another thought that hit me when I first saw those POS belts was that these are nothing more than big-assed o-rings. I tried sizing several different ones and I didnt really find one that would fit right - but that was with our limited supply at work. A source for o-rings might be able to fix you up.

Also, I have seen vacuum cleaner belts that looked about the same, so that is an option, too.

But then why bother? Buck-a-bag rubber bands are more than adequate, eh?

 

[awhitster]

[quote DavHut]But then why bother? [/quote]That's what I'm saying. Save $$$ on belts and electricity. Roll'em like you find'em

 

[ohio fred]

n/t

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah I got a big bag of rubber bands and they'll last longer than I do. You're right about the belts - just big o-rings. I've had several break after hardly any use. I called every HF in town and none had any belts in stock ( typical.)I have a vacuum cleaner belt the same size but the belt is to thick to clear the frame above the pulley so I'll just use the rubber bands. They work great. I've been tumbling 24 hours a day for three days now without a hitch on a rubber band.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

I can't belive your mother loved you better.

Bill

 

[DavHut]

That's what I'm saying. Save $$$ on belts and electricity. Roll'em like you find'em
Ive done that for a very long time. Then I got a tumbler. Personally, I think its neat to have that part of the hobby. Ill keep doing it just cause of that.

 

[cosmic]

I use vacum cleaner belts on mine..

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah that'll work. But rubber bands are so much cheaper.

Bill