Hi there,
I am new to Gold Refining and have downloaded and read several books, articles, etc. I understand must of the steps and within the next week will be trying this for the 1st time. I am waiting on my beakers to arrive, but already have all of the chemicals. I have an book that covers a lot of topics including gold filled CM Hoke Refining process and just watched your video 3 times. 1st of all I will not take any shortcuts in the process and if it take me twice as long it just will. We have about 40 pounds of gold filled jewelry scrap (Wife does vintage jewelry for a living and we have been saving anything 1/20, 1/10th, gold filled, etc that is broke or she just can't sell for years). My plan is to take just 100 grams to start with. I have already removed anything magnetic and have peeled, pulled, and cut things off that were. I should note that the only Gold filled items we kept were non magnetic with exception of lockets that may have had a hinge of different material and only exception is of pocket watches that we just kept the entire watch.
My question is...are there any things for a beginner, other than what I have read, studied, looked up, that you would suggest. I plan on heating up everything to burn off impurities, then giving them Nitric acid/distilled water baths to dissolve the metals/materials that shouldn't be there. Do that process until sure it is good and clean, then proceed with the Refining part. I plan to do this whole process outside in my shed wearing very protective safety gear, etc (I will be safe from fumes, etc). Any suggestions and/or advise will be welcomed.
Thank you, Dana