Leegol Electric 3LB Rock Tumbler

I have had two of these (same design, different sellers) and they did not work well. The first one I bought at Harbor Freight and was a "Chicago Electric" model that sounded like a freight train and broke belts every five or six days. It froze up after a couple months. The second one was a Leegoland I bought on Amazon and it did not work right out of the box. A problem with the spinning bar. The one I'm reviewing now works like a charm. It is very quiet, even when using two full drums. It's been running for weeks now without a problem. The seller shipped to me super fast. I am very happy with this one!

I got this for my kids and they love it! So easy to use! You will need to order some ‘grit’ as this tumbler doesn’t come with any. We ordered a grit bulk pack for around $25. I was surprised as it is Very quiet!

The WORST rock tumbler, with even worse customer service if that's possible!!! This is a long review, but it is worth reading if you're thinking about buying this machine. I ordered this tumbler at the beginning of April 2024. It arrived a few days later and with my job being at a busy time of year and a lot going on right then, I didn't get it up and going for a few weeks or so. So unfortunately, when I did get to open it up and get it going (about the end of the first week of May) and all this happened, it out was just outside of the return window. I am NOT new to rock tumblers and have a few others that are going at all times (Used them for years. And ran them all for many, many, many months straight. Only stopping to clean out barrels and maintain: oil and clean, etc). But, this is the first time I have bought one of the Leegol brand. After reading the very mixed reviews, I was hesitant but thought I would give them them a try anyway due to one or two I saw mentioning the company being good about faulty equipment.... those reviews are definitely not my experience. Anyway, I got this machine out of the box and, yes, I checked the belt was adjusted correctly (like i said, not new to this type of tumbler) and bearings were oiled and things were all in order to start. I got the barrels loaded and started up the machine (I always make sure they are level also). By the end of the first and second weeks when I took the barrels off to do a clean out, things were fine. The end of the third week, I noticed the machine seemed to be a little warm. I took the barrels off to do a clean out on them from their pre-polish stage (I started with very very smooth rocks so things were moving along very well) and rechecked the belt to be sure, it was fine. Checked the bearings and re-oiled. Made sure there was no dust, dirt, debris or anything that I missed before or that nothing was out of the normal. Besides a little warm things all seemed fine. But noooo. I guess it was not! Put the barrels back on to start their 2 week long final polish stage aaaand did not make it to the end! Came home just over a week into that final stage to the machine not working. Barrels not turning. Instead... it is SMOKING!!! Way hotter than I could touch! I had to reach over,unplug it. and let it cool off a long while. When I could touch it... I unscrewed the metal plates to look under and the plastic was quite warped almost melted and the belt was a bit melted from the heat! So this thing didn't even make it through one rock set. (All my other machines from another place have made it through more than I can count). I got on here and came to My Orders and found this product and clicked on it. Obviously it was passed the return period but I saw the button for contacting the company. I sent them an email through their contact on here telling them about my experience, what had happened and even about the reviews I read saying they had great customer service, etc. And left them my order number, my name, email, phone number. That was right around the first week of the June. I sent another email a few weeks later after hearing nothing back. As of today, July 12, 2024, I still have not heard a word from their 'customer service'.

No amount of lubrication, adjusting and readjusting would stop this unit from the annoying racket of screeches, chirps, and squeaks it made during operation. The screws would just not hold their adjustments. After each readjustment, it would work quietly for about five minutes before the racket would begin again. The unit looked pretty good on the outside and the drums appeared good quality but the inside workings were cheap and flimsy and this was the more expensive of the units. Sending it back. UPDATE: After fiddling with the unit some more (we hated to have to send it back) we decided to check to see if it was on the level AND IT WASN'T. Because of this, the drums were putting more pressure on the rollers toward the pulley side and riding up against that side. A piece of a cedar shingle, about 3/8 of an inch, was placed under the "feet" of the side of the unit under the motor to raise it to level. We have been running the unit for a couple of days since this adaptation and it has quieted right down. Raised the rating from one to four stars and will keep it.

After several weeks of hands-on experience with the Leegol Electric Single Drum 3LB Rock Polisher, I'm ready to delve into the nitty-gritty of what makes this machine a worthy addition to any hobbyist's collection. This single barrel rock tumbler is designed for those who are either just beginning their journey into rock tumbling or seasoned veterans looking for a reliable, compact unit. Pros: Ease of Use: The Leegol Electric Rock Tumbler is remarkably user-friendly, making it a perfect entry point for beginners. Its simple operation allows for an easy start with minimal setup time, ensuring that users of all skill levels can begin their tumbling projects without a steep learning curve. Compact and Durable Design: The size of this rock tumbler is a significant advantage for those with limited space. Its compact design does not sacrifice durability; the machine feels sturdy and well-built, capable of handling continuous use without issues. Efficient Polishing: With a 3-pound capacity, this single barrel polisher is surprisingly efficient. It consistently produces smooth, polished stones, reflecting its effectiveness in tumbling a variety of rock types. The included instructions offer valuable tips for achieving the best results, which is particularly helpful for newcomers to the hobby. Quiet Operation: Compared to many other rock tumblers in the market, the Leegol Electric Rock Tumbler operates relatively quietly. This is a significant advantage for users who live in shared spaces or prefer to run their tumbler for extended periods without the disturbance of loud noise. Cons: Single Barrel Limitations: The single barrel design, while efficient and space-saving, limits the amount of rocks you can polish at one time. For those looking to undertake larger projects or tumble different types of rocks simultaneously, this might be a constraining factor. Long Polishing Times: As with most rock tumblers, patience is a virtue. The tumbling process can take several weeks from start to finish, which might test the patience of users eager to see immediate results. This is not a flaw of the Leegol Electric Rock Tumbler per se but rather a general consideration for newcomers to rock tumbling. Manual Water and Grit Replacement: The process requires manual intervention to change the water and add grit between stages, which might be a bit tedious for some users. However, this is a common aspect of rock tumbling and something that enthusiasts grow accustomed to. Final Thoughts: The Leegol Electric Single Drum 3LB Rock Polisher is a solid choice for anyone looking to get into rock tumbling or needing a compact, reliable machine for smaller projects. Its ease of use, efficient polishing capability, and quiet operation make it stand out in its category. While the single barrel design and the inherent nature of rock tumbling's time-consuming process might be minor drawbacks, they are far outweighed by the machine's overall performance and value. Whether you're polishing stones for jewelry, educational purposes, or simply as a hobby, the Leegol Electric Rock Tumbler is a gem worth considering.

