Mobile Refiner - I come to you to refine your karat scrap

[kadriver]

I had an idea and would like to see what folks think of it; a mobile service to provide on-site refining for a fee.

I can bring all the equipment needed, remove all the waste, and refine your karat scrap into a pure gold ingot or button - while you watch the process.

The entire procedure could be completed in a day, start to finish.

Since I am bringing all the materials, it would require me to drive. This would limit the area I could cover to the South Eastern United States.

For a beginner, this would be an ideal way to learn the refining processes and turn the karat scrap to a nice piece of fine gold the very first time.

Trial and error would be completely eliminated as I could guide the newcomer through the entire process.

Learn the process of refining gold from an experienced refininer while you watch and ask questions - I would have jumped on this when I first started.

I would require compensation for travel and lodging. My compensation for the refining would be a donation of a small piece of the refined gold - maybe 10% or so.

Just an idea, posted to see if there would be any interest. Or this might be a totaly ludicrous idea and I can't see it.

But if anyone is interested, PM me for further details.

All comments and suggestions welcomed - especially negative aspects.

kadriver

Edited one time for spelling

Edited second time for grammar

 

[4metals]

You will be carting away hazardous waste when you leave, every state has different rules pertaining to this. On the plus side you should be carrying less than "placard-able " quantities but this still may require that they be delivered to a place which is legally able to accept them. (not your home) You may be required to be licensed for this.

 

[etack]

there was a post on this about 18 months ago. someone was doing something like this.

http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=10402&hilit=video

new video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyh4KtbDw3A&feature=plcp
Eric

 

[element47.5]

The video Eric linked to has been removed; but if I recall, it was a VERY nicely outfitted truck like a step-van that did what you are proposing.

I am in many ways a pessimist, but I don't particularly like the idea. Sure, some sellers would find it attractive, I suppose. I think you are underestimating the difficulties you would encounter, and I believe you are smart enough to understand what those could be.

Answer me this: You have taken masterful pix of your processes so far and been very generous sharing them with the forum. At the risk of sounding corny, IMO you are a shining example of someone who has studied the procedures at great length, learned them to a "T", and put them into practice. You have my admiration for that; I've come to the difficult conclusion that I cannot embark down this road because of my general circumstances. In short: Bravo! So my question would be, you are pondering doing this as a sales technique, and attraction element, an item of affinity. I think that is great, but I also believe you could do better, cheaper, easier, and far more repeatable since if you developed and followed a "script" as per the following idea, you could use the same "script" over and over.

Why could you not almost equally attractively furnish the seller with a DVD of you refining their goods? You set up a camera, you show footage of unboxing their goods, weighing them, sorting them, draw on a piece of paper or whiteboard, "here's XXX grams of carat scrap, I will refine it this way, here's YYY grams of boards, we do this with those, here are three sterling forks, not enough to process on their own, but my yield from forks is XXX and I will pay this much for them...or you can have them back.

This way, you are really offering something unique. If you're trying to present yourself as transparent and honest, would not this be as or more effective? Suppose you drive up to their door, they give you a pile of material, refine, settle with them, and drive away. How is that different from them just sending the stuff to a refiner and getting a check in the mail? And how are you going to deal with solutions that require "overnight" to settle out?

It's worse for you; you have motel expenses, time pressure, many other things, most of them negatives, IMHO. So they get to meet you face to face. I do not know how the dynamic works in a "cash for gold" situation. You drive up in an Econoline van with plywood shelves, they don't know what they're getting. You drive up in a half million dollar van, it's different. Some people walk into a beautifully outfitted store and think "wow, these guys are pros, I'm dazzled". Others walk into such a store and think, "wow, there's no way these guys could afford this if they weren't making a ton of money from me". But at the end of story, you drive away, you have some gold, they have money, and then what?

I think your idea is more trouble than the incremental business it would bring you.

 

[etack]

The video Eric linked to has been removed

Try the 2nd link

could be done by webcam too.

