Cleaning clad and just Junk ??

[oddjobbob]

In my collection of new dirt eggs I have found some unique junk along with alot of clad.Some of the junk I would like to clean and talk about, the clad I would like to put it in a bank account for future upgrades. The problem is the banks have stated they do not accept dirty money. Is there an economical way to clean the stuff worth nothing of face value? I have been looking at the tumblers and also the sound wave cleaning machines, but I can't seem to find any good research on these. I see you have to buy additives for either so which would be more economical? I have tried to scrubb with dawn and a brush but the bank still says no. What ever cleaner I get I would like to be able to use it with some of the stuff that would be woth something. I have heard that some cleaning of certian items drops the value, I am okay with that I plan to pass all my finds and stories down to the grand chaps. Any Ideas?? Thanks for all the help

 

[srd1941]

Oddjob
This winter I cleaned around a thousand dirty clad coins using a cheap tumbler, liquid dish soap and acquarium gravel. It was very simple and cleaned them well enough that a bank wouldn't hesitate to take them. You can't do anything with the ones that are partially eaten through but even they come out mostly shiney.
Stan

 

[pulltab]

I agree with asd, you can also use sand and dish soap in the tumbler. I find sand from the play ground works fine.

 

[JB(MS)]

I also use a tumbler. I bought one from Kellyco about 20 years ago and I'm still using it. Like srd194 I use small aquarium gravel, but I add a tablespoon of salt and two ounces of vinegar to water and tumble them in that for about five minutes, then pour it out and use water with a little liquid soap for three hours or so. The salt and vinegar is acidic, it loosens the crude and makes it easier for the water and soap to clean the coins but if it's left in too long it turns the coins red.

 

[pulltab]

and keep your pennies away from you quarters, nickels,and dimes.