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 Replies: 61 / Views: 10,523 |
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Valued Member
United States
182 Posts |
I know it may not be entirely cost effective, but I am an environmental scientist by trade and I do have some chemistry training.. Chemistry lab was my favorite subject in college, and this kind of seems like a fun hobby. Just wondering if anyone here has done it and can share any successes/failures. Thinking of hunting for sterling at cheap prices and slowly building up some equipment.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
I think one big issue would be dealing with the emissions/ pollution from the refining process.
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Valued Member
 United States
182 Posts |
It'd be on a pretty small scale, and I'd be outside with an acid gas respirator for additional safety. Not concerned that there would be a significant air quality impact to the environment.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
849 Posts |
Will You be making Your own nitric acid or just buy it?
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Valued Member
United States
182 Posts |
At this point I'd just be buying the acid, I don't think it'd be worth the added risk of making it. I'll likely start small next month with just buying a smelting furnace and PPE and just practice melting pure silver shot into bars/rounds to get that technique down. If that goes well I'll try refining.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
Sounds like it could be fun! If you do start the process, please share pics here.
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Valued Member
United States
182 Posts |
@Earl42
I definitely will!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
849 Posts |
Quote:
At this point I'd just be buying the acid, I don't think it'd be worth the added risk of making it. I'll likely start small next month with just buying a smelting furnace and PPE and just practice melting pure silver shot into bars/rounds to get that technique down. If that goes well I'll try refining. Sounds like a plan.  What kind of furnace are You thinking of going with, gas or electric? Over this past summer I've been messing a round with gold refining and getting all of the steps down. Just as I was becoming successful it has turned cold outside. So I've been getting the garage set up so I can work inside. It will be so nice not to have leaves falling on/in everything. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
It may be worth doing some research on how the ancients refined their silver, before using it for coins.
Roman Republican silver coinage is around 98% pure.
Search: 'cupellation'.
Beyond 98%, electrolytic refining would have to be considered.
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Valued Member
United States
182 Posts |
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What kind of furnace are You thinking of going with, gas or electric? I was thinking gas, but if you have any suggestions on what has worked for you, I'd love to hear it. This furnace in particular has caught my eye: https://castmastereliteshop.com/pro...6.1603824032 Quote:
Beyond 98%, electrolytic refining would have to be considered Electrolytic actually looks like a pretty interesting process. I'm sure when I eventually get into it I'll try a few methods. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
849 Posts |
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I was thinking gas, but if you have any suggestions on what has worked for you, I'd love to hear it. This furnace in particular has caught my eye So far I've been trying to get the chemistry down in order to have something to melt, first, then worry about a furnace. But thanks for the link, I'll probably go with the same. What little I have done so far I have used MAP gas for melting back to metal. Although I didn't get it hot enough (I was more worried about burning it up) the first time. It did RXF at .999 fine. Not bad just for some free computer scrap. Once I 'graduate' too doing 10K,14k,and 18k refining, silver refining will be a secondary process too do. |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
Sounds like fun. I'm interested in following your progress.  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Very interesting! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
Sign me up as an audience member. I've entertained this idea myself over the years. Fire. Molten metal. Thick gloves. My idea of a fun Saturday night.  |
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Valued Member
United States
182 Posts |
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Sign me up as an audience member. Anyone that wants to follow, just subscribe to this post and I'll post my experimentations here. Again, may be another month or so before I start playing around, but I'll share my adventures here. I've got some other ideas too as far as creating custom ingot molds, so hoping for some cool stuff coming out in the future! |
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Valued Member
United States
182 Posts |
So.... I just bought 35 lbs of scrap copper AT SPOT..... just need a smelting furnace and then there's my first bullion project.  I'll be able to turn out a whole bunch of 1-10 ounce copper bars from this. |
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Replies: 61 / Views: 10,523 |
Posted 10/26/2020 12:44 pm
