Anyone on here refiine?

Without prior chemistry knowledge, I think you would be a short lived wannabe refiner. Good thing Gus and Noble aren't around anymore (but I do miss both of them). Have you read Hokes (Ithink that is the name of the book) yet?

Your questions should be addressed at the GRF. A lot of them are scrappers too and would be better answered there.

Originally Posted by Bear

i learned all i wanted to know about chemistry while shaking a coke

With or without the mentos (sp)?

Originally Posted by 41haikuwarriors

I've been reading over on GRF for about 2 months now. Most of the time all I leave with is a headache from trying to process all the info in the tiny brain I have. I've just been "lurking" basically, haven't had anything relevant to add besides newbie questions so I just read. Being able to refine myself would be awesome, so ive been curious for awhile.

My question is, have any of you, without prior chemistry knowledge, made the jump from scrapper to refiner??

I would be interested to hear any kind of stories you all may have pertaining to this.

If you want to refine, you have got your work cut out. You are about to deal with a lot of chemical changes as well as gases that are effective to the human physiology. My advice to you, do extensive research and I do emphasize "extensive" before you start. For example, what are all the apparatus you may need, what gases will you be dealing with in retrospect of the materials you intend to break down, and do you have proper protection and ventilation.

Originally Posted by 41haikuwarriors

I was really only wanting to know if anyone here has taken that step themselves.

It's not something I am anywhere close to doing.

Just a random "questioning"

Well, you asked and we answered. I think I speak for a large portion of the folks on SMF when I say, you are dealing with a vast amount of wisdom and intelligence; it takes that kind of wits to be an effective scrapper. I hope you got some valuable information.

Originally Posted by 41haikuwarriors

My question was if any HERE without prior knowledge of chemistry had gone from scrapper to refiner.

I never said I had no knowledge.

It doesn't seem my question is being read correctly.

The answers i have gotten do seem to answer that, none of you refine. So thank you anyway.

I was just bored and wanted a story

I was close. I was reading and reading and reading. Hokes, the GRF, etc., etc.

I have no formal chemistry training, but I can pick up most anything if I put my mind to it. Experimental physics, chemistry, etc. No worries here. Nut the further I got into it, the more I realized that in order to do it right, I needed way more equipment than I was able to afford unless I spent some good time bodging it all together.

To really do it all properly requires a good fume hood and being able to dispose of (or properly neutralize) spent chemicals. Trying to make a living at a cheap paying job and trying to make money scrapping led me to this forum where I figured out that I could sell those materials that I am getting for a good profit without all of the headaches of the refining.

so, NO. I did not make the jump, but I went far enough to really understand the process and start accumulating gear, materials, and instructional videos. I am thinking of one day soon putting some of that stuff together and listing it on here for someone who may be interested. I have a couple of laser Steve's videos, some melting pots, lab equipment (beakers and such) as well as some raw starting material that is gold filled to start with.

Bottom line is that anyone really thinking about getting into this has GOT to go into it with a full head and safety in mind. Not just for yourself, but for your entire neighborhood. If you are doing some stuff outside on a day with no breeze, you are messing with your entire neighborhood's health and safety. Those fumes will just hang there.

Wish I could help you more with a story of actually getting into refining. But, yes, someone with a good head and no formal chemistry training can take the time and learn to do it right. It just takes a lot to learn to do it right.

Originally Posted by 41haikuwarriors

I've been reading over on GRF for about 2 months now. Most of the time all I leave with is a headache from trying to process all the info in the tiny brain I have. I've just been "lurking" basically, haven't had anything relevant to add besides newbie questions so I just read. Being able to refine myself would be awesome, so ive been curious for awhile.

My question is, have any of you, without prior chemistry knowledge, made the jump from scrapper to refiner??

I would be interested to hear any kind of stories you all may have pertaining to this.

Total jump from scrapper to refiner ...no. Am I starting to do refine certain types of ewaste ...yes!!! I have been reading on GRF since February at least 3-4 hrs per day. I read Hoke twice and its not a book of tricks, but it is the best book to read before deciding to attempt to refine. BTW Hoke was a woman. I have invested in safety equiptment that I need as well as chemicals that can be purchased at your local hardware store. There are many different techniques and processes that can be used to refine different materials. I agree GRF is not an easy forum to work your way around but if you follow the way certain members recommend to get through it, it will make sense to you.
I have no formal training in chemistry except for what I learned in high school. What I know now today as far as refining, I have learned from reading and doing aquintence tests on small batches of materials. Am I ready or do I think I can refine pounds of materials...no. But I do know I can run small amounts safely and have a nice investment for the future.

Originally Posted by 41haikuwarriors

My question was if any HERE without prior knowledge of chemistry had gone from scrapper to refiner.

I never said I had no knowledge.

It doesn't seem my question is being read correctly.

The answers i have gotten do seem to answer that, none of you refine. So thank you anyway.

I was just bored and wanted a story

I think your question was well understood and addressed the way it should have been.

You said you have been on the SMF for a couple of months reading. That is really not even enough time spent there to get even a basic knowledge of what is required to work with the chemicals and the dangers of what can happen.

There are actually quite a few of the users that are on both forums, you just don't recognize them because they go by different user names. How many of them actually pursue both fields actively I do not know.

How many of the close to 4,000 posts on the GRF that I have made have you read? I would venture to say that you have read very few of them or you would not have made the statement that "none of you refine".

I did not have a book or school knowledge before I took up refining. But I did have a working knowledge of most of the chemicals use because I had worked with them in my fields of work for over 35 years including a 4 year period of working at a chemical factory so I knew very well the dangers of what I was working with. Soe of the reactions in refining will kill you, not imediatly but even days after coming in contact with them.

Me personaly I have refined well over 150 Toz's of gold and and 100's of Toz's of silver since I started refining precious metals, 99% from E-scrap.

As far as scrapping goes. I have scrapped metals for over 45 years since I was a little kid. I have no idea how many ton's of copper or aluminum I have sold much less shread but it has been a lot.