Tumbler Report - 1st Round

[Steve in PR]

I started using a tumbler to clean clad that I recovered from salt water. The coin are extremely corroded and, especially with the pennies, are covered in a hard, sandy coating.

I went about cleaning them in 2 steps. First, I simply took a bunch and ran them throuight the tumbler using aquarium gravel only. They typically start out looking as in the lower right of the picture, although these generally in worse shape than some of them. Above them on the right are those that simply refused to get clean. To the top-left are some that responded to the tumbling but wre left stained, even after a water rinse. The ones in the lower left were water rinsed then retumbled but with Cream of Tartar powder added to the gravel (Available in the spice section of your grocery store.) and a water rinse afterwards



I had more luck with silver. The pile in the middle represents the "before" state and those around the pile are the results of a gravel-only tumble, water rinse and retumbled with Cream of Tartar. I think they are ready for rolling!



I am not done experimenting so I will be posting more results in the future.

A defininite No-No:

Don't place wet coins in your tumbler with Cream of Tartar powder. What you get is a stcky, syrupy mess that requires cleaning!

[EBCIII]

Looking good Steve! They look good enough to me. Good work, Beale.

[Dugday]

Looking forward to more reports on cleaning procedures. I just bought a tumbler, but have not gotten around to trying it out. Only thing I will be tumbling will be the clad that I have lying around. Thanks for the info.

[Buster]

Steve, thanks for the info..I will want to get a tumbler later on and do the same with my coins...This will help me out a lot...Buster...

[Oz_IL]

Some of the ZLincolns I find have no chance of ever getting cleaned up at all, and those are ones found in the dirt

[Tn Dirt Digger]

Looks like your on to something with that Tar-Tar Steve....Good post!

[prizm-pal]

Thanks for the post Steve...I will be getting a tumbler soon and you're posts sure will help thanks!

[INDY]

Like everyone else has stated, I will get a tumbler one day. SO I'll be reading this post and paying close attention to your results!!
Thanks Steve!!

[homefire]

I have a small one. One quart maybe! Never use it, I don't find enough to worry about.

I had some glass beads like the ones they use to make road signs glow at night. . 1mm maybe. I wanted to try them but someone liberated them off my car port. 80lb Worth

What they wanted them for I have no Idea!

[Zman]

Cream or Tartar what a great idea, I should get a tumbler. Thanks for the post Stever.