With this purchase, I now have six different manufacturers' tumblers - So I have plenty to compare this device with... I have found two kinds of hobby-grade tumblers out there... those "hogs" powered by A/C directly from wall outlet and those that run with a D/C motor and use a step-down transformer, thereby using negligible current. This unit draws a lot of current. Consequently, after running for four hours, the metal casing is warm to the touch (not hot, but I think WAY too warm...) They do incorporate a heat sink - they had to, but it is ineffective. It makes me worry that unit will get hotter with longer tumbling cycles. So, since I have no desire to sit for days at a time watching it tumble to make sure nothing catches on fire - for my initial test run, I have decided to run it for four hours, then let it rest and cool down for an hour, then run for another 4 hours until it heats up again. This is ridiculous - no customer should worry that a rock tumbler can get so hot that they have to think about it! You are supposed to turn them on and just let 'em run continuously for days at a time - like my NG hobby tumbler has been doing for more than 3 months now. This manufacturer needs to enter 21st century and use a D/C drive. Now I know why this manufacturer provides replacement belts - the heat generated in/by the rotation apparatus likely shortens drive belt life - another concern! This unit is VERY POORLY DESIGNED. The overheating issue is obvious because at some point they engineered a heat sink to try to dissipate it - but it is insufficient. They should wake up and switch to a D/C motor. I am preparing to package this unit for return; this is either a very poorly designed product, or I got a lemon. Either way, very disappointing - I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT! Especially because of these other issues: 1. There is no speed adjustment; the label on device says 3400 RPMs, but that's a gross overstatement or it might be output of their drive motor - but device has a belt drive to a different size drive shaft for tumbler- so that adjusts final rotation speed - still; nowhere near 3400 and a complete unknown. Experienced rock tumblers like to know rotation speed to calculate the amount of time to run each abrasive. This unit makes that nearly impossible. 2. The drum barely fits in opening provided - very close tolerances. And way it rotates, bottom of tub rubs against housing - or the top rubs against the other side- take your pick; it migrates back and forth on its drive shaft as it rotates. So, I had to find two giant diameter - but very thin -nylon washers to protect both surfaces from contact erosion while rotating on my first test of machine - manufacturer should have thought of this... 3. The drum's interior is not engineered to promote tumbling (like other device by NG).. so rocks SLIDE more than tumble. This was a real let-down for me. I was hoping that the apparent build quality would be a bonus... too bad they skimped on the tumbler tank. Keep shopping; why purchase it? the unit gets hot when running and tumbling tank needs improvement. I would keep looking if you are a hobbyist and have limited funds to only purchase a single tumbler. (If you like to experiment, this unit is not ALL bad - it is just not worth the purchase price when there are better alternatives for less money available on Prime.)

Most notable: The tumbling rocks are loud. If you're in a quiet place, amazingly loud. Way louder the first few days, but still way too loud to be inside your home without some kind of sound blocking or dampening. The inside sealing lid is very hard to remove. Screw the knob back on and use pliers to pry it off. Upside is, it's unlikely to leak. Extra rubber edges (that make it so tight) for the internal lid are included, probably because they wear out over time. Each cylinder interior is 4 inches deep and 4 inches in diameter, so a 2 inch rock is probably around your max size to work well. You'll need to balance that out with smaller rocks for optimal surface contact. Decent instructions on the tumbling part. Not so good on the machine maintenance part. After a week run so far, the machine seems solid. There's a belt in there somewhere that's supposed to get adjusted as it slackens with use. Loud, but good value for the price. EDIT: After a couple runs, I'm finding the loudness depends on your ratio of rocks/grit/water. The current run is not loud at all. It's 20 feet from me in another room and I can't hear it at all. Just wanted to correct that initial review. After a few weeks use, it's all working well and doing the needful.

Motor on purchase on May 12 burned up and seized. The older on is still going. Tryed to email and get nothing. No response . As of Aug 9 2024, started around last week of July. Instead of purchasing any I’ll just make a multi drum unit for about 6-8 drums. So I went through Amazon to complain and I found out sellers have to go through Amazon to contact buyers. We worked it out and I AM PLEASED! Leegol Electric is sending me a new one. Yea! So if you have any issue go though Amazon and they will help you!