Author Topic: A token collection Or how do i clean theese dirty things? (Read 5088 times)

nullb0y · « **on:** August 11, 2008, 04:33:33 pm »

So, i have collected tokens and found quite a large amount of "starbucks" tokens,
The thing is i want to use the starbucks tokens in my arcade machine but they are really dirty
I was wondering if anyone knows of a way to clean a large amount of arcade tokens?

ps i had problems posting

shardian · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2008, 04:34:38 pm »

Did someone mix ammonia and bleach in the toilet today?

nullb0y · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2008, 04:39:26 pm »

No i didnt just having problems posting
More pics

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2008, 04:40:42 pm »

Brasso + toothbrush?

nullb0y · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2008, 04:44:55 pm »

well, theres way to many to do these by hand... but i do have an electric tooth brush and alot of time on my hands lol

Oh, i just found a token somone drilled for a string lol

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2008, 04:51:01 pm »

You might try something like a rock tumbler using walnut shells as the medium.

polaris · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:06:57 pm »

soak them in coca cola

nullb0y · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:11:34 pm »

so, from what ive heard the cola doesnt work Ive seen it tarnish pennies lol

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:19:34 pm »

Drain-o or Liquid Plumber. That'll eat the dirt away. (Not a serious suggestion, though I have no doubt it WOULD do the job)

nullb0y · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:36:07 pm »

pretty sure drain cleaner would just tarnish the hell out of them

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:38:09 pm »

Like I said, NOT A SERIOUS SUGGESTION

When I said I had no doubt it would do the job, I meant that it would eat the dirt. What it does to the coins themselves....that's too risky...

nullb0y · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:42:11 pm »

so, im literally sorting through thousands of starbucks tokens to see if they are others in there
so far ive got a
gametime pizza
and a puttputt

as well as atleast 1300 starbucks 3 different types of tokens lol(still got a big pile i have yet to go through)

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:45:09 pm »

What are the Starbucks tokens for? (I'm ignorant, as I've never stepped foot in a Starbucks)

nullb0y · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2008, 05:56:37 pm »

i have no idea
a friend found them in a warehouse that was about to be torn down
He said they were alover the floor and there were some trashed arcade games
"starbucks" * "great american videocade" *

polaris · « **Reply #14 on:** August 11, 2008, 06:05:36 pm »

oops i thought it worked , you've got enough to risk trying one though

nullb0y · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2008, 06:23:53 pm »

illl try it with some cola next time i drink some.... lol......(never)

nullb0y · « **Reply #16 on:** August 11, 2008, 07:17:33 pm »

over 2,000 tokens lmao

tk_42_1 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 11, 2008, 07:29:33 pm »

http://gometaldetecting.com/cleaning-finds.html

Multiple options for you. I suggest some basic white vinegar. Works for cleaning almost everything.

nullb0y · « **Reply #18 on:** August 11, 2008, 07:33:03 pm »

toothbrush and brass polish makes them look great but uhhh this is going to take forever

Mauzy · « **Reply #19 on:** August 11, 2008, 07:36:40 pm »

Quote from: tk_42_1 on August 11, 2008, 07:29:33 pm

http://gometaldetecting.com/cleaning-finds.html

Multiple options for you. I suggest some basic white vinegar. Works for cleaning almost everything.

+1. Works wonders on many surfaces. Vinegar is one of those things that has thousands of great uses.

nullb0y · « **Reply #20 on:** August 11, 2008, 07:40:57 pm »

cool ill give it a try...
This is how they look after some brash polish
and yeah it took this long to polish 5 and post this lol

Mauzy · « **Reply #21 on:** August 11, 2008, 09:11:52 pm »

I just noticed that the "Starbuck's" logos on those tokens have an apostrophe where as the coffee chain "Starbucks" logo does not. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I wasn't going to Starbucks if they had arcade games!

nullb0y · « **Reply #22 on:** August 11, 2008, 09:54:46 pm »

yeah these things are old too
ive never seen or heard any one speak of a starbuck's arcade
But i imagine it had a space theme Star Buck's arcade

anyways i sorted out all of the tokens and found about 5 or 6 more non starbuck's tokens
which is cool 1980-82 print dates are the newest print dates i saw

Buga8tr · « **Reply #23 on:** August 11, 2008, 09:57:53 pm »

I reload and the best way I have found to clean brass is Brass Tumbler "Vibrator" and crushed walnut shells

nullb0y · « **Reply #24 on:** August 11, 2008, 10:52:33 pm »

im probably going to grab a rock tumbler at harbor freight and try that

Ken Layton · « **Reply #25 on:** August 11, 2008, 11:36:11 pm »

C-L-R full strength in a bucket overnight. Rinse off in the morning.

