gbaldwin75
Active member
I was wondering if the book "recovery and refining of precious metals" by cw ammen was worth reading, or if i should stick to finding hoke's book?
CW Ammen
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I've never seen Ammen's book, but I have no doubt it's a good one. In spite of that, unless someone can tell me differently, I don't think it would serve the novice as well as Hoke's. Hers is written such that a person that is not the least bit familiar with chemistry can learn to refine precious metals. She takes you through making solutions for testing, how to test, how to refine various varieties of waste materials, and even provides excellent guidance for processing platinum and palladium, all in language that anyone can understand. It doesn't go in to depth with silver, but that information is readily available in a book written by Butts & Cox.
On the negative side, it was written long before electronic scrap was available, so it is not covered, but the basic principles of refining remain the same. You can glean all the information for stripping gold by various methods right here on this forum.
It might be a good idea for those that have Ammen's book to speak out----on the outside chance that I am handing out bad advice. Don't think I am considering I knew nothing about chemistry or refining in general and learned enough from her (Hoke's) book to found a small refining business that was exceedingly successful.
How about it readers-------any comments on Ammen's book?
Harold
edit: added name for clarity.
On the negative side, it was written long before electronic scrap was available, so it is not covered, but the basic principles of refining remain the same. You can glean all the information for stripping gold by various methods right here on this forum.
It might be a good idea for those that have Ammen's book to speak out----on the outside chance that I am handing out bad advice. Don't think I am considering I knew nothing about chemistry or refining in general and learned enough from her (Hoke's) book to found a small refining business that was exceedingly successful.
How about it readers-------any comments on Ammen's book?
Harold
edit: added name for clarity.
Noxx
Well-known member
I just realized that I do not own Hook's book but Ammen's book lol.
Anyway, I must say that it's good. Good for the novice and the advanced as well. He gives processes to recover all the precious metals from different sources (but not electronic scrap). It's quite old but the methods are mostly the same. But a lot of the information can be found in this forum...
A few examples of what is covered :
-Testing and identification of PGMs
-Electrochemical principles
-Electrorefining
-Wet chemical master plan
-Various systems
-Black Sands
-Fire Assaying
-Thin-layer chromatography
-Dip Stick chemistry
-Solvent extraction
-Magnetite
-Illustrated Melting and smelting devices (drawings)
Recommended if you can get it not too expensive.
Anyway, I must say that it's good. Good for the novice and the advanced as well. He gives processes to recover all the precious metals from different sources (but not electronic scrap). It's quite old but the methods are mostly the same. But a lot of the information can be found in this forum...
A few examples of what is covered :
-Testing and identification of PGMs
-Electrochemical principles
-Electrorefining
-Wet chemical master plan
-Various systems
-Black Sands
-Fire Assaying
-Thin-layer chromatography
-Dip Stick chemistry
-Solvent extraction
-Magnetite
-Illustrated Melting and smelting devices (drawings)
Recommended if you can get it not too expensive.
The Ammen book is good. I have the 1st edition and wish I had the newer one. The more books one has, the better, IMHO.
jimdoc
Well-known member
I have the Ammen book also and agree that
is a very good book. I think that Hoke's should
be everbody's first choice to begin their library.
I don't think that you could ever have to many
books on a subject that you are very interested
in learning about.
Ammen also has a few books on casting metals,
I also have a few of those. Just look up C.W.
Ammen.
is a very good book. I think that Hoke's should
be everbody's first choice to begin their library.
I don't think that you could ever have to many
books on a subject that you are very interested
in learning about.
Ammen also has a few books on casting metals,
I also have a few of those. Just look up C.W.
Ammen.
My son always says that, in every book, there's some good grain among the tares. For example, although Gadja's book, "Gold Refining," is terrible in many respects, it's the only book I know of that has a chapter on the sulfuric stripper.
gbaldwin75
Active member
Thank you for the advice. much appreciated, am new to the hobby and would like to get started asap, so thanx
Yes, I have Hokes, Ammens, and Gadja's. Like you say there is at least a little something different in each. And something good to glean.
Randy
Randy
jimdoc
Well-known member
One good thing about Ammens book is it is easier
to find. My local library has a copy that could be
borrowed if I didn't have it already. So check
with your library, see if you like it before you
buy it.
to find. My local library has a copy that could be
borrowed if I didn't have it already. So check
with your library, see if you like it before you
buy it.
rockhammer53
Member
I own both Hoke and Ammen books. Hoke has some dated material in it while Ammen has updated info. They are both well worth the read. Ammen assumes the reader has limited chemistry background and writes toward the newbie and has also published the second edition. Both editions are good.George Gajda also has a book on Gold Refining. (1982)
Absolutsecurity
Well-known member
I have Ammen's book and I thought it was a very good resource - I just got Hoke's book so I cant compare yet but I could after I have finished reading both - I would get as many books as possible and read from all of them and then ask some of the expert refiners on here what they think if you have conflicting info or problems!
Glynn
Glynn
Absolutsecurity
Well-known member
Hey Froggy!
A seller on Ebay was selling Ammens book and it was advertised as the cheapest and it was!
The book seems more technical than Hoke's
Glynn
A seller on Ebay was selling Ammens book and it was advertised as the cheapest and it was!
The book seems more technical than Hoke's
Glynn
Absolutsecurity
Well-known member
Thanks Harold!!!!!!!
Glynn
Glynn
Absolutsecurity
Well-known member
Harold,
I was just chumming around with you trying to be funny - thank you for the concern and caring that it may have been the other way - I greatly appreciate that Harold!!!!!!
I was just chumming around with you trying to be funny - thank you for the concern and caring that it may have been the other way - I greatly appreciate that Harold!!!!!!