Eric

 

[NobleMetalWorks]

Great idea, I think the idea itself has merit. However, there are several concerns.

Liability, if someone gets hurt or inhales gases, or gets acid on them that causes permanent damage, etc. The list of potential accidents is long.

Location, if you are going to them and they are in an area that does not allow for the type of work you are doing, both you and the business could be fined or worse.

Driving with acids and solutions in your vehicle might not be a good idea, specially if you were involved in an accident. Not only that but the idea of transporting what the EPA would call toxic waste might have it's only legality issues.

Profitability might also be an issue, although this point I am not so sure about. All I have to rely on is my own personal experience. When I was first married I started a company. I cleaned, set up and managed large salt water aquariums over 500 gallons. I even went so far as to purchase specimens and medicate or nurse back to life damaged specimens. It was a great idea, I made a decent living and was doing what I loved. However, once you hit a certain point you flat line. No matter how many hours I worked, or how hard I worked, I was stuck only making a certain amount and couldn't make anything more. This is the reason you don't see more mobile businesses, the time spent driving is actually money lost, or potential money lost. I found I was spending several hours a day driving and not working.

Needless to say, I don't do this anymore. For years after however I consulted, and made a lot more money per my time that I ever could running myself ragged trying to do all the work myself.

I like the web cam idea, I was thinking about this myself. When I move into a location, I am planning on having webcams installed so that customers can be given a time they can actually watch their lot being processed. Because I am a one man show, it will be more difficult to do these types of lots when the customer brings it in unless it's scheduled for a specific time. This would give my customers the ability to either come back and watch, or do so from home. I also think this might set peoples mind at ease, if they can see someone on cam working. It's not like anyone can really gain proprietary information by watching you work on cam.

Anyway, just my two cents. I think it's a great idea and with the proper insurance, area, businesses, etc etc, you might be able to pull it off.

Scott

 

[goldsilverpro]

About 30 years ago, a partner and I had a mobile refinery. I've written about it several times. We were only doing cyanide strippable electronic materials though. We also had a fire assaying setup and an AA on the truck for buying certain materials outright and for process control.

http://www.goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/search.php?keywords=mobile+refinery&terms=all&author=goldsilverpro&sv=0&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

 

[kadriver]

Thanks for all the input - I really appreciate the info.

I like the idea of a webcam so someone can watch remotely - great idea.

I don't have anything like the stepvan - that thing is beautiful.

My reson for doing this is not so much for profit (but profit would be nice).

I like to teach, it is one of the things that gives me a sense of worth and meaning - to pass on what I have learned.

Especially if the student is eager to learn.

kadriver

 

[Palladium]

Why not be a consultant? Everything is up to them to buy. All you do is provide the knowledge. I've had people locally and not so local beg, plead, and offer to pay me to teach them to refine. It's been so bad in the past I've had checks as well as airline tickets just show up at my door.

 

[4metals]

Years ago I had a partner and we did lots of gold plated boards and connectors, we stripped them in a huge cement mixer with cyanide and a little oxidizer. He got a large contract form Martin Marietta and had a huge load to pick up.

I was joking and said we should buy a used cement truck, fill it with water and a few pounds of cyanide and tumble the scrap all the way home, we could pull over every half hour to add peroxide. When we got back to the shop we could run the liquid through zinc boxes and rinse and trash the stripped parts. Fast turn around!

Well I don't remember if I ever told him I was kidding and he bought a used cement truck and it was parked in our lot after the weekend!

He never thought anything could ever go wrong and he really wanted to do it. He did back down but it took weeks to find a buyer for that mixer.

 

[element47.5]

That's a funny story! Hey, gotta love the enthusiasm!

 

[Oz]

If anyone on this forum would have put that cement truck into actual production of plated scrap using Cn, it would have been our very own GSP.

 

[SFC]

kadriver, here is an example of how you or the other refiners on GRF, could make some decent money with a web cam setup, at your place of business or refining area at home.

