5-lb Harbor Freight Vibratory Tumbler - REVIEW

[celem]

During its short one-year life, the 5-lb Harbor Freight Vibratory Tumbler did a good job of noisily cleaning cartridge brass. A little over a year ago, I bought it on sale for about $45. After 6 months the threads on the vertical shaft that secures the lid stripped. I replaced the threaded shaft and nuts with new parts from the hardware store and got another 6 months of use before the motor failed. I think that the motor is doomed to premature failure due to the cost cutting design. The eccentric counterweight is directly mounted to the motor's shaft causing the motor itself to suffer massive vibration. High quality Vibratory Tumblers have the motor firmly mounted to the base and extend a spring-shaft up to the bowl's base and mount the eccentric counterweight to the top of the spring-shaft, not the motor's shaft. In this way the motor is spared of life robbing vibration.

My recommendation - buy a different brand vibratory tumbler.

After reading reviews on Amazon of with some people lauding Lyman 1200 Turbo Tumbler's 15+ years of good service, I ordered one.

 

[j357]

Good concise review.

Your experience closely matches mine with the lid and threaded vertical shaft. The vibration of the unit causes the wing nut to loosen. The easy solution is a couple of fender washers to stack up above the damaged thread area then add a star lock nut.

I will offer the following as to unit failure. Based on inspecting the wiring on one of mine (while trying to figure out how to tighten up the shaft/bowl connection), I found the ground wire had broken loose from it's connector spade. Mine still worked, but a hot or neutral break would result in no juice. I would suggest you check all those connections if you are the handy sort.

 

[gahunter12]

Good review. I have 3 Lyman 1200. My oldest is 8yo, and still running strong.

 

[rsrocket1]

My HF tumbler has been working on average 3 hours twice a week for the past 5 years all year long (CA shooting season is 12 months). The center post thread stripped on mine too as well as the hole in the lid from working loose too many times. I bought a replacement tub and used a threaded rod to make a new post. Double nuts that act as lock nuts and additional screws now make for a much more rigid fixture with no slop and no losing parts when dumping out the contents into the sifter. The trick to the motor life is adequate cooling. Heat is the enemy of the cheap bathroom fan motor bearings so you need to place the tumbler on a concrete floor with clearance so that any heat generated can dissipate. I've seen folks cut holes in the base and add a small propeller to increase circulation but that can also increase dust getting into the motor.

You can replace the motor with a cheap or free used bathroom fan motor and you won't be throwing good money after bad.

I use a threaded knob instead of the tiny wing nut. Also when replacing the parts, I switched to SAE threaded parts to make things easier.

 

[Snyper]

After reading reviews on Amazon of with some people lauding Lyman 1200 Turbo Tumbler's 15+ years of good service, I ordered one.

My Lyman is approaching 30 years old and still going strong

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Unread Today, 03:30 PM #5
Snyper
Member


Join Date: March 12, 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 93
Quote:
After reading reviews on Amazon of with some people lauding Lyman 1200 Turbo Tumbler's 15+ years of good service, I ordered one.
My Lyman is approaching 30 years old and still going strong
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I had mine a good 20 years before it gave up the ghost

 

[jcwit]

Got a Cabela's tumbler made by Berry Mfg. 15 years in service, runs like when it was new.

And it's made in the U.S.

 

[Bang!]

I bought the Lyman 1200 about two years ago. Used it about ten times and it died.

I often read that people here on THR have used theirs for 15 to 20 years. Is the 1200 you bought 20 years ago the same quality as the ones sold today? Maybe I got the lemon?

Called Lyman and they said, "send it back to us and we'll see if it's something our warranty should fix". Really? 'See' if you'll honor your 90 day warranty. Tossed it in the garbage. Cut my losses before paying the postage.

There are numerous really awesome companies supplying reloaders needs. We'll 'see' if I order anything else with the Lyman name on it.

OK Maybe this was a sore subject for me. Rant over.

 

[Bang!]

Oops, lost track in my rant I picked up a 5 lb HF tumbler after tossing the Lyman. It's has cleaned a lot of range brass. I loaned it out to friends to clean their range brass. Even cleaned chains from a children's swing set in it. I guess that was tumbler abuse

It was a little noisy if the lid wasn't latched down right. Used a lock nut to prevent lid from coming loose, too. I gave it away to a new reloader. They're still using it. It's first job with them was to clean piles of brass they had been saving.

