Tumbler reccomendation?

[Mr. Digger]

I'm going to ask Santa for a tumbler. Any suggestions on a good brand to get? Or crappy ones to avoid? I would see myself using it for coins on occasion and small to medium sized relics....probably not large ones. I don't want something too huge. Also, best material to put inside? Thanks all.

 

[cooper1841]

I just bought a Rock Tumbling kit, and use aquairum gravel and dish soap. Works great on clad, so I can roll it

 

[Captain Caveman]

I'm glad you posted this Mr Digger. I'm very curious to see the answers because I'm in the market for a tumbler myself. I have SO much clad and the banks won't accept it if the coins are dark, even if they are completely clean.

 

[Nortonics]

Any model from Lortone: Lortone, Manufacturers of Tools for Lapidary & Jewelry Artists

Not cheap, but worth it. I've run a 3A for over 25 years on coins and brass for ammo reloading, thousands of hours, and only replaced the belt once.

As said above, aquarium gravel, water and a shot of Dawn (2/3 full), 2 to 5 hours, and viola.

 

[mlayers]

I bought my tumbler from Harbor Freight around 8 yrs ago replaced the belt this year. I normally run it twice a month once for the pennies and the next time in the silver clad. I use fish gravel about half full dump in half of cup of coins and full with water just above coins put in a couple drops of Dawn dish soap and run tumbler for 1 1/2 to 2 hours and coins is great to go thur change machine.

So for the money Harbor Freight has a good one. Watch for a sale and use their 20% off coupon and you can get it for a little over $30.....Matt

 

[Loco-Digger]

Harbor Frieght has them at a reasonable price (42.99).

I bought one last summer and have had no problems with it. My Brother-in-law paid twice as much from a local hobby store and it is made way cheaper than mine. I have a screen that has has 1/4" holes and I just screened for small gravel from my driveway. I tumble my clad then I use the discolored clad to fish vending machines for silver. I wrap the coins I get from the vending machines to roll up and put into my hobby bank account. I use the account to buy coin supplies, detector repairs, upgrades, etc. By the way out of $300 in clad I have yet to get a silver coin out of a vending machine.

Rock Tumbler, 3 Lb. - Save on this Rotary Rock Tumbler

 

[T.C.]

I have this one (3 lb.) and a dual drum that I bought at a yard sale. I tumble mostly rocks and my clad when it starts adding up. I found a real good recipe for clad....fill your tumbler about half full of coins, pour lemon juice in up to the top of the coins and add 3 tbl. spoons of salt. Tumble for 30-45 minutes...cleans 'em up quick! Oh yeah, I forgot....don't mix pennys with clad, tumble them separate.!

Harbor Frieght has them at a reasonable price (42.99).

I bought one last summer and have had no problems with it. My Brother-in-law paid twice as much from a local hobby store and it is made way cheaper than mine. I have a screen that has has 1/4" holes and I just screened for small gravel from my driveway. I tumble my clad then I use the discolored clad to fish vending machines for silver. I wrap the coins I get from the vending machines to roll up and put into my hobby bank account. I use the account to buy coin supplies, detector repairs, upgrades, etc. By the way out of $300 in clad I have yet to get a silver coin out of a vending machine.

Rock Tumbler, 3 Lb. - Save on this Rotary Rock Tumbler

 

[T.C.]

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/c...lad-coins-lemon-juice-only-30-45-minutes.html

This is the full recipe from SocalJim...try it, it works great!!

 

[lawsonland]

Harbor freight, Got the duel one when it was on sale + 20% coupon for $29. Works great

 

[T.C.]

Man!! That's a good deal!! I got my dual at a yard sale for $25 and I thought that was a good deal. I sure would like to pick up the grit at a reasonable price....that stuff is like gold!!

 

[bigfoot1]

I only do my clad once a year.between 350 and 500 bucks.I use a small concrete mixer.I too use the sharp aquarium gravel,a good shot of vinegar and some(not much)dish soap.after a few hours I dump it and start clean...after bout 7 hrs its all good.

 

[celtic fox]

here one you can make yourself https://youtu.be/k6U9-BxKNoU

 

[Pinball]

I have one like this from Cabela's and it works great.

 

[Ytcoinshooter]

I bought this Lortone about 1987 or '88. It's been geat for coins. Quarters and dimes tumble together and other denominations gets tumbled separately. I use the aquarium gravel, borax hand soap and tap water.

I just cashed in $375. in clean, grit free - dug coins at a TD bank using the machine they make available free for customers. Here's the before tumbled clad dimes & quarters...how'd that nickel get in there ... ? here's the clad after 12 hours - overnight+ I still have I out 40 pounds of cents to tumble. The main thing is to have: 1) grit free 2) remove bent, cut or damaged coins. 3) zinc cents missing chunks are discarded . I still have all the those cents to finish but the effort was worth it.
I recommend a fine colander to rinse the coins and gravel and be sure the dirt won't damage the disposal or plumbing. Outside hose is ideal. Funny how timely this thread is for me!
HH!

 

[TheHunterGT]

Ytcoinshooter and this thread in general have just made me a Lortone customer. 2nd time now I have heard somebody say their has been running since the 80's.

Fish rocks and soap for 5 hours seems easy enough. I was looking at my bag of clad thinking "No damn way I am buying that much olive oil"

 

[pat-tekker-cat]

Here's a link with a pretty crafty home made tumbler set up.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/tool-shed/358466-cheap-home-made-tumbler.html

I just duct tape my coffee cans shut with some pea-gravel, sand, etc.....
roll 'em under your feet while relaxing with a refreshing adult beverage, voila,
later I wonder why there's money laying at my feets.