How to clean clad

[washingtonian]

Hi guys, I was just wondering what is the best and most efficient way to clean clad before rolling it and sending into the bank, any input would be great thanks

-Washingtonian

[jeff of pa]

once a year, I just mix it with Clean stuff & Hand it to the teller in a Bank bag.
They walk back & Dump it in the Counter without even looking.

[Sandman]

Jeff's way works for me too. I've also used those Coin Star machines at super markets. They take a cut of the amount that is counted, but you don't have to clean them. As an added bonus, check the return slot every time you visit the store for not everyone takes out the rejects.

Years ago I would tumble the coins in corn cobs but don't bother anymore.

[finderzzs]

Comeon you guys, Get a cheap tumbler, check out harborfreight.com, and use CLR, it can be bought at any grocery store. Your coins will come out looking like new in about an hour or so. Good luck, Coin star....

[longsocks]

I just wash off the dirt with dishsoap and then spend them LOL for years I used to wash and dry them and then use them at the toll road, that was like free driving then :-)

[RON (PA)]

I clean my clad my mixing a handful of clad, aquarium gravel, aquarium sand, and some ammonia. Of course, I tumble the silver clad separate from the pennies.


How much CLR do you use and it is safe with all of the coins

[Jim Hemmingway]

Hi Washingtonian,

Similar to Ron above, except I use just a pinch of powdered laundry detergent. A dab of liquid soap would probably do just fine. Not too much, otherwise the foaming pressure builds-up inside the tumbler causing some leakage. Do it at the end of each season, or when enough coins have accumulated, roll 'em, and the wife takes 'em to the bank. Neat and clean, but as Ron pointed out, tumble the pennies separately from other denominations. Amazing how good the coins look.

Jim.

[Treasure_Hunter]

I use a double bin tumbler I picked up on sale at Habor Freight, a little aquarium gravel and a couple drops of dish soap.

I check dates when I get home to be sure there are no good coins and put the clad in holding jars, one for pennies another for the rest, when a jar is full I tumble the coins from both jars in two seperate tumbler bins at same time.

All cleaned coins go in a large 2 gal jar that is about 1/3rd full, and I continue to watch it fill up, pennies go in a smaller seperate jar. Last time I added $60 worth of cleaned coins to the jar you could hardly see the line of coins move up the jar. Inside jar is an 8 inch black "pirate's" pouch that holds the dollar coins I found, it has $125 in it (most from the GSBSO I attended), I am guessing there is close to $500 or more in it now. The paper money is a 2 dollar bill surface find I found.

[finderzzs]

I clean my clad my mixing a handful of clad, aquarium gravel, aquarium sand, and some ammonia. Of course, I tumble the silver clad separate from the pennies.


How much CLR do you use and it is safe with all of the coins

Measure? I put water about an inch over the coins and put about 5 tablespoons of CLR in. I've even thrown in my silver necklace to get it nice and shiny. So the only damage would be the coins rolling together, which is where the aquarium gravel helps.

[flyinguy]

Comeon you guys, Get a cheap tumbler, check out harborfreight.com, and use CLR, it can be bought at any grocery store. Your coins will come out looking like new in about an hour or so. Good luck, Coin star....

i have heard they really stink. i mean, literally. any other choice?

[flyinguy]

soap,water, give to wife. she is good at it.

[UnEarthed72]

Comeon you guys, Get a cheap tumbler, check out harborfreight.com, and use CLR, it can be bought at any grocery store. Your coins will come out looking like new in about an hour or so. Good luck, Coin star....

even if the clad is black/rusty looking?

[Treasure_Hunter]

Comeon you guys, Get a cheap tumbler, check out harborfreight.com, and use CLR, it can be bought at any grocery store. Your coins will come out looking like new in about an hour or so. Good luck, Coin star....

even if the clad is black/rusty looking?

Yes even if black and rusty. I tumble all my clad and it comes out looking almost new. I bought a tumbler from Harbor Freight. It is a dual bin tumbler, one bin I put pennys the other is the rest. I put all my clad minus pennys in a large jar and watch it grow.....

[Coins4Cheese]

I put my clad in a vending machine, and hit the coin return button. A different one comes out

[jeff of pa]

I put my clad in a vending machine, and hit the coin return button. A different one comes out

with all my dirty clad i'd need to spend
the day at the vending machine

wish they took pennies too

[rjw4law]

The el cheapo zincs are a problem soooo much corrosion.... If you look at them under a magnifier, I think they say made in China.

[boogeyman]

Jeff's way works for me too. I've also used those Coin Star machines at super markets. They take a cut of the amount that is counted, but you don't have to clean them. As an added bonus, check the return slot every time you visit the store for not everyone takes out the rejects.

Years ago I would tumble the coins in corn cobs but don't bother anymore.

Coin Stars are what I use too. Be sure and watch what gets rejected. The machines here will spit back any wheats you happen to miss. My rejects get rolled up & distributed to grocery clerks that have lousy attitudes or give poor service

Also, take a pencil with some of the poster putty used to hang posters with on the end check under the tray where you dump the coins. I've pulled out several gold earrings and a charm bracelet charm. Now if only I can get em to drop the matching earrings in!

[Mirage]

Comeon you guys, Get a cheap tumbler, check out harborfreight.com, and use CLR, it can be bought at any grocery store. Your coins will come out looking like new in about an hour or so. Good luck, Coin star....

I wish. Not our "red" clad. About 75% of the clad Nate and I find has been in the ground for 20+ years. I will admit that about 25% of the clad will clean up nice in the tumbler after about an hour. It's the other stuff 75% that is the problem. We have tried various gravel, grit, cleaning solutions, coin to gravel ratio's, etc. Most of our coins take at least 8 hours in the tumbler. Even then they still have that "dirty" or sometimes "hammered" look.

Best bet is not to overload the tumbler, have at least 25% gravel/grit and only fill with water about 80%.

Bob