Garage sale tumbler - Cleaning clad for the first time.

I use a vibrating tumbler. Lately I just run coins long enough to get them clean enough to go through a Coin Star. I don't even separate the since they aren't In that long. I remember when i used to run coins (separated) for longer times. I had a bunch of zinc pennies come out flattened with the zinc coming out the sides. They looked like a sandwich that someone had stepped on.
 
Folks laugh at me when I tell them that I use chicken grit in my tumbler to clean coins. It appears to be small pieces of granite. Obtained from Tractor Supply.

For clad coins I use white vinegar and a table spoon or so of rock salt. Tumble for 15 minutes and most are clean enough to go thru the coin counting machine at the credit union.

For pennies I use tap water and a bit of dish detergent. I usually tumble them over night. Crusty zincolns may take a bit longer and some of them never will be usable again.

chicken grit is ground up oyster shells
 
chicken grit is ground up oyster shells

I learned something today! Thanks. :thankyou:

That would mean you would not want to try and clean coins with chicken grit and vinegar. The acidic vinegar should react with the calcium in the tumbling media.
 
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