SavannahLion · « **Reply #26 on:** August 12, 2008, 01:34:50 am »

Quote from: Ken Layton on August 11, 2008, 11:36:11 pm

C-L-R full strength in a bucket overnight. Rinse off in the morning.

Interesting you should suggest CLR. I remember someone was telling me not to use CLR on copper. Checked the CLR webpage and all I see is a warning not to use it with cast iron and aluminum. Have you personally used CLR on tokens?

Singapura · « **Reply #27 on:** August 12, 2008, 03:59:32 am »

Find a shop that sells antique coins. They most probably have an ultra sonic cleaner and will clean them for you for a small fee. Jewelry shops and optometrists are a good bet too. You could buy one, they're not that expensive ($26.63 incl. delivery from dealextreme.com)

missioncontrol · « **Reply #28 on:** August 12, 2008, 07:18:06 am »

put a pocket full in with the laundry each load.

shardian · « **Reply #29 on:** August 12, 2008, 08:10:14 am »

When I was a kid, I cleaned wheat pennies buy putting them in a pan of vinegar and heating it on the stove.

nullb0y · « **Reply #30 on:** August 12, 2008, 10:00:47 am »

my friend has an ultra sonic ill ask if i can use it

erictrumpet · « **Reply #31 on:** August 13, 2008, 02:43:22 pm »

I kinda like the patina.
Why ruin vintage tokens by making them look shiny and new?
Soak them in soap and water to get rid of dirt and grime, but leave the oxidation.
If they are raw brass, they will turn green/brown again in time anyway.

Eric.

Ken Layton · « **Reply #32 on:** August 13, 2008, 05:40:27 pm »

I use C-L-R all the time for cleaning our brass tokens from the movie theater. Soak brass in the CLR overnight. I've done copper pennies in CLR also and it works, but you only leave the pennies in the CLR for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse in hot water.

ahofle · « **Reply #33 on:** August 13, 2008, 06:30:09 pm »

Quote from: erictrumpet on August 13, 2008, 02:43:22 pm

Why ruin vintage tokens by making them look shiny and new?
Soak them in soap and water to get rid of dirt and grime, but leave the oxidation.

I thought I was the only one who was thinking this! They look beautiful as is!

nullb0y · « **Reply #34 on:** August 13, 2008, 10:47:58 pm »

i know they will get dirty again
but i want to clean them off they have alot of grime on them
the soap and water didnt clear them up
Im keeping some without cleaning but the ones ill use in my machine i want to clean

koolmoecraig · « **Reply #35 on:** August 14, 2008, 05:57:07 am »

I just happened to do this the other night...

I recently bought a Berry's Tumbler(the harbor freight brand one is crap) for tumbling pinball parts. I dropped an old token in with the parts using walnut shell and some Flitz additive. 12 hours of tumbling later and the token literally shines like a freshly minted coin. It's virtually mirror-like. The token is an Aladdin's Castle token from 1982.

I'll get a pic up later today or tomorrow.

Tumbling is THE way to shine metal parts as far as I'm concerned.

nullb0y · « **Reply #36 on:** August 14, 2008, 11:43:22 am »

so, dont buy the cheap tumbler from harbor freight?

awwwww

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #37 on:** August 14, 2008, 12:34:44 pm »

I made a brass coin using powder metalurgy; after sintering it, it was polished in a tumbler using walnut media... came out very shiny

nullb0y · « **Reply #38 on:** August 15, 2008, 07:31:09 am »

I will probably try the ultrasonic cleaner
Then if thats no good ill get a tumbler at harbor freight next time there on sale

mameotron · « **Reply #39 on:** August 22, 2008, 01:27:57 am »

When I was a kid my friend's mom made apple butter every fall. She always threw a handful of pennies in the kettle so you knew your stirring stick was scraping the bottom. Once she didn't have any pennies so we threw in a handful of tokens. 12 hours later they came out looking brand new!


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