cleaning my finds

[pochito413]

i am new to metal detecting. just about 1 month now. i have found a few items i will like to clean so i can post them up to be id'ed. i know lots has been posted about a rock tumbler. i can make a rock tumbler with spare parts at work but do not have an available motor at the time. is there any other way to clean off you finds. please let me know. i would like to post up my finds. thank you

[007tallguy]

i think the easiest way of answering your question would be to say it depends on "what" you're cleaning.
different items often require different cleaning methods.
a bit of powdered laundry soap and water and a gentle scrubbing will generally clean the dirt from most things and make them look somewhat better, but it's not going to remove corrosion.

here's a link with TONS of great info dedicated to cleaning coins:
http://metaldetectingworld.com/clean...ion_coin.shtml

Pete

[Dark Chameleon]

an easy way to use an engine for your self made cleaner is a drill, if it can be set slowly to turn your good, you can buy a coin tumber/rock tumbler for $35 and you get soemthing that should last years