lmschers said:
why did you go so far as to make stoneware and fiberglass vats?
I was in love with an idea. I had read about stoneware vats being used early on, so that's what I wanted to do. It's part of the reason I suggested that if your objective is to refine (you've made it clear you have interests beyond that, so I now understand), you're far better served to stick to convention. I'd like to say more---lots more, for I have plenty about which to crow, but this is not the appropriate place.
what pieces were you refining?
This entire thing was in my very early years of refining, actually before I had started inquartation. I had read the process (inquartation) which seemed way too involved (I was VERY new to refining, and was intimidated by almost everything at that point in time). Logic told me that parting gold alloy (scrap jewelry) was the logical thing to do, driven by many of the things you've already stated. What I didn't understand is that the balance is easily screwed up, and that's precisely what happened. I had wasted a couple months and more than enough money, so the lesson came with considerable expense.
i'm just doing things in glass or plastic containers.
very small scale though.
Based on that, you'd likely learn a great deal trying what you'd like to do. You have little to lose. Just don't expect exceptional results, and don't assume that because you achieve success in the short term that your idea will work in the long term. It likely won't, although with enough monitoring and changing of electrolyte that may not be the case. Keeping the proper balance is critical---and it can be labor intensive.
i'm actually leaning more to the research side.
Which I acknowledged, above. It does help to understand your objective, even if I don't agree with the concept. You may discover something I missed, although I expect that won't be the case. Others have tried and failed, too.
making money is cool, but i've got a day job.
As did I! However, to me, processing gold was of upper importance. I was fiercely driven to succeed. Success came, for me, when I reigned in my curiosity and concentrated on Hoke and her guidance. Without her book, I would not have succeeded. There was no one for me to talk with, aside from one person that was already refining. When I approached him for guidance, he laughed in my face and told me that I'd never succeed. It might interest you to know that in the end, I had captured many of his customers.
maybe this will be profitable later (in like 5 years when i know something)
if i didn't spend money on learning things, the only thing i would spend my cash on is hookers and beer.
literally.
i live in thailand.
I think I understand, although having been happily married for over 34 years now (second marriage), it's been a long time since my crazy single years.
If you'd like to share more, I'm curious about your location. Are you native to Thailand? If not, what took you there?
for me, screwing up is a part of learning, and this is cheaper than more school.
that's how i rationalize it.
I'm much the same way (which helps explain the stupid cells I built---fiberglass and stoneware. I learned, though, and I'll never forget.
i definitely try to heed your advice, but i would rather fail quickly and learn from my mistakes than get everything perfect the first time.
somewhere along the line, i just admitted to myself that this would be frustrating, and then just tried to get on with it.
You've most likely to meet with failure, but who knows? So long as you're doing it for a learning experience, not trying to refine directly, what harm can come? As I said, your objective is key. Those that have followed my advice are now very successful in refining. Those that hope to come up with something new may or may not do so, ever.
my goal is to try to learn how to do these things mostly relying on sun power.
solar panels for electrolysis and fresnel lenses for incinerating.
I just got a little gold computer CPU scrap that I'm trying to refine for the first time.
i'm just too eager to use it all at once.
Again, in order to understand what is and isn't successful, you'd be best served to start refining, following procedures that are known to work. That gives you a basis for comparison. When you have refining down, you can then measure changes with some degree of reliability. As I said, you may achieve some degree of success but not understand that it isn't an acceptable result, in spite of working to some degree. You may not recognize that without some experience.
Harold
