Whats the best way to clean Clad?

[TreasureHunters]

I tried Tarnx and it turned the pennies pink lol.. Anyone got a tip for cleaning clad other than soap and water? Thanks

 

[teddy]

Put fish tank gravel (the uncolored type) in a heavy plastic jar (1/4 full). Cover gravel with water and a pinch of soap. Place clad coins NO COPPER COINS into jar--place lid on jar and shake the heck out of it while watching your favorite show. Shake about 20 times and rest awhile. Repeat until you have about 200 hard shakes.

Or you could be lazy like me and buy a rock tumbler.

teddy

 

[mlayers]

2nd that, Rock tumbler.....tt

 

[shane41]

I use a rock tumbler. Gets even the dirtiest coins cleaned

 

[cedarratt]

Fish tank Gravel and dish soap, Tumble for about 2 hours and they will be all clean and nice and Pink. Now every now in there one will get stuck to the bottom and one side won't get cleaned but it will take some pretty nasty ones that are all white or all green and not recognizable as to what they are and turn them all shiny and pretty.

 

[TreasureHunters]

does CLR work?

 

[TreasureHunters]

Can anyone recommend a good cheap tumbler? Also do they clean all coins including copper pennies? thanks

 

[Tank69]

Harbor Freight tumbler less than $30

do pennies seprate than the nickles dimes an quarters

couple drops of redular old dish soap, little bit of fish tank rock or pea gravel an water an coins tumble a couple hours , do the same to the silver coins

I empty the tub an you'll know right away which ones are junk to throw away , which are done an shiney enough for the coin star machine or if they need a little more time .

 

[teddy]

Also do they clean all coins including copper pennies? thanks

Yes. Only keep your gravel for clad and for pennies separate.

teddy

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

Rock Tumbler is the way to go.

A good quality tumbler is Lortone:
http://www.spencerlapidary.com/lortone-rock-tumbler-3a.html

It will run you about $70.

You can go with the Harbor Freight unit for about half that price, but you had bette buy extra belts. The factory belt does not last long. Also there has been an issue with the rubber having a very strong odor.

I have had the lortone unit for many years and have not had a single problem with it. The HF unit did not last two seasons before the belt broke.

In either case they will both do the job. enjoy.

Ray S

 

[sniffer]

if it's just clad, I throw them all together in my harbor freight tumbler with a good shake or two of comet and a handfull
of sand/gravel mix and some water. 15 minutes and all clean

 

[Goes4ever]

I separated pennies out last year, and it is just a pain, Now when I get home with clad, I just rinse it and throw it in the tumbler, when it is full to about halfway, fill with water add some soap and run for a couple hours, I cannot tell any difference from batches with or without pennies