After a successful day of metal detecting, you probably will have found several clad coins which will have to be cleaned. After I tried unsuccessfully to cash the coins into a bank, but they would not take them. So the only thing I could use the coins for was vending machines. So, I had no choice but to research how to clean the clad coins I had found. After my extensive research, I found all the best information I could and I'm presenting all of it with you. I have devised a system that works extremely well.
The first thing I needed was a rock tumbler; they can be found at hardware stores. I took aquarium gravel and filled the tumbler halfway with it. On top of the gravel I put about half a pound of coins and then added water. Then I take the tumbler and fill it with enough water so that I can cover my coins with at least a quarter inch of water. Just before closing up the tumbler and letting it run for half a day, I put in one Tbs. of dish washing soap.
Then I found some chicken wire--about a quarter inch--and I bought a square foot of it. Once I got it home, I cut and folded it so that I fashioned a basket from it.
After Tumbling for Twelve Hours
The First Step. Avoid pouring the gravel down the drain by emptying the entire contents of the tumbler into a strainer over a bowl sitting in the sink. Now step 2. Use tap water to rinse off the coins. #3. Your homemade wire basket now goes onto a good sized cooking sheet. The Fourth Step. The gravel you pour from the strainer will shake out through the holes in the basket leaving only the coins inside. #5. Place the basket holding the coins to the side. #6. The gravel can be taken off the cooking sheet and put back into the rock tumbler. You can reuse your gravel repeatedly. Replace the gravel when it doesn't clean the coins any longer - a good clue is when the rocks become smooth.)
#7. On your cookie sheet, place two clean paper towels on the cookies sheet. Then take the coins and put them on the paper towel so they can dry off.
The coins used in the demonstration were run continuously for twelve hours. But this was a demonstration. If your coins aren't as soiled, then you may not have to run them as long. If you find that the coins were not cleaned sufficiently the first time, you can repeat the process again using clean water and soap.
The first thing I needed was a rock tumbler; they can be found at hardware stores. I took aquarium gravel and filled the tumbler halfway with it. On top of the gravel I put about half a pound of coins and then added water. Then I take the tumbler and fill it with enough water so that I can cover my coins with at least a quarter inch of water. Just before closing up the tumbler and letting it run for half a day, I put in one Tbs. of dish washing soap.
Then I found some chicken wire--about a quarter inch--and I bought a square foot of it. Once I got it home, I cut and folded it so that I fashioned a basket from it.
After Tumbling for Twelve Hours
The First Step. Avoid pouring the gravel down the drain by emptying the entire contents of the tumbler into a strainer over a bowl sitting in the sink. Now step 2. Use tap water to rinse off the coins. #3. Your homemade wire basket now goes onto a good sized cooking sheet. The Fourth Step. The gravel you pour from the strainer will shake out through the holes in the basket leaving only the coins inside. #5. Place the basket holding the coins to the side. #6. The gravel can be taken off the cooking sheet and put back into the rock tumbler. You can reuse your gravel repeatedly. Replace the gravel when it doesn't clean the coins any longer - a good clue is when the rocks become smooth.)
#7. On your cookie sheet, place two clean paper towels on the cookies sheet. Then take the coins and put them on the paper towel so they can dry off.
The coins used in the demonstration were run continuously for twelve hours. But this was a demonstration. If your coins aren't as soiled, then you may not have to run them as long. If you find that the coins were not cleaned sufficiently the first time, you can repeat the process again using clean water and soap.
About the Author:
Daniel Akinson has been detecting nearly his whole life. Visit MetalDetectorsOnline.net to learn more about metal detector finds and Fisher Metal Detectors today.