 

[snakeye]

Those older Lyman 1200's must have been built better. I bought one last year and it lasted 10 months and about 6000 cases......Bought a Berry's tumbler...3 year warranty and not the 90 day crap

 

[WestKentucky]

My HF tumbler was a Christmas gift 2 Christmases ago. It's still running strong after lots and lots of use and abuse. I haven't stripped the rod yet but I fully expect to do so. I cut my rod off a bit so that I didn't have over an inch of threads to traverse each time I wanted to fill or empty it. Honestly that was my biggest complaint. Yes it's noisy but I don't care. I flip the switch at lunch and run it until I get home in the evening. Only the cat has to listen to it...which explains her unpleasant demeanor. It's messy, but that's the nature of the beast. I keep hearing people talk about getting a good flow through the bowl though, and I'm trying to figure out how they go about determining that one. You have opaque bowl and opaque lid. If you fire mine up with no lid it empties itself fairly quickly. Are people investing in a exiglass lid for these?

 

[mgkdrgn]

I've owned 3 or 4 different vibrating tumblers over the years ... but I have bought my last one.

Thumbler

Instead of plastic welds and rivets, this thing is put together with nuts and bolts. That is, you can REPLACE everything if it breaks/wears out.

The bowl is a big rubber thingie, and hence is very quiet.

 

[Gravedigger56]

Drove 40 miles to get my HF tumbler. Plugged it in and......... nothing! Drove 40 miles back to HF to return it. That's my experience with the HF vibratory tumbler.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got two hf units one lyman and the large Dillon. My first hf unit ran flawlessly for 5 years and I used it A LOT. Put some brass in it one day left and came back and it wasn't running. This was 2years ago. I fooled around for a couple minutes with it and just tossed it aside thinking id gotten my moneys worth and ordered another one. My son in law was taking up loading at the time and saw that I was going to toss it and asked if he could have it. I gave it to him and he took the bottom off and found all that was wrong with it was the electrical connector came apart. He plugged it back in and its been work for 2 years for him. Im not here cheerleading for hf. Personaly I think the lyman is a better unit. It cleans even faster then the Dillon but it cost 2 to 3 times more and should. The hf unit is a good unit for a budget buyer.

 

[Hondo 60]

Only 1 yr of life for $45?
That's a TERRIBLE ROI (return on investment)

In 2009 I paid about $10 more for a Lyman Turbo 1200 like this one.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/15...er-case-tumbler-110-volt?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I dropped it & broke the cover & bent the threaded rod.
So I had to invest another $11, but that was my fault.

I guess it proves the old adage - you get what you pay for.
I'd rather pay the extra $10 & get years of hassle free usage.

 

[HOWARD J]

I still have my original Lyman----somewhere about 37/38 years---still works like new.
My original was a Thumblers Bumbler---new drive belt will make it work.

 

[javelinablanco]

Did a bunch of research when selecting my first tumbler about 6 months ago. There are some really good tumblers out there but as with most other things price rises with quality, although with a varying degree. I knew I wanted something decent but I also didn't want to spend 200-300 dollars for one. Also considered wet tumbling... In the end came down to either a Berry's or Lyman. Both very well liked by their users and within a decent price range. I got the Lyman 1200. I was a bit turned off by the slotted lid/sifter. However a .02 cent Styrofoam plate punched through the center screw fixed that. Couldn't be happier with my purchase.

 

[scythefwd]

still on my first HF tumbler.. started loading about 5-6 years ago.. I'm not a volume shooter, so it doesnt get much use.. but its seen 50+ hours running...

 

[horseman1]

A good and honest review. I have one and the advise to keep the wing nut tight is a good one!

 

[chris in va]

I've had two.

The first one stripped out the lid because I didn't tighten the wingnut hard enough. Then the motor siezed for no apparent reason.

The second one has lasted about three years, no issues.

 

[Dudedog]

I have had good luck with my Frankford. Usually runs 4 to 8 hours a least twice a month, sometimes more. 2 years old no issues.

 

[carbine85]

I have the Lyman and Frankfort and both have provided years of reliable service. My brother has a Harbor Freight and as far as I know it works for him but he doesn't reload as heavily as I do.
I normal buy Harbor Freight tools when they are for the occasional need. I also like their free magnetic flashlights