Besides pennies most of the times I just put dirty coins in the vending machines at work. Sometimes I tumble them. Here is my recipe:
I charge the tumbler vessel with one big handful of coins, 2 handfuls of white aquarium gravel, 1 handful of Pool Filter sand, 1 tablespoon of household ammonia, 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap. Cover continence with water, close and tumbler for 2 to 3 hours. I posted a picture that shows how I use a net trash basket to catch the cleaned coins and a colander strainer to catch the gravel.
Notes:
Always tumble silver colored coins separately from pennies, never tumble key coins.
The sand I use is Pool Filter sand, it comes in a large bag, doesn't cost very much. It can be got from a hardware store, I got mine from Ace. Pool sand has a consistant grit/aggregate.
I charge the tumbler vessel with one big handful of coins, 2 handfuls of white aquarium gravel, 1 handful of Pool Filter sand, 1 tablespoon of household ammonia, 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap. Cover continence with water, close and tumbler for 2 to 3 hours. I posted a picture that shows how I use a net trash basket to catch the cleaned coins and a colander strainer to catch the gravel.
Notes:
Always tumble silver colored coins separately from pennies, never tumble key coins.
The sand I use is Pool Filter sand, it comes in a large bag, doesn't cost very much. It can be got from a hardware store, I got mine from Ace. Pool sand has a consistant grit/aggregate.