Coin cleaning

[Kiwi]

Hi, Has anyone tried cleaning coins by sandblasting but using crushed walnut shell instead of sand ? as I understand it is non abrasive

 

[TURNMASTER]

Well on that thought I whould think soda blasting would be the least harmfull of the bunch. However it is still an abrasive process, so give it a shot and see.
Sarcasm. Any type of blasting is abrasive. It is my understanding though, that soda is the least damaging.
We have soda at work maybe I should try it out on a crusted penny. I can't imagine it would leave a desireable finish. No don't think I will.

If you do let us know how it works. Don't dwell in any single spot!

Good Luck
Jeff

 

[David]

Coin Care Equipment
http://time-lines.co.uk/how-to-clean-coins-3593-0.html

(Maybe also soak coins in Coca-Cola, heha.)

 

[DIRTHOG]

I've had good luck using rough ground dried corn kernels in a rotating tumbler. It takes a while to clean them but the results are worth the wait.and I've not noticed any coin damage to any of the coins I cleaned. As a test I ran a batch of pennies for four days which was too long causing the coins to look overly polished and shiny which may not be desirable for certain coins.

 

[Mtnmn]

Dirthog: That method would probably also be great for using on older finds with little collector value, so as to having them looking as nice as possible. Although I have a friend who finds over $2,000 worth the coins a year (Probably why I don't find many, ha!), suspect he would be tumbling 24/7 if not for using an industrial grade tumbling media...

 

[dirtdiver74]

Well, I've known that old books get cleaned with a kind of sandblast method but with crushed dry ice, don't know how it will work with coins, might be fun to try on non valuable ones, hehe.

 

[garydl63]

Just use plain old beach sand,lemon juice and some salt in a tumbler.......Magic results!!
hh Gary

 

[Kruegerrand]

I use aquarium gravel, a couple of tablespoons of cream of tarter, and water in my rock tumbler. This is only for clad coins as it will destroy collector value of any good coins. Be sure to separate the copper from the silver otherwise you will have pick clads. My bank won't take them if pink but coinstar will.