Opinions needed - Harbor Freight 5lb vibrator/tumbler

Tornadoboy

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Opinions needed - Harbor Freight 5lb vibrator/tumbler

I was thinking of getting one of those for cleaning arcade parts and I was wondering if anyone here has experience with them? Are they effective and reliable? Any tips on using one?
 
I have one (93252) that I used when I got my classics (Xybots, S.T.U.N. Runner, Karate Champ, SF2) for work and it did a great job removing the rust from screws, brackets and other stuff. I was using the green triangle stone type media. I was going to use it for polishing tokens but it wasn't big enough at the time. The only thing is they are loud of course. I just tossed the screws, etc. in with the media and let it go overnight and they turned out great. I have had it for 3 years now and use it every once in a while. It is actually 2 feet behind me as I type this. I got a larger one for polishing tokens from Cabella's that is used for polishing gun shells and some corn cob media with a liquid polishing compound that gets semi regular use. I let the tokens get polished for a few hours when I am not in my office.
 
Harbor Freight is great for some things, but a good rule of thumb for that store is don't buy anything with an electric motor.
 
I have one (93252) that I used when I got my classics (Xybots, S.T.U.N. Runner, Karate Champ, SF2) for work and it did a great job removing the rust from screws, brackets and other stuff. I was using the green triangle stone type media. I was going to use it for polishing tokens but it wasn't big enough at the time. The only thing is they are loud of course. I just tossed the screws, etc. in with the media and let it go overnight and they turned out great. I have had it for 3 years now and use it every once in a while. It is actually 2 feet behind me as I type this. I got a larger one for polishing tokens from Cabella's that is used for polishing gun shells and some corn cob media with a liquid polishing compound that gets semi regular use. I let the tokens get polished for a few hours when I am not in my office.

I don't know the model numbers so is yours from Harbor Freight? How does it do with the walnut shell media? My immediate needs would be cleaning/polishing semi-rusted and corroded small parts like coin mech and pac-h-in-ko parts. (WTF does KLOV still censor "pa*****o?"
 
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I picked one up to use on some pinball parts. It worked pretty well. I've only used it 3 times. For heavy duty use, I would go with something not from Harbor Freight.

Also, if you're going to throw screws in it, get some type of small pick. The screw slots will need to be cleaned out when done.

I was thinking of getting one of those for cleaning arcade parts and I was wondering if anyone here has experience with them? Are they effective and reliable? Any tips on using one?
 
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Five pound vibrator....god...I had a joke for this one...

Don't let us stop you! :D

For what I've heard about Harbor Freight in general is that their quality control at the factories is very inconsistant, you can get one example of a power tool and have it work awesome for years and another of the same model and have it croak within a few uses due to poor tolerances or being put together wrong.

I think I'm going to go for it, they're on sale for $54 dollars right now and everything else I've seen under $100 looks even more flimsy and everthing over that is major overkill for what I want to do.
 
I don't know the model numbers so is yours from Harbor Freight? How does it do with the walnut shell media? My immediate needs would be cleaning/polishing semi-rusted and corroded small parts like coin mech and pac-h-in-ko parts. (WTF does KLOV still censor "pa*****o?"

Yes, Mine is from HFT. Haven't used the walnut shells yet. Whatever you do , don't overload it. That is why I got a bigger one for my tokens. But for a handfull or two of screws and what not with the medium would be fine. You want a good stone,sand type medium to break off the rust and then to the soft walnut/corn with a polishing compound to polish. I just recently bought a bar of polishing compound to try for when I run out of liquid polisher. Brasso might even work with it.
 
I picked up one between the holidays for $40 and just used it. Works good so far. The pin guys use it and also recommend a nylock nut to replace the wing nut. Evidently it works loose if you don't. Many kinds of media but from the HF stores its $25 for 5 lbs. of it. Heard lots of opinions on what to use, but for the price you're getting it for, its worth a try to last you a few years.
 
Ok folks I did the deed, picked it up a couple of hours ago with some walnut shell and as we speak I've got a bunch of Midway coindoor parts bouncing around in it right now, the parts were in pretty ugly shape so this'll be a good test for it, I'm going to turn it off and check the parts before I go to bed and probably run it some more tomorrow night so as to keep an eye on it.

Since I got the display model because they were out I got it knocked down to $45, and given the mixed reviews I went with the extended 2-year warranty for an additional $10 so the price cut was basically a wash.

First observation I'll make is that it's not as loud as I was afraid it might be, so using it in the basement shouldn't piss off the neighbors no matter what hours I run it. (I live in a condo) I don't plan to use it for anything too heavy duty, mostly coin mech, bolts and screws, chrome door parts, etc.

Speaking of which, since it didn't come with the manual how long are you supposed to be able to let it run without risking a problem?
 
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Hmm... I just use my dremel and a carbon brush bit to remove rust and corrosion from screws and bolts. I guess if you had to do a lot at once this would make sense, and it probably makes them look a bit nicer.
 
Speaking of which, since it didn't come with the manual how long are you supposed to be able to let it run without risking a problem?

Ltet me know if you want me scan my instructions and can send them to you. You can leave it run for 24-48 hours no problem from what I've read, but due to a small house and its in the basement, I've only run it for 4 hours at a time so can't comment. Congrats; should do you well with the warranty.
 
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