KD-6808 Mini Tumbler

[Saffron]

Has anybody used the KD-6808 Mini Tumbler for cleaning coins (I am meaning your average milled coin probably less than 100yrs old, often found on the beach) if so would be very interested in your views.

As probably unlikely for that model has anybody used another Tumbler.

I know a couple of club members that have used this model and recommend them, but would like others views.

Thanks in advance.

Evan

[Pete E]

Has anybody used the KD-6808 Mini Tumbler for cleaning coins (I am meaning your average milled coin probably less than 100yrs old, often found on the beach) if so would be very interested in your views.

As probably unlikely for that model has anybody used another Tumbler.

I know a couple of club members that have used this model and recommend them, but would like others views.

Thanks in advance.

Evan

I have used a vibratory tumbler (meant for cleaning brass cartridges cases) and that works well enough, although it will depend in part what media you fill it with....

[Saffron]

Well I bought this KD-6808 Mini Tumbler a few months back.

Having used it on a fair selection of coins I will say that I am very impressed with the results. I suspect that most of these coins were beach finds, and the vast bulk were Queen Victoria through to fairly recent decimals, although a few older coins revealed themselves.

I only used water and ballbearings, as another user of the machine that I know advised me to stick to just water. Although I have a few unused "addatives" and know that some people add a squirt of washing up liquid.

A significant percentage of coins revealed more detail after two 1/2hr sessions. So far I have not tried going for more than an hour (done in 2 sessions to drain filthy water and replace with clean), but I have some coins that I belive would benefit from another session.

Only "casualties" were 2 decimal 2p coins (but they were almost certainly partly corroded when I found them). Some of the decimal coins initially were in much too poor a condition to hand over when shopping but now can be.

If making a display of coins this gives the option to include cleaned coins that look as they would when in circulation alongside ones with a patina that has been gained over the years in the ground which IMHO would add authenticity to the collection

It works equally well on small items like buttons, and although I have not tried it (yet) I am sure it would work on bullets / cartridge cases enabling headstamps to be read.

Obviously valuable, or delicate, coins should NOT be cleaned using this method. However, for the type of coins that I put in the tumbler I would definitely recommend it.

Evan

[Pete E]

Evan,

If you think on next time you use it, a few before and after pics would be interesting....

Regards

Peter

[Saffron]

Evan,

If you think on next time you use it, a few before and after pics would be interesting....

Regards

Peter

That is exactly what I thought .... but unfortunately only AFTER I had used it last night

Evan

[figgis]

Thanks for the review, Evan. I keep forgetting about tumblers as a means to clean coins and I initially dismissed the idea of buying one because it would barely ever be used. But I've found some nice pebbles and am tempted to put a shine on them, so maybe there's more justification for getting one

[Oxgirl]

I ca feel a big pile of coins coming your way next time we meet Evan

I’m really interested in tumblers as I get a lot of crudy coins round here that might show some detail if given a good shake. Really interested to see how good a job it does.

[Jamesey1981]

I've been hankering after a tumbler for a while, in fact I nearly managed to get a free one on freecycle, someone got there before me though.

Will be a good step up from my ultrasonic cleaner for the grotty spendables, that gets them clean but they still need extra attention before I can do anything other than vending machines..

[alloverover]

I always fancied a tumbler and so did my daughter ( although she didnt know it) so I bought her one last Christmas, we still havent used it yet, weve had it out a couple of times but never got it up and running yet.
Weve only got the drums for rocks, I beleive your ment to use different ones with baffles in for metal though

[Pete E]

Out of curiosity, I had a look at these tumblers on eBay..there seem to be several looking like the same generic design sold under different names which range in price from £55 to £124! Many are marked up as KT-6808 rather than KD....

I have no idea if there are any differences re build quality, but that's quite a wide range of prices for what looks like the same basic machines...

[figgis]

Yes, Pete - they sound like a generic Far-Eastern machine cranked out and sold under the name of whoever. Much like the Xmas prezzie which got me into detecting, the Hokey Cokey 2000 whose "discrimination", always iffy at best, failed entirely after 20 minutes and the thing was relegated to sweeping driveways for nails until it exploded and drove a piece of shrapnel into the bonce of the site labourer, finally knocking some sense into him and doubling his IQ to 14

As with all things, some research into the models available within budget is advisable, and a weather-eye on the second hand market would be good.

Gawd, I'm going to have to get one, innit?

[Saffron]

I ca feel a big pile of coins coming your way next time we meet Evan

I’m really interested in tumblers as I get a lot of crudy coins round here that might show some detail if given a good shake. Really interested to see how good a job it does.

Cath,
I would be happy to do them for you .

On the condition that you take some "Before" photos (because I am bound to forget )

Evan

[Saffron]

Out of curiosity, I had a look at these tumblers on eBay..there seem to be several looking like the same generic design sold under different names which range in price from £55 to £124! Many are marked up as KT-6808 rather than KD....

I have no idea if there are any differences re build quality, but that's quite a wide range of prices for what looks like the same basic machines...

The one I got was £69 new, I actually got this second hand and near new as sadly a club stalwart had died and a club member was selling his equipment on behalf of his wife. Before getting it I also looked online and noticed the wide range of prices, and that some were "KT" rather than "KD". Looking at the specifications I could not see any difference between them, and photos look more or less indentical.

The only slight difference was that a few came with "polishing media"; but one of the £115 versions now says "Used with stainless steel shots or media to be purchased separately", so the higher price is not due to this (and the steel shot is cheap to purchase anyway).

Standard description
- 3Kg Rotary Tumbler Jewelry Polisher & Finisher
- specially designed for fixed time tumbling (0-60minutes, adjustable setting).
- Auto-reverse function enables through tumbling
- 5 variable speeds control so that jewelries can be polished with good care.
- voltage:220V (they come with a 2 pin plug)
- drum container size 150*105mm
- Machine dimension: 180*230*240mm
- capacity: 3kg
- weight 4.5kg (I can assure you mine is a big chunk of solid metal!).

FYI: I was advised to -
a) use the auto-reverse function (after a minute it stops and reverses direction, rather than continually go in the same direction).
b) use the 2nd of the 5 speed settings
c) use it for 30 minutes, check if longer needed (as it would be in some cases), and change the water.


Random thought:
Some "inland" detectorists might think they do not find enough coins to justify a tumbler, but if in a club it might be worth seeing if the club could purchase one and then "hire" it out to members for a pound or two - that would save the idividuals the purchase cost and after a while the club would recoup the cost and earn a little bit.

Evan

[Easylife]

I've occasionally toyed with the idea of getting a tumbler, may still do sometime to use as a dual purpose item. Available from £44.38 on Ebay.