Hoke doesn't discuss AP at all. It's a "workaround" method pioneered here on the forum by Lazersteve. Nitric acid was inexpensive and readily available in Hoke's day. Now, it's expensive and difficult to obtain for many. AP will dissolve copper, but it is slower than nitric.nickton said:I'm on my second reading of Hoke's book and can't seem to find much about AP solution proportions either. I think she says using Nitric acid is the only way to completely dissolve copper and is thus better to use than acid peroxide, though I may be wrong here. I didn't realize too much peroxide would put gold into solution, or that it eventually precipitates as black powder. Very interesting.
There is no such thing as AP and bleach. AP is a combination of HCl and hydrogen peroxide (Acid and Peroxide = AP). We do use HCl and bleach to dissolve gold, but peroxide isn't used in the process. This is another workaround method, with the bleach replacing nitric acid as the oxidizer.I have attempted the AP and bleach refining method a few times now and have not succeeded in getting a gold button, but I am a hack I know and need to learn more, so I am hesitating to try it again.
While there are some good youtube videos (most made by members of this forum), they are outnumbered by poor ones that can put you in harms way. The best way to learn this craft is by studying Hoke's book, this forum, and the sites of some of our members.It does seem to me that youtube videos and on line website info is the only way for an ignoramus like me to learn, without investing in hard to find NItric acid. Sorry for being such a newbie. :mrgreen:
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