Got my coin tumbler! Now what do I put in it to clean the coins?

[Gulfcapt25]

Hello Everyone,
I recently bought a coin tumbler from harbor frieght. Now I was curious what is the best materal to put in it to clean coins? Any advice would be great. John

 

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[SC_hunter]

I think you will be left to your own devices..lol I bought one of the kids kind at a flea market for 2 bucks..went to Wal-mart and picked up a bag of small stones in area near the cloth..wife was going to that area and I happened to see em...I put some of them in with the coins along with dish dertergent and water...Has worked real well for me...Just for laughs I put gatorade in it one time instead of water...cleaned em good too...Just keep your silver coins seperate from the pennies..

 

[txkickergirl]

did you read the directions? How many days? I used mine once and decided the coins can stay dirty!

 

[doozis]

I read somewhere that you can get crushed walnut shells at pet
stores and they are supposed to be great for tumblers , but I'm
not sure about that , some people use aquarium rocks.

Doozis

 

[SC_hunter]

did you read the directions? How many days? I used mine once and decided the coins can stay dirty!

I usually just let my go about 3 hours or so..I'm not real patient but that seems to do ok for me.

 

[txkickergirl]

I let mine go about 6 hrs and changed the water when it created slush rinsed the coins off. I used tiny rocks, after a couple days all the coins had a red tinge to them. NO I HAD NO PENNIES in the mix I made sure of that. Not sure what happend.

 

[Ocean7]

got this from a guy on another forum...
"Cleaning CLAD coins
---------------------------
Playground sand, liquid detergent, ammonia, water

Separate coins (pennies, nickels, dimes&quarters&halves)
example: only tumble pennies with pennies, nickels with nickels, etc.
Fill tumbler half full with coins
add 2 medium handfuls of sand
add water covering sand & coins
pour in 2 shot glasses of liquid detergent
pour in 2 shot glasses of ammonia
Place lid on and seal securely
tumble 3-4 hours but check every hour or so
place coins in sifter and rinse with hose
dry on towel
Done!
--------------------------------------------------------
DO NOT TUMBLE VALUABLE COINS IN A TUMBLER!"
_______________________________________________

 

[finderzzs]

That solution is way to much, I have for years now, just put about a quarter cup of toilet bowl cleaner or CLR, in with the water and tumble. Aquarium gravel does help, just a small handful. Tumble for an hour or so, rinse and repeat til your satisfied. Pennies do have to be seperate from the other clad though.

 

[MEinWV]

The clad coins have that copperish wafer that turns them all red when you put them in liquid cleaners. Maybe the best way to clean/polish them is with a dry method such as the walnut shells. There is a medium they sell for polishing spent bullet shells prior to reassembly, which may just be the walnut shells.

Good luck!

 

[Bodyguard]

The clad coins have that copperish wafer that turns them all red when you put them in liquid cleaners. Maybe the best way to clean/polish them is with a dry method such as the walnut shells. There is a medium they sell for polishing spent bullet shells prior to reassembly, which may just be the walnut shells.

Good luck!

According to my buddy, who reloads ammo, walnut shells are used, as the brass is so soft. I was told that while it might work, walnut shells would take forever cleaning coins, as they are harder. BG