About that Harbor Freight Tumbler

[Old Katz]

Finally bought the 3Lb tumbler this weekend and trying to get used to
the best way to use it.


Last night, just before twelve midnight, I started to tumble the coins. At 5:30 this morning I stopped the machine, cleaned out the tumbler and dried the pea gravel in the microwave.
The coins came out ok but not what I expected. Some of the coins did not clean up well at all. Here is a picture of the coins before the tumbling process. Notice how dark they are. This is mineralization from being in the ground. Some of them have turned a reddish color; I have no idea why they did not go black like the others. I threw in some silver rings as well to see if there would be any noticeable difference.

I began by tumbling them for six hours but they did not look much better than before. The second tumbling session lasted from 12:00am to 5:00am, a total of five hours. This time I did something a little different; I cut back on the water. I put about four serving spoons of water in the mix and added some liquid dish soap. The coins came out much better than before but the rings (not shown in this last picture) did not look any different. If anything they actually looked dull.

However I am a little disappointed; notice that the coins in the center have shined up reasonably well while the coins on the left, right, and bottom are still blackened. It is possible that if I had let them tumble for another two hours they too would have shined up nicely.

How do YOU all clean coins in the tumbler. What is your recipe?

Katz

 

[BarberBill]

Katz, I use aquarium gravel, water, a good dollop of Dawn dish soap with a bit of vinegar, and let them tumble for at least 24 hours, sometimes longer if the lot was especially dirty. Watch that you don't put any pennies in with the clad as that will give the whole works a coppery sheen. If in doubt, don't overload the container as the coins and gravel need room to work.
BB

 

[Cajuncoinhunter]

Katz,

I have the same Harbor Freight tumbler as you. I can't find silver but sure can find clad. Got this recipe from someone on the forum and it works GREAT for me-------

Coins + 1/2 cup small gravel or sand + few drops of dish soap + 1/2 piece steel wool = Clean coins. 10-12 hrs tumbling for dirty coins. Pennies take about 1/2 the time. Vinegar helps but I dont use any 'cause the Mrs. doesnt like the smell. The steel wool makes a big difference in my opinion.

CCH

 

[Larry (IL)]

Try vinegar instead of water and I let mine tumble for 12 hours.

 

[MasonandAlexsdad]

I also use one of the Harbor Freight coin tumblers. I use aquarium gravel (natural no color), 1 teaspoon dish soap, 3/4 cup ammonia, 1 cup water. I usually let it tumble overnight and the coins come out great. Again, seperate the pennies from the rest of the clad!!!

 

[widebody]

[size=large]what part number or item # or size tumbler are you folks using? and an idea of the cost of said item. i know it won't cost much.[/size]

 

[Cajuncoinhunter]

Harbor Freight Rotary Tumber Item # 65838 $ 32.99 is what i have CCH

 

[widebody]

[size=large]thanks. [/size]

 

[jacknh]

Have you guys had good luck with the harbor freight tumbler. I read reviews on it and the general consensus was it would eat up belts and was a POS. I'm thinking of purchasing one but I'm not sure if I should get the harbor freight one or not? Thumler's sells a 2 lb. cap. model MP-1 for $70.00 and a 3lb. cap. model A-R1 for 90.00. they appear to be well built and have decent reviews. I don't know to much about tumblers so if anyone has some experience with them, please sway me one way or the other. Jack

 

[Larry (IL)]

If you want quality look at the Lortone tumblers. I have used the model 3A hard for many years and it is still chugging along. Prices are not too bad on Ebay.

http://www.lortone.com/tumblers.html

 

[jacknh]

Thanks Larry, I'll have to check them out.