Drill/Lathe gold scraps? Help in id'ing

[lightsoutluthor]

Hello all -
So, after some time googling what I could...I found this board via youtube...

My grandfather worked in the dental appliance field before his death. Namely, he made dental bridges and other items in his home. He saved the little 'curls' of shavings that look like they came from either a drilling into, or lathing of the metal. I have like 3 lbs. of these shavings in a jar.

Of course, I'm hoping this is gold...it's the right 'color'....but of course, it could be bronze or brass for all I know (a newbie). My wife had taken some to one of those 'bring your old jewelry' things at a local hotel, and they said it wasn't.

Some things to note:

I tested it with a magnet and it was not attracted...but that's about all I can figure out (via google) what to do with household items to test it.

What can I do, testing-wise, to find out if this is gold...and then...what can I do with it, if it is? I'd like to melt it together so that it could be used for jewelry and/or sold as gold...but not sure where to start.

Help is appreciated.

 

[MMFJ]

I tested it with a magnet and it was not attracted...but that's about all I can figure out (via google) what to do with household items to test it.

What can I do, testing-wise, to find out if this is gold...and then...what can I do with it, if it is? I'd like to melt it together so that it could be used for jewelry and/or sold as gold...but not sure where to start.

Help is appreciated.

Magnet is a good first test - one that anyone can do (most scrap guys carry one on their keychain or at least have them handy all the time - I must have 5 or more within a 200 sq. ft. area - easy to grab at any work 'area').

As for testing for gold, as you are starting out, one of the simplest things to do is get a test bottle kit (many available from online places). It is really simple to use, just scratch a bit of the material on the stone from the kit and then test with just a drop from various test bottles.

If you are seriously getting into the business, get several bottles in one kit (6 different ones with the stone and a file runs you about $25 - it will last you through maybe a couple hundred tests). Of course, you will want to read more from this forum about testing, chemicals and safety (as well as their safe disposal) and once you find out what you have, either find someone on here that will work it for you or get into the recovery process yourself (again, tons of info on here).

The LAST thing you would want to do right now is to just "melt it together so that it could be used for jewelry and/or sold as gold" that is 99% NOT going to work (I also thought it was that simple when I started - it isn't!).

Of course, you could also just send a piece to someone on this board that could test it, but I've not seen anyone yet that would do a simple test for just one piece (and as you can tell, getting a test kit yourself would be as cheap or cheaper anyway).

Then, there's always the "just send it all to me to get it out of your way" option......

1. Test kit (and be sure to follow the safety info included - these chemicals can kill you!)
2. READ, read and read this forum!

 

[Harold_V]

Hello all -
So, after some time googling what I could...I found this board via youtube...

My grandfather worked in the dental appliance field before his death. Namely, he made dental bridges and other items in his home. He saved the little 'curls' of shavings that look like they came from either a drilling into, or lathing of the metal. I have like 3 lbs. of these shavings in a jar.

I processed several small bottles of filings from the estate of a gentleman that made dental appliances. This was many years ago, early 90's. The value will be shocking, assuming it is dental gold alloy.

Of course, I'm hoping this is gold...it's the right 'color'....but of course, it could be bronze or brass for all I know (a newbie). My wife had taken some to one of those 'bring your old jewelry' things at a local hotel, and they said it wasn't.

Small wonder. What they know about gold and gold alloys generally wouldn't cover the bottom of a very small thimble.

I tested it with a magnet and it was not attracted...but that's about all I can figure out (via google) what to do with household items to test it.

Place some of the filings in a small (glass) vessel with vinegar, and allow them to soak for several hours. A couple days would be desirable. If, at the end of that time, the solution has not turned blue, and the filings are cleaner and shinier, chances are very good that you have dental gold. The singular problem can be that you have gold mixed with base metal alloys, but that would be sorted in refining.

What can I do, testing-wise, to find out if this is gold...

A conclusive test would be to test a little with a drop of nitric acid. Most dental golds have a high percentage of gold, which protects the traces of base metals contained within from dissolution. A test with nitric would do virtually nothing to the sample---aside from, maybe, clean it and make it shinier, much as would vinegar. The difference is nitric would make a determination very quickly. If you perform these tests, post the results you achieve, for further opinion(s).

and then...what can I do with it, if it is?

All depends on your objective. If you want the value, any number of people on this forum would likely be interested in refining for you, or to, maybe, even buy the material outright. However, if it is what it has the potential to be, it may well be too expensive for most people to buy. I don't want to raise any hopes, but, assuming it is dental gold alloy, and, assuming it has at least 50% gold content (that should be on the low side), assuming you truly have three pounds, it is worth roughly $38,000 in gold. DO NOT GET YOUR HOPES UP AT THIS POINT. What you have may be other material, worth much less, and maybe not anything.

I'd like to melt it together so that it could be used for jewelry and/or sold as gold...but not sure where to start.

Start by testing. Beyond that DO NOTHING. Melting may be a mistake----for it is not good for jewelry because of the alloy in question, and melting complicates refining. Thin sections lend themselves to refining far better than do heavy sections. Make no decisions until you KNOW what you have. At that time you can seek guidance in an informed way.

Harold

 

[lightsoutluthor]

Thank you both for the guidance. I ordered a test kit, so we'll know in a few days. I'll try the vinegar method as well, just to see.

I'll keep folks posted, and I'll keep reading.

 

[trashmaster]

welcome to the Forum