To Pin or Not To Pin. That is the question....

So in the last month or so, I've managed to collect about 3.5 Oz of plated pins from various sources. Some are nicely plated, some are half plated. Not very impressive IMO.

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/...psdf9f6652.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/...ps63f3c3af.jpg


I feel like I'm wasting my time with these pins? I have a tub full of these "gold plated" audio cables. 2 are still brand new in the package labeled 24k gold plated. So I'm wondering, is it just the center pin that's plated or is the entire connector, including the knurled collar and the spring behind that also plated...so I did a scratch test and 10k acid didn't dissolve the scratch from the collar and spring but 14k acid did. Am I to assume the collar and spring are 10k plated? Or did I get a bad batch of acid from Amazon...

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/...psa7b2da70.jpg

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'd much rather collect plated audio connectors, especially if the collar and spring are plated also.

you need a gold testing kit

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jghilino

you need a gold testing kit

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That's what I'm talking about. I got a kit off of Amazon but can't be sure about the 10k acid. The center pin of each audio cable registers 10k from the scratch test but so do the collar and spring. I'm wondering if the knurled collar and spring are also plated...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jghilino

you need a gold testing kit

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DID he not ask if he got a bad batch of acid from amazon? I think that is the kit because its probable the same acid testing kit I use.

Kane how old are the acids? Also keep them in a cool place if you can. From my experience with the acids they dont like heat. Well at least the silver one didnt. I havnt used them much for gold testing. You have a piece of jewelry to test your acid with?

I recieved the acid about 2 weeks ago from Amazon. It could be a bad batch of acid. The audio cables were the reason I got the kit so I could test If the knurled collar and spring are also plated. There's no way I'm going to waste my time collecting the small pins anymore if they are.

well I think the best way to check your acids if they are good or not is to test them on some karat jewelry. Take into consideration that most karat jewelry will have .5k tolerance. If they pass the acid test at 10k I would say your good. Only better way would be to buy an electronic gold tester but they are not cheap. Could take some to a reputable shopin your area for testing also. See what they think.

Don't know about the collar but the spring could be anodized.