Need help removing borax from Button...

[AuCelticJRW]

Hello,
First I want to say that I am fairly new at making gold buttons from gold fingers. I use Steve's method and have made my second button very recently. I melted my brown gold dust produced and ended-up with a very beautiful button-nugget about 1/4 ounce in weight.. I say nugget because it was poured from the graphite dish into the water a bit soon and it looks a lot like a native gold nugget. The problem I have is that a bit of borax ended-up sticking on the nugget. I removed a lot fairly easily just by using my finger nails, but there is stil some left. What is the best method to clean-up my nugget? I thought of soaking it in muriatic acid, but not sure enough to try this. I know there is probably an easy fix...I hope! Any help is appreciated.

 

[jeneje]

If you have any sulphuric acid mix a 10 to 1 and boil the button in it the borax should come off. 10 parts water to 1 part sulphuric. thats what i used.
Ken

 

[AuCelticJRW]

Hi Jeneje,
What strength of sulfuric acid should be use? Will this method remove the gold or damage in any way? Sorry if I ask, but just learning so I appreciate your help!

Thank You,
John

 

[Geo]

automotive battery acid will work just fine.

 

[jeneje]

Hi Jeneje,
What strength of sulfuric acid should be use? Will this method remove the gold or damage in any way? Sorry if I ask, but just learning so I appreciate your help!

Thank You,
John

I use 98 pure, but as Geo said battery acid work great to. Warning; do not add the water to the acid - add the acid to the water.
Ken

edited; AuCelticJRW, sorry i did not answer your post completely, No it will not harm your gold it will clean it as far as i know.

 

[AuCelticJRW]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for your help!!! Much appreciation from this new refiner. Have a great summer.

John

 

[jeneje]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for your help!!! Much appreciation from this new refiner. Have a great summer.

John

Your welcome John, gald to have been able to help.
Ken

 

[jmdlcar]

Hi all,

When cleaning borax off of 2 Gold Button with Car Battery Sulfuric Acid. Can I do it without adding any heat? If I need to add heat how hot should it be and how long with heat?

Thanks
Jack

 

[srlaulis]

Hi all,

When cleaning borax off of 2 Gold Button with Car Battery Sulfuric Acid. Can I do it without adding any heat? If I need to add heat how hot should it be and how long with heat?

Thanks
Jack

Jack, you want to boil the buttons in Sulphuric acid. I boil mine for a good 30 minutes. Bring your solution to a boil, then boil for 30 minutes.

Steven

 

[jmdlcar]

Hi all,

When cleaning borax off of 2 Gold Button with Car Battery Sulfuric Acid. Can I do it without adding any heat? If I need to add heat how hot should it be and how long with heat?

Thanks
Jack

Jack, you want to boil the buttons in Sulphuric acid. I boil mine for a good 30 minutes. Bring your solution to a boil, then boil for 30 minutes.

Steven

What should I put it in to boil it. I don't want to use glass it might break unless I have too.

Jack

 

[its-all-a-lie]

You can also boil in nitric to remove any residual borax. Either will work, i just prefer nitric when cleaning my gold.

 

[jmdlcar]

I don't use or have any Nitric Acid. I just want to safe with the Sulfuric Acid. Can I use a glass jar and then put in a pan with sand? I know the glass jar might break if it get to hot and then I will have unsafe mess to cleanup. Then all of you member won't want to trust me or anything I do.

 

[Palladium]

Find you a used coffee pot from the good will store or trade day for a dollar or two.

 

[butcher]

The coffee pot will work, they can be used on an electric plate with a solid cast iron burner, the coffee pot should not be heated up to fast or cooled too fast, they will break from thermal shock, it is a good idea to have a catch basin under the hot plate just in case a vessel does break.

If you can find a Corning ceramic casserole dish at the second hand store, it is much tougher; it can take a beating and will keep on working.

 

[jmdlcar]

Thanks for all the info. I do have a old Coffee Pot and I will go and get a Corning ceramic casserole dish. I can use the Corning ceramic casserole dish for other thing.

How many ounces of Sulfuric Acid should I use?

Jack

 

[Pumice]

As far as I know automotive battery acid is 35%. If you dilute 90%+ sulphuric acid 10-1, is it nessesary to dilute the 35% battery acid? Or just use it as is? I have a few buttons with borax stuck to them as well and its time I removed it.

 

[jmdlcar]

As far as I know automotive battery acid is 35%. If you dilute 90%+ sulphuric acid 10-1, is it nessesary to dilute the 35% battery acid? Or just use it as is? I have a few buttons with borax stuck to them as well and its time I removed it.

Use the automotive battery acid as is. Just them in and boil for about 30min. They should be clean.

Jack

 

[steyr223]

Whats up guys
Will the h2S04 work on the nugget if part of the
Dish is stuck to it (i didn't have a free hand to pluck
Out the nugget before it cooled.)

Thanks steyr223 rob

 

[Clneal2003]

Would this product be suitable for a 10-1 hot wash of a borax covered button?

http://t.homedepot.com/p/Buster-1-qt-Sulfuric-Acid-Drain-Opener-100916-505639/205137550/

I've practiced quite a bit getting my sterling silver ingots to poor very well and decided to try making a 14k AU button after a few weeks.... Only thing is I used way too much borax and it didn't slide off the gold.