Results 1 to 10 of 10

test for gold?

| General Electronics Recycling
  1. #1
    faulguy started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    111
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked 36 Times in 15 Posts

    test for gold?

    First off, I know I should order a gold testing kit... Until I do, is there a way to test for the presence of gold using household chemicals? I have a small circuit board that appears to be old that has thick gold colored posts. darker than newer computer stuff. I filed one of them and it appears to be gold quite deep into it. Also, a weird thing happens when I stick a magnet to it. there is a slight magnetic attraction. I have to stick my small computer speaker magnets against one of the connectors I took off before it will stick. but then, the connector moves to the side of the magnet. it almost falls off of the middle, but slvery slightly sticks to the side. the magnet is fine. any ideas why the connector is attracted to the side only?



  2. #2
    Mulden's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Sheffield, England
    Posts
    93
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts
    Nitric Acid is how to test for gold - I'm not aware of any alternatives. If it's a darker gold it's probably brass (or brass plated steel). Manufacturors will not use gold unless it improves the quality of connections, so things like posts and corners will almost certainly be a cheaper metal.
    Speaker magnets are only magnetic on each face, since these are the poles. The edge is halfway between two magnetic fields so things rarely stick to them dead on.

  3. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mulden:


  4. #3
    Dumpster-Dee's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Location
    SW Georgia
    Posts
    1,775
    Thanks
    2,286
    Thanked 838 Times in 457 Posts
    VERY helpful info Mulden. Thanks a bunch.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Dumpster-Dee for This Post:


  6. #4
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Nottingham
    Posts
    181
    Thanks
    26
    Thanked 105 Times in 58 Posts
    Nitric is only used to test for lower karat gold, for higher you need to add Hydrochoric acid.
    10KT - 10 mL nitric - 3.3 mL distilled water
    14KT - 10 mL nitric - 2.5 mL distilled water - 4 drops hydrochloric
    18KT - 10 mL nitric - 10mL distilled water - 30.2 mL hydrochloric

    Not going to get these from household stuff i'm afraid.

  7. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by harrisvh:


  8. #5
    pcecycle's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Rock Creek, Alabama
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked 26 Times in 9 Posts

    Gold test

    Post removed for safety reasons.

    For more info, check out the Gold Refining Forum. Lots of good people there and tons of info.

    Mike
    Last edited by pcecycle; 02-21-2012 at 09:24 PM.

  9. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by pcecycle:


  10. #6
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    If you don't have nitric acid, you can use HCL or muriatic acid, available at most hardware stores. You will also need some clorox, some Q-tips and some tin metal or tin solder. Be careful of all acids
    Gold testing solution: dissolve a small piece of tin or high tin solder in HCL to make stannous chloride. In a closed glass bottle, it should be good for a week or more.
    In a glass or heavy plastic container, mix a small amount of HCL with a few drops of Clorox. The solution will fizz when the Clorox is added. Be careful not to breathe the fumes and work in a well ventilated area. Use this solution as soon as possible as it will lose stength quickly. Dip a Q-tip in the solution and rub on the piece to be tested. This should dissolve a small amount of the gold. Now put a drop of the stannous chloride testing solution on the Q-tip you swabbed the test piece with. Look for a purple color if gold is present.
    For more info, check out the Gold Refining Forum. Lots of good people there and tons of info.
    Mike
    No offense but as many new-bee's we have jumping in and out of this forum, I don't think I'd be putting up any info on using acids to test anything. Nine times out of ten their not going to research the subject well enough to not get hurt. Save it for GFR where there's more experts to school them. Everyone's in a hurry, you know.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  11. #7
    pcecycle's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Rock Creek, Alabama
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked 26 Times in 9 Posts
    Just thought I was adding something worthwhile. HCL is much safer than Nitric and I did add cautions. Feel free to delete if the post does not fit.

  12. #8
    happyscraper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    spring hill,fl
    Posts
    2,864
    Thanks
    350
    Thanked 1,371 Times in 847 Posts
    Try this,, take a compact, which is make-up, ask any lady what a compact is she will be able to show you. Rub some of the compact powder on your hand or inside of your wrist, take the piece with the gold and rub it hard on the area with the powder if it turns dark or black its gold if it dosn't its not gold. I do this at yard sales when looking for gold jewelry.

  13. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by happyscraper:


  14. #9
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Kinda works like a jewelers rouge, am I right Happy?? Good thought,, How do you explain all the make up when you get home??
    Yea right, checking for gold heh???

  15. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mechanic688:



  16. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. value of oll Military test equipment
      By jaydee1445 in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 06-05-2012, 01:50 PM
    2. test
      By PartTimeScrapper in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 26
      Last Post: 01-27-2012, 06:55 AM
    3. THe new toy I baught to test drives...
      By PartTimeScrapper in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 10-22-2011, 07:31 PM
    4. Slightly OT: how to test magnetrons?
      By ilyaz in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 04-14-2011, 01:31 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook