Non-Chemical Will this work instead of reverse electroplating?

[cyberdan]

I was doing research on reverse electroplating (yes, here on the forum) and every way uses some kind of acid. I really do not want to work with acids. I live in an apartment and my work area (patio) can be seen by all who walk close by.

I do not see this method that I thought up. It should remove all gold plating in a harmless water solution. I have all the equipment already.

Load this with an ounce or two of smaller gold filled or plated items and twice as much course silicon carbide grit, add water and tumble for several hours or so. The abrasive should get into every spot. Now I am just guessing that the gold would need to be panned from the grit just like you would if you were a prospector. I need some feedback.

 

[4metals]

What you are doing would certainly make the gold shiny but I doubt it will take it off. The gold is very soft and will most likely be burnished by the action of the media rather than be stripped or ground off. And if it does come off, it will likely be so fine panning may not be an option.

 

[JHS]

Cyberdan,
Here is an unconventional thought. Line the rock tumbler with some 40 or 60 grit sandpaper using some low tack glue.
Make sure to pay attention to the drum rotation and the overlap of the paper.Run it dry.Not sure this will work,never thought of it before now.
john

 

[cyberdan]

Cyberdan,
Here is an unconventional thought. Line the rock tumbler with some 40 or 60 grit sandpaper using some low tack glue.

HMMMMMMM, Might work. I think I already have some sheets of sandpaper, might only be 100 or 120 but it will be worth a try. Now I just gotta find my tumbler. :roll:

will give report.

can't use anything gold filled because they all have some kind of surface that would never let the sandpaper touch it.

 

[goldenchild]

How hard is the tumbling media you have exactly? I would think you would need a very rough and hard media for something like this to even possibly work. It would have to run dry as well. Running it dry you could simply sift out the recovery. I know this media is pretty hard but cant be certain it wouldn't just polish the plating.

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-rust-cutting-resin-abrasive-tumbler-media-60542.html

 

[rickbb]

Think about one of those small, table top, closed sand/media blaster setups. Strip the gold plate off in seconds, then pan the blasting media.

 

[4metals]

I don't like the panning part because fine particles always wash away, but if you use a glass blasting media, you can flux it properly, and melt the media with the gold and pour it in a cone mold and collect it that way.