1. Set up a web cam page, to share your teaching knowledge of refining gold or silver, to your customers. (Your reputation is everything.) ("Laser Steve," and others regulars here, have an excellent reputation, in my personal opinion.)

2. Charge people, say $5.00 per month, to subscribe to your channel. (That's $60.00 per year, times the number of subscribers to your web cam.)

3. Each week, you have a certain day and certain time, to watch it live, if they wanted to, or have it recorded and they can still pay you $5.00 per month. That way people would be able to watch and learn. (You and many others on the GRF have already been teaching for years.)

Example: I am, male, 66 years of age and I will never do any of the things you men do with chemicals, "NEVER!"

Example: In my case, would be willing to compensate someone to refine my small amount of gold, video tape it onto a DVD and purchase the DVD from you, as well as seeing it done live or as a re-run on your web cam.

Example: I am dating a lady my age, I would love for you or another refiner, that are known to me on GRF, to say a verbal message, similiar to this on the DVD: "Today we are going to process these seven gold rings and refine them to .999 purity for Ms Anna Pearl Smith." (Or what ever her surname is.)

Example: You could have a small simple sign made on your personal computer and have it displayed as part of the background, saying "Sep 22, 2012, 10:00 A. M., gold being refined for Ms Anna Pearl Smith."

Example: In my case it would be part of an ongoing love story.

Example: Then it would be up to me to find a reputable jeweler and have a ring made out of the gold that you refined for Ms Smith.

Example: I think Ms Smith, would enjoying watching such a DVD, what do you think? (Then giving the ring to Ms Smith at the appropriate time.)

Give it some serious thought! You would be able to do it from your own location!

Then you would still have your regular type customers, who would like to see their scrap being processed from beginning to end.

If you did not want to do a web cam type of set-up, you could still use the recording a DVD method, on a case by case basis, for various aged people who are young at heart.

Would be interested in hearing anyone's thought on this subject!

Charles

 

[pimpneightez]

This is a great Idea. My uncle went to guy to learn how to make acuastic guitars. The guy had a big barn with a rental room and kitchen in it. My uncle stayed for three weeks and came home with a sweet guitar and a bunch of hand made jigs to help in the making of another guitar. I would love to go to a professionals house to pick his mind for a couple weeks to really get the drift of recovering and refining. My uncle paid a pretty hefty sum. I think it was $3500. The web cam idea is good too. You can't charge for room and board though :shock:

 

[kurt]

The people on this forum never cease to amaze me 8) 8) 8)

Kurt

 

[kadriver]

kadriver, here is an example of how you or the other refiners on GRF, could make some decent money with a web cam setup, at your place of business or refining area at home.

Charles

Charles:

You are a true romantic. That sounds like a neat idea - thank you for suggesting it.

kadriver

 

[tryittheysaid]

Hi!
This is a cool site, WOW.
I have been dabbling with this stuff, boards,pins, fingers and such due to the fact I came across a ton or two of old stuff and have a computer store giving me all their scrap.
My hands hurt and I know you guys know what I am saying.
I am scared of these chemicals and such, ya I could figure it out but would rather not.
Leave it to the pro"s and if they are honest there is enough money for everyone, I am not greedy.
Is there anyone in Washington State or close that would process a 100 pounds of fingers and pins for me of course for a fee. And also would be nice to chat with a knowledgable person about what I should be doing with this stuff instead of shooting in the dark and pulling this and that and everything off these boards, I guess it is all money and probably going to be an on going thing for years to come. I guess it really boils down to how hard do you want to work at this stuff. And the other thing is all the different metals, wow. Copper, aluiminum, gold, silver, nickel ........... and refinners don't want to pay you for all your metals.
Help me please. I know you all have been where I am and I need to figure out where to draw the lines, if you get my drift. I just don't want to get into the processing part with chemicals and maybe I will have to if I can't find someone around here. Mobile recycling is what I am doing but not with acids and such. I have been recycling for 20 years now and it isn't going to stop. I wish someone would come to my door and take care of this stuff for me so I could watch and learn. Nothing like watching and having hands on. There is so many ways to process this stuff from what I have been reading, "Right?" And what is this new way they are doing with baking soda? no chemicals? Help me here. [email protected] 360 340 2294 thanks Bruce

