Coin tumbler.

[hoser]

As some might know, I started to build a coin tumbler early last year, and the whole thing behind the project was it had to cost 0 dollars. I had the whole thing built in short order, but lacked a drive motor. Welllll, a week ago a good little 1/10 hp motor surfaced, and with a small amout of modification, I was able to complete the project. I tumbled my first load of VERY black clad coins and they came out pretty good. They were dull fininsh after cleaning. Sure wouldn't want to do anything of real value in this thing for sure. I was able to clean around thirty dollars of clad at one load. Pretty happy with how the project turned out.

[Oz_IL]

Originally Posted by ausableBill

As some might know, I started to build a coin tumbler early last year, and the whole thing behind the project was it had to cost 0 dollars. I had the whole thing built in short order, but lacked a drive motor. Welllll, a week ago a good little 1/10 hp motor surfaced, and with a small amout of modification, I was able to complete the project. I tumbled my first load of VERY black clad coins and they came out pretty good. They were dull fininsh after cleaning. Sure wouldn't want to do anything of real value in this thing for sure. I was able to clean around thirty dollars of clad at one load. Pretty happy with how the project turned out.

$30 at once! I'm lucky if my cheap-o tumber can handle more than 50 clad coins, not that I found 50 clad coins

So what mixture did you use for cleaning?

[hoser]

Hiya Oz. Well I wanted something that would hold up, so I built it so. The test was, I took about three to four pounds of half dollar sized flat washers and ran them in the machine for two hours. Motor never got hot, and the washers all came out hazy in finish which told me they were definately tumbling. The mixture I used is White aquarium gravel, small amount of liquid dish soap, a shot of amonia, and enough water to cover the contents of the chamber. I kept checking every half hour to see the progress, and the total time running was around two hours. Hope this helps.

[Oz_IL]

Roger that. I have no trouble getting my pennies cleaned (white aquarium gravel, water, Tide, lemon juice and aluminum pull tabs). Pretty sure the Tide and pull tabs have nothing to do with cleaning up the pennies LOL. Long range goal is to end up with bronze colored pull tabs that I'll give to someone who uses them for pull tab art. Pennies do come up a nice riosie red color, even the wheaties(no key date ones of course).

Cleaning the clad is what I have the trouble with and I didn't want to spend $ on adding coin polish or other realted $ stuff. I'll try the ammonia instead of lemon juice for the clad, which I tumble seperately from the pennies.