How to Clean Clad Coins with Vib Machine

[taongisurvivor]

I have a beer stein full of clad coins I found last year. I read where some folks clean their clad coins in a rotary tumbler, but I have a largish vibratory type tumbler. Can someone give me directions on how to clean my coins with a vib (e.g.; what media to use and for how long)????

 

[James N.D.]

The man you want to talk to is Rick(nd). His e-mail address is in the private messages department. He loves cleaning everything from coins to your oddball finds. He has some pretty good techniques on how to clean stuff. So drop him a line if you want the info. Sorry I can't help, but he uses and tries so many things that even I can't remember them.

 

[Jason in TN]

I would say kids play sand would work and you can buy a big bag cheap.

 

[tokenterry]

I use stainless steel shot with a little water and some very diluted burnishing compound (this can be ordered on line if you can't find it at a store near you - it's used in the metal manufacturing business as is stainless steel shot). Keep the burnishing compound away from kids and pets since it is a poison. Also, separate the coins out into piles of quarters & dimes. Don't mix with nickels or cents because these coins tend to discolor each other. I usually run the machine for two to three hours. You can use this for nickels as well as cents but I usually just tumble the cents in gravel with a little detergent. The coins usually come out fairly bright and almost look plated. Some coins still remain dark though depending on how long they've been in the ground and the type of dirt they were in. Hope this is helpful and good luck.

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

I have a double barrel rock tumbler that was like $30 that works great. I use to use water and a little soap, but now I just tumble them dry and blow off the dust and crud. HH.

Eddie

 

[Rick(ND)]

It may not be as easy as a rotary tumbler for clad i have found as I have a vib. tumbler too I use for my wheat pennies I want to clean just enough to have them look natural.
On a rotary one just use some aquarium gravel with some Real lemon juice and water, but make sure you separate you clad from you copper. Tumble the copper for a hour or so and it will look like new. The clad I have to tumble for 3 to 5 hours depending on how bad they are. Sometime I will even tumble for a hour and rinse, then tumble for another hour and leave sit over night and tumble for another hour and they will shine when done most times.
Now on a vib tumbler I use the aquarium gravel, add the Wheaties, a little Awesome cleaner (get at the dollar store) and then add water until the coins will rotate in the gravel. I leave it run for 4 or 5 hours and check them, if good I will rinse them off and dry out the tumbler and now put crushed walnuts shells and run for another 4 or 5 hours then separated the pennies and run the pennies in plain water for another hour. Most look real good and not over cleaned, in fact many say I never found them as they are too clean to be found and they don't look tumbled.
I have not tried the newer coins in the Vib tumbler, but if i was to try clad with the vib tumbler or the newer copper i would use Real Lemon juice instead of the cleaner and run for a longer period of time and check them after 4 hours or so.I think it may get them somewhat cleaned and be able to spend them, but the rotary tumbler would work better for the newer coins you want to spend.

 

[cachenut]

I use walnut shell media available at most gun stores that sell reloading supplies. Also cabellas on internet. It does not scratch coins but takes dirt off.

 

[Boony]

Hi taongisurvivor,

I have a bullet tumbler filled with walnut shell media that I use to clean my .45 shell cases, it seems to work reasonably well on clad coin if they are not too discoloured. However why clean them, save them up and take them to the bank. I took $238.00 worth to the bank this morning and they cashed them dirt, sand and all, now I can purchase that X1 probe I have been after.

All the best.....Boony