2 years worth of clad , how should I clean it?

[fred sanford]

I have 2 years worth of clad and I want to cash it in before my vacation to Colorado. I have a rock tumbler but I have never tumbled coins. What do you use? How long? Will it ruin the coins? Is this the best way to clean them? I have about 500.00- 600.00 in coins. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[frankiefry]

You have set yourself quite a task by waiting to do 2 years worth all at once. I usually do a batch whenever my tumbler barrel gets 1/2 full of clad. Seperate out the pennies from your quarters, dimes, and nickels and do them seperate or else all your clad will be pink! I use about 1/2 cup of aquarium gravel and then fill the barrel up to the 1/2-2/3 point with clad. Warm water enough to cover it and a squirt of dish soap (some swear by Dawn). Tumble about 4-6 hours to get them reasonable clean 6-8 for better results. I strain it off through a spaghetti strainer and dry the coins on an old towel. Save the gravel for the next batch. If your bank has a coin machine that doesn't charge a fee to use, you are good to go. Otherwise, I'd suggest rolling the coins so you aren't loosing a % of your hard dug $$. I keep my tumbler in the basement because there is some noise involved. Good luck and let us know how it all turns out.

 

[seanprodanas]

why clean em? just put them through the little machine in the super market and pay the small fee?

 

[fred sanford]

thanks

You have set yourself quite a task by waiting to do 2 years worth all at once. I usually do a batch whenever my tumbler barrel gets 1/2 full of clad. Seperate out the pennies from your quarters, dimes, and nickels and do them seperate or else all your clad will be pink! I use about 1/2 cup of aquarium gravel and then fill the barrel up to the 1/2-2/3 point with clad. Warm water enough to cover it and a squirt of dish soap (some swear by Dawn). Tumble about 4-6 hours to get them reasonable clean 6-8 for better results. I strain it off through a spaghetti strainer and dry the coins on an old towel. Save the gravel for the next batch. If your bank has a coin machine that doesn't charge a fee to use, you are good to go. Otherwise, I'd suggest rolling the coins so you aren't loosing a % of your hard dug $$. I keep my tumbler in the basement because there is some noise involved. Good luck and let us know how it all turns out.

I will try this thanks

 

[joee5]

Aquarium gravel, Palmolive dish detergent and a cup of water in a 3lb tumbler filled no more than half way. But separate the pennies or all your clad will be copper color.

Enjoy your vacation.

 

[ga5150]

I think you should use non-colored gravel. I bought some aquarium gravel at WalMart and got what I thought was non-colored. It was sort of a brownish/tannish color. It turned all of my nickel/dime/quarters a reddish/dark color. I did not have any pennies mixed in.

I think in an earlier thread a while back someone said get non-colored gravel, and they meant the white colored kind. Silly me.....I thought non-colored on gravel would be the natural color of the rocks which is brownish.

Good luck!

Rodney

 

[Jamflicker]

I don't even use gravel anymore. It works just as good to let them go in the tumbler without gravel and then you don't need to separate them from the gravel. About an hour or two gets them clean enough to use or cash in.

 

[fledge]

I have a business where I clean alot of clad so just send it to me Ill pm you my address. There is a long turn around but don't your worry about that..
In all seriousness I am actually buying a tumbler next week. I heard the one at Harbor Freight is tolerable. I checked it out today we have a store in town and it looks pretty sturdy.

 

[goes4ever]

I used to separate pennies, but honestly, who cares if the others turn pink??? My main concern is to remove enough dirt so they go thru the bank coin counter. I run mine for 1-2 hours, with water, dish soap, aquarium gravel and I have been tossing in a couple spoons of sand as well, i think the grit helps em clean faster.

 

[dogpound]

as mentioned above just fill the barrel half way and use just enough water to cover them, insted of dish soap i use automatic dishwashing machine detergent, the machine detergent won't foam up making a mess

 

[Dark Chameleon]

why clean em? just put them through the little machine in the super market and pay the small fee?

Some of the coins will go through, others wont, the cleaning doesnt just shine them but can take off the crusties from them...my clad ($22) and my change savings have crossed $50 so my next purchase is a coin tumbler....something to shine up that tree shilling when i find it...

 

[nyshooter]

why clean em? just put them through the little machine in the super market and pay the small fee?

here in new york $500 would about $45 in fees

 

[zeemang]

Tumbler for sure... I use about a half a handful of broken up sea shells in the tumbler as well, i just throw them away after the batch and get more next time i go to the beach.....

 

[imalookin2]

I have used white aquarium gravel for a while now. I still have 3/4 of the small Wally World bag left. I use the Harbor Freight tumbler from Chicago Electric and Power Tools version sold at most HF stores. It came with 6 extra belts but I have never changed one. Cleaning silver clad is fast, about a hour and it is spendable. Zink pennies take a long time and many are never salvaged. If you hunt salt beaches then you have to own a tumbler.

 

[fred sanford]

Thanks

Thanks guys for the advice. I will try what you all said. I will be doing a few barrels. HH