:usaflag:New Rock Tumbler..

[MNCoinhunter]

My new tumbler should be at the post office tomorrow sometime. And I would appreciate any useful information. What kind of abrasives are people using? How much of what I should be using for tumbling puposes....water? vinegar? dishsoap? What is working good for you? Do you have a different recipe for pennies and clad coins? I picked up a 3lb model...it was $42 and some change..shipping included. That was the best deal I could find where shipping was'nt 25 or 30 bucks.

 

[oldranger]

Dave
Mine is smaller and i use small aquarium gravle pea size i guess

water and liquid soap works ok for me ...just takes longer
since its smaller

Good Luck

Ron

Rangers Lead The Way

 

[Orion42]

I use aquarium gravel and about a tablespoon of shaved ivory soap. No pressure build up and cleans good. I check at 2 or 3 hour intervals til they are clean enough for me.

John

 

[ccs]

For all clad coins I use ammonia,just enough to cover coins. Then I use about a tablespoon of any dish wash liquid soap. I tubble for 3 hours. Rince and repeat again.Coins are just like n

 

[ccs]

I forgot to mention I use aquarium gravel with,the ammonia and dish washing soap.

 

[Oakman404]

McDave, if you got the HF tumbler make sure you read the manual and adjust the tension on the belt and lube the rollers BEFORE your first use. Take the time to set it up right the first time and it will serve you well. Like all the others stated use aquarium gravel and about 100 coins (Don't mix pennies with your other clad) make sure between coins and gravel you have it at least 3/4 full then put water in till it just comes to the top then add whatever soap you desire. I use Dawn dish soap, about a teaspoon. I then turn the unit on and the next morning they are nice and clean! The rubber drums off gas really bad so you are not going to want to set this up inside your house. I do mine in the basement and I set it on an old cookie sheet just in case it leaks. Good luck to ya and let us know how you make out!

 

[Uncle Willy]

Use water, aquarium gravel, some concentrated cleaner, and a half of a brillo pad. Just don't mix pennies with anything but pennies. Everybody has their own recipe but the above works great.

Bill

 

[Old Katz]

McDave and anyone else interested..........:

The first thing I did was go to Petsmart and get a 5lb bag of small size gravel for fish aquariums. Cost $4.95.
It will last forever.

1. Every so often put your used gravel in the tumbler, a dash of dish soap and some vinegar and let it run for an hour
just to clean it up. After awhile, if you don't clean it, it will make your clad look dull.

2. When you clean pennies, remember, they only need to clean for 1 or 1 1/2 hours. They clean up good. HOWEVER, the
drop of dish soap, the vinegar, and the Zinc cause a chemical reaction. Gas builds up fast and will force the top open; you'll have a mess on your hands.
I use an old towel and place the tumble on that. Use just a drop. Remember to tighten the screw top tight but not so tight as to strip the nut.

3. Regular clad is no problem. Use vinegar, a drop of soap. Pour vinegar until you can just see the liquid at the top. I usually run my clad for
15 to 24 hours just because the banks here don't like taking dirty looking money. Chase actually turned me down. You don't have to worry about gas build up but make sure the screw nut is tightened down.

4. You should always check the tumbler from time to time to make sure its not leaking and that the nut is still tight.

Can't think of anything else.

Katz