Oneal58,
I’ll take these one at a time and do what I can.
1. So, what voltage to start with, 6volts, 12volts or other? You said when voltage drops to zero the work is done, stripping of the gold plating has been completed.
A standard 12 volt supply should do fine.
Actually I said when the current drops to zero.
Can you explain why that is?
It is the reaction of the acid on the gold that allows the current to flow, so when the gold is removed from the jewellery the current will drop to “near” zero.
If you leave the jewellery in the cell after the current drops it will slowly attack the base metals dissolving them into solution. This is why you need to watch and remove the jewellery when the current drops near zero.
2. I know that some of the gold plated items I have are made of what looks like brass through and through. Isn't brass a pretty good conductor on its own? So, why would the amperage drop to zero when the gold plate is gone and it still has the brass there to use as a conductor?
Yes brass is a good conductor in normal circumstances. But remember we are dealing with sulfuric acid as the conductor and as long as we keep base metals out of solution the resistance will be very high preventing most current flow.
3. Are there some gold plated items made of zinc?
I’m sure there are some but I can’t say for sure.
4. I have many pieces that look like the metal underneath is brass. These pieces are not magnetic, but they look to be made of brass.
Could this be gold filled that isn't marked in any way?
I don’t know the answer to this question.
5. I would not even mention this because Harold has already told me to incinerate the pieces. I believe wholeheartedly that, I do not question it whatsoever. But, I have some watch band tops that are absolutely dirty beyond belief. They are, what looks to be 1/4 full of krud. On the band tops particularly and only, would a wash in Lye hurt them, only the watch band tops? Or will incinerating get all that krud too?
If it were me, I would mix a little soap and water and with a toothbrush remove as much excess filth as I could before incineration. But that is just me. Wear gloves.
6. Could I use enclosed ice packs to pack around my vessel to try and keep the electrolyte cool or is this too dangerous (or too stupid) to have the ice packs (water) too close to the sulphuric acid? Or maybe sit the cell on a separator of some kind so no water could get to the cell? But, if I had one burst for some reason, I know that would be bad even if it was on the floor!
Is it safe to smoke a cigarette while putting gas in your car? I know I can throw a lit match into a full can of gas and the match will go out. No boom most of the time.
Get the point? You can do it many times with no problem, just like the match and gas can. It only takes that one time, a mistake or accident happens and you will wish you never had water near sulfuric acid. The out gassing can be very fast and cause a lot of injuries before you even know what happened.
What happens if your wife would throw some water on a grease fire on the stove?
Why tempt faith? Just DON’T do it. Take a break when it gets warm.
7. So, this is probably a bad idea, right? Or could be just plain stupid, but I needed to ask?
Bad idea for sure.
The only stupid questions are when you don’t ask when you don’t know!
I would rather spend hours explaining safety to someone than spend a single minute thinking about them in the hospital because I didn’t have the time to explain safe practices to them.
Tom C.
