Electrochemistry anode lead

[chaseonbase]

So I just made my first recovering cell and I saw how lazersteve on his video was using weight of the silver to push down on other bars for current. So heres what I did. Ill try to take a pic asap. I know copper dont work well in the cell and I cant just clip on to a piece of silver and drop it in. So what I first started off with was some cemented silver melted it and poured it on a really long zinc nail. After about an hr I saw the zinc nail start to corrode and make a sizzle sound. So back to the drawing board. So at this point I decided to take an old aluminum nail remelt the old anode and a little more. I poured the silver mixture on to the nail. Also my cathode is sheet of Al. Hooked it back up to the power supply and things seem to be ok. Been dropping fresh silver into the basket. So am I using a wrong lead or contaminating anything?
Im editing this post just got back with pics.

 

[Harold_V]

Lead, zinc and aluminum have no place in a silver cell.
What is your objective?

Harold

 

[rickbb]

IF your intent is to part silver to refine it you need a graphite cathode and a silver anode. Anything else and your not refining your silver but contaminating it.

 

[lazersteve]

You have ultimately changed the entire cell components shown in my video. The cell is built with specific components for a reason, when you alter the components used in the cell design, as others have stated, you ultimately alter the quality of the silver output from the cell.

Steve

 

[Harold_V]

IF your intent is to part silver to refine it you need a graphite cathode and a silver anode. Anything else and your not refining your silver but contaminating it.

True to a point. There is nothing wrong with using a 300 series alloy stainless for the cathode. Just don't use a metallic object to remove crystals.

Harold

 

[Palladium]

The best anode to use is one made of silver. Here's an example of the ones i make for my small silver cell setup.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgZ-vMHTZOo[/youtube]

 

[chaseonbase]

You have ultimately changed the entire cell components shown in my video. The cell is built with specific components for a reason, when you alter the components used in the cell design, as others have stated, you ultimately alter the quality of the silver output from the cell.

Steve

AHHHHH! crude! I apologize first off sensei steve for bringing shame to your dojo. My main concern was lack of my materials with my anode and I didnt have a nice block mold like u. All I have is this little hexagon 10 and 5 gram mold ive beem using. And was trying to find a way to get power to the silver. How I got the whole Al cathode thing going on was reading a post from someone on how they used an AI spatula(some other forum). Im fresh out of graphite and was concerned that the HNO3 would of corroded the SS cathode(should of read that part). I knew I should of gone with plan A. I wanted to take some copper wire and basically make a hanger out of it like you did, the reason I opted out of that plan was because the little hexagons are much smaller than the bars you use in your video, and I was concerned they would of toppled over, and not of made contact. Another reason I thought AI was because its non corrosive to HNO3.
Instead of waiting for the correct materials, I was just so eager and have been waiting so long to try it. I know you guys have tons of refines under your belts, but the chemistry and process behind this stuff just fascinates me. I feel like a 6yr old kid denied candy his whole life and I was ogivin a jolly rancher from the babysitter for the first time and let loose in a candy store. You gotta admire the enthusiasm.


So question time. Next time would it be possible to drill a hole thru my little hexagons and perhaps run a copper rod thru them or SS rod or perhaps a little ss basket? Question number 2. Is my electrolyte contaminated ?
#3 could I use my crystals I made for fresh anodes.

Before anyone beats me to it. My dad always told me thats what you get for thinkin :roll:

 

[chaseonbase]

The best anode to use is one made of silver. Here's an example of the ones i make for my small silver cell setup.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgZ-vMHTZOo[/youtube]

You think I can make one of these molds with a router head on a dremel?

 

[Harold_V]

and I didnt have a nice block mold like u.

Do NOT use text message lingo on this forum. If you persist, you will be banned. If you mean "you", spell it accordingly. You will not be warned again, you will simply be banned permanently.

Harold

 

[Palladium]

You might be able to. I made my prototype by placing two pieces of graphite together and drilling a 3/8 hole straight down through the middle of the two pieces. It was crude to say the least, but worked. Then i took some notes and pictures and had a gentleman cut them out with a cnc router. Here's how ugly the first mold turned out. It still served it's purpose though.

 

[chaseonbase]

and I didnt have a nice block mold like u.

Do NOT use text message lingo on this forum. If you persist, you will be banned. If you mean "you", spell it accordingly. You will not be warned again, you will simply be banned permanently.

Harold

I apologize about that harold. I have a tablet to communicate with and sometimes it's just difficult to type with, and I don't always see the auto correction.

 

[chaseonbase]

You might be able to. I made my prototype by placing two pieces of graphite together and drilling a 3/8 hole straight down through the middle of the two pieces. It was crude to say the least, but worked. Then i took some notes and pictures and had a gentleman cut them out with a cnc router. Here's how ugly the first mold turned out. It still served it's purpose though.

I think thats an excellent idea. As long as it serves its purpose. I know that graphite is pretty hard to cut. I was having a really hard time with mine. I noticed diamond tipped bits worked the best. That drill bit you were using looks huge like a 3/4 to 1inch. I want to experiment with a stone grinder to widen the mouth.Im assuming its gonna clog up fairly quickly and lose its effectiveness.

 

[Palladium]

Actually graphite is soft as well as a lubricant. I used nothing more than a steel drill bit to drill the hole with. I made one that laid flat like an ingot mold by using just a dremmel, but i didn't like the attributes of the mold or the anode it produced.