A
Anonymous
Guest
Hello all,
I've been reading everything I can find on this forum, I have Hoke's book and I've been watching Lazersteve's videos on the electrolytic cell. I have deplated about 1 pound of headers into the cell. Cell and header samples are shown in the pictures..
#1 Film of white stuff in the bottom of the cell~
I have a thin film of white compound now showing in the bottom of the cell. On a couple pieces I have deplated the gold and some of the nickel from from the headers but I wouldn't think it would have generated all of the white film.
#2 Why so much foam?
The solution is foaming after only 5 minutes or so of deplating. The foam rises to about 1/2 to 3/4" thick after 10 minutes and I have to stop and wait until the foam settles to continue. One time the foam rose high enough to touch the SS anode while power was applied. I did not use glycerin in the solution because I have read here in the forum that it is not necessary. Im using "Liquid Lightning" drain opener for sulfuric acid. "Virgin Sulfuric acid with twelve buffers" is written on the label and the acid was much darker than I see in Steve's videos when brand new.
#3 Process ~
It is my understanding that when I am done deplating, I dilute and filter per Lazersteve's videos. Is that it with the cell method? Do I not need to precipitate? If not, i'm assuming lower purity gold in the end correct?
#4 How much for my first run?
I have already wasted some fingers trying the Ishor starter kit AR method with no success. I want to risk as little of my scrap as possible until I am succesful with refining a batch. I have deplated 1 pound of the headers shown in the picture into this solution. Do you think I have enough gold in solution to see if I can complete the process succesfully?
#5 Other info you may or may not need to asess my situation~
The lead cathode always bubbles when power is applied to my cell. I used a 1/4" 304SS rod for the anode instead of the plate used by Lazersteve.
Thank you for your help. I appreciate all the information I have received so far from all of your posts.
I've been reading everything I can find on this forum, I have Hoke's book and I've been watching Lazersteve's videos on the electrolytic cell. I have deplated about 1 pound of headers into the cell. Cell and header samples are shown in the pictures..
#1 Film of white stuff in the bottom of the cell~
I have a thin film of white compound now showing in the bottom of the cell. On a couple pieces I have deplated the gold and some of the nickel from from the headers but I wouldn't think it would have generated all of the white film.
#2 Why so much foam?
The solution is foaming after only 5 minutes or so of deplating. The foam rises to about 1/2 to 3/4" thick after 10 minutes and I have to stop and wait until the foam settles to continue. One time the foam rose high enough to touch the SS anode while power was applied. I did not use glycerin in the solution because I have read here in the forum that it is not necessary. Im using "Liquid Lightning" drain opener for sulfuric acid. "Virgin Sulfuric acid with twelve buffers" is written on the label and the acid was much darker than I see in Steve's videos when brand new.
#3 Process ~
It is my understanding that when I am done deplating, I dilute and filter per Lazersteve's videos. Is that it with the cell method? Do I not need to precipitate? If not, i'm assuming lower purity gold in the end correct?
#4 How much for my first run?
I have already wasted some fingers trying the Ishor starter kit AR method with no success. I want to risk as little of my scrap as possible until I am succesful with refining a batch. I have deplated 1 pound of the headers shown in the picture into this solution. Do you think I have enough gold in solution to see if I can complete the process succesfully?
#5 Other info you may or may not need to asess my situation~
The lead cathode always bubbles when power is applied to my cell. I used a 1/4" 304SS rod for the anode instead of the plate used by Lazersteve.
Thank you for your help. I appreciate all the information I have received so far from all of your posts.