Non-Chemical Copper mesh for cell

[nivrnb]

Amber,

Wow, that was quick, very nice cell, looks like you mean business. We need to make this the show and tell thread. I like how you made the cathode very wide. Your copper mesh looks exactly like the plans posted, great job on that. I can't wait to hear peoples comments.

qst42know,

That is a great idea to make the mold out of wood, I am spending a lot of time on this cathode. Much more than is needed, but it is fun.

Geo,

Would love to see your silver cell, if you don't mind later can I send you a photo of some connectors to get you take on them to see if they are silver plated.

nivrnb

 

[Geo]

Amber,

Wow, that was quick, very nice cell, looks like you mean business. We need to make this the show and tell thread. I like how you made the cathode very wide. Your copper mesh looks exactly like the plans posted, great job on that. I can't wait to hear peoples comments.

qst42know,

That is a great idea to make the mold out of wood, I am spending a lot of time on this cathode. Much more than is needed, but it is fun.

Geo,

Would love to see your silver cell, if you don't mind later can I send you a photo of some connectors to get you take on them to see if they are silver plated.

nivrnb

sure, ill take a look.

 

[philddreamer]

When I made my lead cathode, I used an old frame from a pc, like Lazersteve.

 

[Amber]

Amber,

Wow, that was quick, very nice cell, looks like you mean business.

nivrnb

Thanks. Quick I am not though. I have been reading and studying for months and since I found some free time due to hurricane Irene, I decided to fit the parts together today

I like the wood mold idea. Maybe you could use a router and make a shape to melt the piece you already have. Or I was wondering I lead is soft enough to hammer down what you have?

 

[Geo]

lazersteve sells the lead cathodes from his website for $6.00 apiece. www.goldrecovery.us username (gold) password (goldm1ner*) agree to the terms and click "shop"

 

[philddreamer]

Indeed Geo, & for the novice that's in need of equipment & "how to" information, he's a great source; he also has a number of videos. I bought from him the Fundamentals of Processing Pt/Pd & Silver Refining A to Z; they're excellent!
I also recommend a visit to his website!

 

[Geo]

actually the first lead cathode i made was poured into a clay mold. i had bought a twenty pound box of molding clay from hobbylobby for my son to make a school project over a year ago. it comes in a plastic bag inside a box and is still moist and soft today. i formed the mold on aluminum foil on a cookie sheet using the end of a 1x4 inch piece of plank and then hardened in the oven overnight on 250 degrees. i melted the lead in a steel can (canned corn i think :lol: ) and made three with that. i still have over 15 pounds of clay left.

 

[nivrnb]

Amber,
I like the wood mold idea. Maybe you could use a router and make a shape to melt the piece you already have. Or I was wondering I lead is soft enough to hammer down what you have?

I went to the recycle place today with the hopes that I could get lead like you have, but they were closed. I think I am going to go that way. I will still make the ones I have been working on and yes I would pound them flat. Hope all is well on the East Coast.

nivrnb

 

[Amber]

Hope all is well on the East Coast.
nivrnb

For our area not bad. We bought a generator and that meant we did not loose electricity. Anyone need a new Honda generator? :lol:

For sheets of lead, check with old roofers and contractors. According to my husband, it may be harder to find new than I thought. Maybe I got lucky looking in a fellow pack rats garage. I love the molding clay idea also. much easier to make the shape you want or event trim a bigger shape. For that matter, if you are melting a piece into the mold, a small flat square or rectangle would make your own sheet you can cut. Cutting was super easy. I bet an old bread pan would do.

 

[jimdoc]

We didn't lose power during the hurricane conditions yesterday, or even in the stronger wind gusts today. But tonight the power went out for a few hours when it was nice and calm as could be.
Last week I felt the earthquake also, so this has been a weird week for this area.

I hope everyone in the hurricanes path made out OK as well. My brother stayed in his Absecon house a few miles from where it made landfall in New Jersey, and he had less wind and rain than us about a hundred miles from him.

We had a record amount of rain for any month in history in this area at over 13" for August before the storm. I think Irene added another 12" to that total. I was worried about the trees around my house because the ground is so saturated.

Jim

 

[butcher]

Are you above the flood zone?

 

[jimdoc]

There is flooding all around near the creeks and rivers and down at the shore, but I am not that close to any water. Those people who live near creeks and rivers still have a few days until the water will go down. My yard is just very soggy from all the rain. Things could have been a lot worse.

Jim

 

[nivrnb]

Update,

Went to a recycler and they had some lead only $4.00 not bad, thanks Amber for the great ideal, my cell is moving along much quicker. Now, I just have to clean the lead, make extra screens. I also like the ideal of using a clay mold. Thanks again everyone for making this an enjoyable project.


nivrnb

 

[Amber]

That's a good lookin cell nivrnb

Looks like you are ready to run some scrap

Pleas keep taking those great photos. I am curious about the scrap you have and how it will work in the cell

I hope to start running my first batch next weekend.

Be safe

Amber

 

[seawolf]

Great photos, and from them I see a small problem. You will want to cut or raise the lead and basket so they will be higher in the cell or it will short out as the level of the gold powder rises. Let all of us know how things go.
Mark

 

[philddreamer]

Hi Nivrnb!
What type of material are you planning on running thru?
To me, if you don't raise the side facing the cathode, & make more of a "basket", rather than a "narrow seat", you'll have a lot of material falling to the bottom & mixing with the gold sediment. Be aware that, @ times, you'll have to "stir" the material so to always have it make good contact for proper & thorough de-plating.
IMHO, the porpouse of the basket is to be able to introduce more material & to keep that material, that is been processed, from falling & mixing with the gold sediment.

Take care!
Phil

 

[nivrnb]

To all,

Thanks for the advice and comments, I’ve made some adjustments to the cell, I believe that placing items that have solder or lead on them will not have time to dissolve, I have items that have some white plastic in them, that need to come out before I place them in the cell. I don’t want to gunk it up with plastic.

As far as the cooling of the cell I have an idea of using those reusable gel packs you place in the freezer to place under and around the cell, haven’t gotten to that point yet.

nivrnb

 

[nivrnb]

con't

 

[Geo]

theres a good chance that the plating extends underneath the plastic, it would be better if you could remove it but its not necessary.

 

[qst42know]

It's not necessary in an aluminum mold for lead but a coat of soot improves the casting of low temp metals as well.