Getting clad back in circulation

[RussM]

Hey all,

As time goes on, my clad jug gets heavier and heavier. Somewhere I read putting them through a rock tumbler gets most of the crud off and good enough to get back into circulation. In their present state I doubt half my clad would go through a coin machine, so I just want to get them good enough to do that. Is a rock tumbler the easiest way? I saw one on Amazon for $100 just haven't pulled the trigger on it... any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Back-of-the-boat]

You can get one at harbor freight cheaper and yeah they work good just separate pennies from all the other clad or everything will come out a pink color.

 

[srcdco]

I found this video on YouTube and it really works. This is what I do and they come out great.



Scott

 

[xr7ator]

How much is his cost of soap and he only cleaned about 3 bucks worth of change.
I fill the barrel with just coins up to half to 2/3rds full. Use pure lemon juice and fill up to the level of coins. Then add a 2 or 3 teaspoons of salt. No gravel at all. Tumble for about an hour. They do have a dull look to them but then you can use gravel to polish them, as desired.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

That's what I use. Water and a dash of Lemi-Shine and Dawn detergent. I have used Aquarium gravel as the media because I don't care if I polish away details.

Ain't no amount of cleaning puts the zinc back in Zincoln Cents. :-( The oatmeal cookie of pocket change.

 

[cudamark]

I found this video on YouTube and it really works. This is what I do and they come out great.



Scott

IMO, the cost is too high to do it this way if you're just going to deposit coins in a CoinStar. I use a MUCH bigger dual drum rock tumbler, with aquarium gravel, powdered laundry soap, and some cheap white vinegar I get in a 2 gallon pack at Costco. Beach coins usually take a lot longer to tumble clean than turf coins, sometimes hours longer. Sometimes zinc cents won't ever clean up before they crumble apart.

 

[Loco-Digger]

It's best to roll your nickels and larger currency coins and deposit them at your bank. I only use the coinstar for the pennies. I make sure to put the shiny coins on the outside of the stacks and the darker coins in the center of the rolls.

 

[smokeythecat]

Putting in tied off sock in washing machine works too.

 

[Jeff Beaumont]

A rock tumbler is the way to go, $100.00 is too much to pay. I buy my supplies from "Magic Tumble Clean" they are great folks to do business with. I think "Harbor Freight" sells a tumbler.

 

[Blewfur]

You can get one at harbor freight cheaper and yeah they work good just separate pennies from all the other clad or everything will come out a pink color.

Speaking of that pink coloring, does anyone know how to clean that up? I had a penny stuck in with my other clad. Thought I separated them all, but one snuck thru.

 

[RussM]

Thanks everybody, lots of great ideas! Much appreciated!