 

[nickvc]

Bruce welcome to the forum.
You have been lucky and found the only resource worth a cent when it comes to precious metal recovery and refining. There are many stateside members and I'm sure that you will be able to find someone to refine your materials for you here on the forum, most members have trouble locating materials but you are in a different situation that you have materials but need help to identify what is and what isn't worth your effort. The first thing to know is that with most e scrap the real money is in the base metals, then the boards in volume and finally in values that can be easily recovered with the knowledge available here on the forum.
There are loads of posts covering types of scrap, sources of scrap and the items worth the effort, we also have members who buy various types of scrap from cell phones to boards and every other type of e scrap, check out the refiners, buyers nd assayers topic on the board index.
There is a lot to learn but it's all here, start with the guided tour and use the search function, top right of your screen, to research any items or processes that interest you, your not alone help is on hand but you need to do some studying to find what you want to do and what you want to pass to others and what and where the values are.
I wish you luck and look forward to hearing how your progressing.

 

[tryittheysaid]

Hi!
I am new to this forum and trying to learn about this process.
I might just be interested in your idea, lets talk. [email protected].
I have 50 pounds of pins and fingers and cpu and other ready now.
A lot of this stuff is older 70,s 80,s 90,s stuff and I have a lot more to process. I have been striping boards for the last year and have a ton or two to go and more coming from a friend that owns a computer store. This could be an on going thing for a long time if it is cost efficient for both partys concerned. Maybe once a year we could get together and process and maybe you can teach me some stuff.
I have been in the recycling business for 20 years so I have the right ideas about all of this stuff but don't really want to do the work.
I think you are to far away for us to make it all work but maybe you can point me to someone in my area.
Thanks for your time,
Sincerely,
Bruce.

I had an idea and would like to see what folks think of it; a mobile service to provide on-site refining for a fee.

I can bring all the equipment needed, remove all the waste, and refine your karat scrap into a pure gold ingot or button - while you watch the process.

The entire procedure could be completed in a day, start to finish.

Since I am bringing all the materials, it would require me to drive. This would limit the area I could cover to the South Eastern United States.

For a beginner, this would be an ideal way to learn the refining processes and turn the karat scrap to a nice piece of fine gold the very first time.

Trial and error would be completely eliminated as I could guide the newcomer through the entire process.

Learn the process of refining gold from an experienced refininer while you watch and ask questions - I would have jumped on this when I first started.

I would require compensation for travel and lodging. My compensation for the refining would be a donation of a small piece of the refined gold - maybe 10% or so.

Just an idea, posted to see if there would be any interest. Or this might be a totaly ludicrous idea and I can't see it.

But if anyone is interested, PM me for further details.

All comments and suggestions welcomed - especially negative aspects.

kadriver

Edited one time for spelling

Edited second time for grammar

 

[steyr223]

One more thing
You would have to watch out for d.o.t.
I'm not sure outside of CA
I was pulled over by a highway patrol he told
Me I could be fined $1,000,000 for each
Chemical I was transporting.
And yes we are talking about any person who has
A pool and bought some muriattic for there pool or
Drain cleaner to put in there drain could also be fined

Seems absurd, but now many of the local authoritys
are familiar with me and my process as I stay in my
Truck and refine in a field. It does draw attention, since
I am legal (insurance, registration, license) and I let
Them search every time they know I am not a good
Catch
But the department of transportation doesn't
also you would not believe the amount of issues
You would run into away from your lab
I could not list all of them
Anyway I hope this helps
Steyr223 rob