Grit grade for cleaning coins in a tumbler

[UncleVinnys]

Do you use a tumbler to clean your coins?
If so, do you add grit to the mix, and if so, what grade?

It seems most folks use vinegar or lemon juice and small gravel stones.
Any other advice?

 

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[Peyton Manning]

I use lemon juice and salt
But do pennies last, they really dirty it up

 

[SanMan]

Do you use a tumbler to clean your coins?
If so, do you add grit to the mix, and if so, what grade?

It seems most folks use vinegar or lemon juice and small gravel stones.
Any other advice?

It comes down to "time".

The big commercial places just use water.
They use huge rise and fall machines.
The coins simply become brite from rubbing against each other.

For people with just some coins to do,.......

some water, lemon juice, salt, a little CLR, and for really dirty coins,.....
Add some "Bonami" or "Soft Scrub".

If you use one of those two, you'll have to rinse twice or so.

Also, if your wanting to do a good job,.... stop after some hours,....

Check what you have, pour off the dirty water, do a quick rinse, and add fresh stuff.

Always do pennies separately.

I did a post on this,.... I'll try to find it,.....


Here,....

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/general-discussion/620573-cleaning-clad-coins.html#post6362313

 

[Joshbiz]

I use Dish soap and the coins and of course pennies last.
I don't know how clean you want your coins but the quicker the better. Especially if your just handing them in at the bank..
you don't need to rise just dry thank and that's all.
My two cents...

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I use dish soap and aquarium gravel. I go through coins first to be sure coins are all clad.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Dawn detergent and a 1/2 tsp/quart+/- of a product called "LemiShine Booster" (learned this trick for cartridge cases) and aquarium gravel for cleaning clad. Good coins I don't tumble.

I also separate cents from other coins.

 

[smokeythecat]

I took a small handful of aquarium gravel away from my pet fish. Lat time I went to the driveway and got some small round quartz rocks. Worked well.

 

[UncleVinnys]

All great advice! Big THANKS!

About ready now!

 

[tinpan]

Hi , Try pumpkin kernels Soft and tough TP

 

[No gold in NY]

Nothing fancy. I bring quartz rocks home from gold prospecting and crush them to quarter inch and smaller. Add some laundry detergent and water.

 

[A2coins]

I use lemon juice and salt
But do pennies last, they really dirty it up

Lemon Juice and Salt Loco told me I tried it and you are right thats all you need trust me and yep pennies seperate..

 

[Carolina Tom]

Dawn and a hand full of sand.

 

[djackson7348]

For common items I use a squirt of any detergent I have around with a handful of store bought play sand and water. Play sand is crushed white quartz and acts like a fine grit sand paper. You can get the sand at Lowe's for a few dollars for a 50lb bag. Be careful though, it will ruin any keepers pretty quick.

 

[civilman1]

I have the same tumbler,Harbor Freight purchased. I use regular dish soap and aquarium gravel.......and a six pack

 

[UncleVinnys]

By the way, several people have suggesting adding a kitchen scouring agent, such as Babo or BonAmi.
These release a gas when mixed with the brew and cause the tumblers to swell so much that they can leak.
I stick with vinegar and salt now.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I just use aquarium gravel. The dirt on the coins provides the grit. I agree, do pennies by themselves and do them last.