Has anybody used an ultrasonic cleaner to clean their coins?

[Mick in Dubbo]

I can buy one of these in town, but haven't a clue as to where to get a coin tumbler from. I've never seen one advertised here in Oz.
How effective are the ultrasonic cleaners, and would it be a safe method for a more valuable find? Mostly though, it will be for just regular coins.
Mick Evans.

 

[BigCatDaddy]

Get a tumbler!! You need some abrasive action to get crud off and the UltraSonic cleaner won't even make a dent in it. Bound to be a place on the Internet to order one from that will ship to Oz!! Check out hobby stores, bound to be one with a rock tumbler. Lortone makes the best, hands down!!

 

[cwilk]

With all the great rocks and minerals to be found in Australia there must be a hobby shop someplace that has one for sale. They are usually heavy and to ship it to Australia from the US would probably be very expensive. I'd keep checking Ebay Australia and look for one in your country.

I don't think an ultrasonic cleaner is the way to go to clean coins. Of course if you are talking about a rare coin it shouldn't be cleaned at all. Maybe a bath in some olive oil for a month to loosen surface dirt. If you're talking about cleaning up dirty coins to put back into circulation a rock tumbler is the best solution. The way US coins come out of the ground requires a mild abrasive, and sometimes a mild acid like lemon juice, to remove the grime and corrosion. There are, of course, those who do not clean their finds and just turn them into the bank as is.

I bought my tumbler at harborfreight.com for only 20 bucks plus 10 shipping and it has worked great for me. A lot of people on this forum said the belt would break quickly but I have run it for at least 200 hours on one belt and it's still in great shape. A second belt was included. I also went to my local hardware store and found they carried a belt that will serve as a replacement for 99 cents a piece. Many have suggested merely using 4 or 5 strong rubber bands. Maybe harborfreight will ship one down to you. It is going to cost you though. Probably weighs 7-8 pounds.

Good luck.

Chris

Final thought. I saw a video of a guy who saved his coins for years and years and cleaned them in a cement mixer with some sand and water. I saved mine for about 3 months and learned that it is easier to do them as you find them. I usually tumble about 25-30 dollars in silver colored coins in a batch.

 

[robert roy]

Hi Mick:
I bought a small used. All its going to do is soak your coin or ring in a cleaner and shake the hell out of it.
It shakes the dirt loose, thats all. A coin tumblen is the way to go.

You can contact www.harborfrieght.com and see what it could cost to send you one from the U.S.
They have two sizes. The big one is $34.99 and the small one is on sale at $19.00

Regards
Robert R

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

[quote Mick in Dubbo]I can buy one of these in town, but haven't a clue as to where to get a coin tumbler from. I've never seen one advertised here in Oz.
How effective are the ultrasonic cleaners, and would it be a safe method for a more valuable find? Mostly though, it will be for just regular coins.
Mick Evans.[/quote]
I just bought one this week at Harbor Freight. Couldn't pass up the deal. Besides my stuff, we have uses for a cleaner. I'll be leaving Fl. Monday morning for WV. I have to make the trip in between the snowstorms.
Next week I'll try it out and tell you how well it works.

 

[robert roy]

Forgot to mention: go to their site, type in Tumbler.
scroll down the page and click on customer service/international orders.
International Orders - Inquiries, placement of order, freight charges.
(All International orders are shipped strictly by FedEx)



Good luck.

Robert R

 

[BigCatDaddy]

Just be sure to order extra belts if you go the Harbor Freight route. I've busted 6 or 7 now.

 

[tab-nabit]

I tried using the ultrasonic jewelery cleaner - wife wasn't using it at the time.
I decided I would let it run all night but when I checked the next day, it wasn't working and haven't replaced it since
Then I picked up the double barrel tumbler on sale at Harbor Freight. I got about a dozen or so loads cleaned, then the belt broke.
Now I have a non working tumbler and non working ultrasonic cleaner and it's been that way since

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

There was some great information there. I'll see what is if I can find a tumbler locally, otherwise order from the states.
Mick Evans.

 

[John-Edmonton]

I have been using one for many years. It really helps clean up some coins quickly, however, it can also ruin coins too. Make sure you are talking about a true ultrasonic cleaner, not a "sonic" cleaner. A sonic cleaner has a much lower frequency, and vibrates the liquid. An ultra sonic cleaner works more on a molecular level, producing millions of tiny bubbles which shoot out in all directions and agitate the surface being cleaned. Here's been my experience:

DO:
- Put small iron objects in a mixture of vinegar and water to remove rust deposits quickly.
- Put silver coins and rings in a special commercial cleaner to remove oxidants.
- Put a handful of freshly found dirty coins in a water solution and clean them for about 10 minutes

Do Not
-Put old oxidized copper coins in a solution, as the oxides will be pulled away and and leave the coin pitted and ugly
-Clean pearls, opals and turquoise, as they can shatter
-Clean pasted jewellry, as it will fall apart.

Where to buy?

Dental suppy stores, hobby stores, Radio Shack, ebay.....
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[awhitster]

[quote cwilk]There are, of course, those who do not clean their finds and just turn them into the bank as is.

[/quote]They have to be cleaned of the loose dirt. Tumbling is for rocks. Here is my method. Save your money. Buy a sand scoop. Give them about 10 good shakes. Take them to the bank and put them through the coin machine. The tellers will then give you clean money. Then go detecting. While the other MDers are still home changing broken belts and rinsing and drying off there super cleaned coins and re-loading you'll be out finding the good stuff. Works for me.

Here is the only coin cleaning tool you'll need. It works good in sand too for picking up coins.
[attachment 78726 scoop.jpg]

 

[ivanll]

Ultrasonic cleane good for cleaning delicate jewellery and gold coins if necessary, items that needs gentle cleaning.
For mass cleaning of beach and park coins, not worth the expense and time
A link to how it works.
Have fun.
ivanll
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni1cmZtwja0

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

that's a good collection coins Ivan. plenty of $1 and $2 coins Too. How long did it take you to collect that bunch of coins?
Mick Evans.

 

[ivanll]

98 outings x average 5 hours.
98 outings allow $10 per trip x todays fuel price and you are in the vicinity of the total add $150 for the coin cleaner.

 

[robert roy]

I understand you can buy a pack of those thick rubber bands and they work as well as the belts. Never tried it though.
Robert R

 

[robert roy]

I've never seen an ultra sound cleaner like that.
Robert R

 

[tab-nabit]

That's a vibratory cleaner normally used for pistol/rifle brass with corn cob or crushed walnut media.
I use the Tumbler's UV-18 for many years for cleaning brass which is the first step for reloading / hand loading.

 

[ivanll]

The above cleaner in my post is not an ultrasonic cleaner, it is a Vibratory Turbo Tumbler.
The ultrasonic cleaner works with fluid or liquid.
The Vibratory Turbo Tumbler uses a dry medium for cleaning and polishing. ( as mentioned by tab-nabit)
A few names Lyman, Hornady and others.
Available from gun and firearms shops.
ivanll

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Thanks for clearing that one up. It had me scratching my head a bit. I have a gun shop only a few hundred metres away.
Mick Evans.

 

[Reggie]

For your tumbler you can either order replacedments or use a vacuum cleaner belt like the ones used on Hoover uprights. Both will work; experience talking.