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Scraping gold fingers

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  1. #1
    wayne1956 started this thread.
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    Scraping gold fingers

    Has anybody ever tried scraping the gold off of the fingers? I tried looking in the electronics recycling area and could not find anything regarding it. I was just wondering if it might be worth trying or if it was really an effort in futility.



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    I have seen a video somewhere in which a person was removing them with a utility blade. Very tedious, and not worth it imo.

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    Mechanic688's Avatar
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    The only thing I know is some of them use a saw or other means to trim the fingers off.
    But when you do that you downgrade the product some.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
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    If you're talking about trimming the fingers to be refined, I use two methods:

    1. Cut a slit crosswise to the grain in a piece of hardwood - just wide enough that the fingers will fit. Then break the fingers off.
    2. I just got a paper cutter - the type with the blade and arm. Cut the fingers off. This does a neater job.

    I suppose the gold layer COULD be pried from the finger but I think it'd be a waste of time and effort. It would still need to be refined.
    People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.

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    Follow what Mick said. The gold on the fingers is plated on you are going to lose values by scraping them with a blade.
    I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” John Wayne-- The Shootist

    NEWBS READ THIS THREAD ABOUT REFINING!!!!
    http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/off-t...ning-read.html

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    Scraping gold fingers

    I would follow the advice given. Cut the fingers off. Most refiners are going to want to see the gold on the board, not only can they get an idea of the age of the boards and thickness of the plating, but it is also a clear sign of what the material is. Shavings can be literally from anything.

    Scott
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    I trim them with tin snips

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    Quote Originally Posted by NobleMetalWorks View Post
    I would follow the advice given. Cut the fingers off. Most refiners are going to want to see the gold on the board, not only can they get an idea of the age of the boards and thickness of the plating, but it is also a clear sign of what the material is. Shavings can be literally from anything.

    Scott
    How does it tell them the age of the boards, and does age really make much difference ?

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    I thought I posted about how to remove the gold using HCL acid & the 'oxidation method' in this thread yesterday.
    .
    Which is basicly getting the fingers wet with HCL & letting it oxidise the copper under the gold untill the gold comes off in flakes & bits.

    Takes months, I finished doing 50 grams of gold plated wire yesterday & was impressed with the bright gold flakes I got.

    So I will do a bigger batch soon, I don't have any new HCL to remove the lead solder at the moment.
    ----------------

    Scraping the gold off? Nah, its got copper under the gold, you will still have to get rid of the copper.

    I saw some Russians sanding the fingers off with a hand held finger sander & selling the grains. They had a system allready sorted with their scrapper. It was years ago.

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    I think the first post about processing gold fingers was removed because this is not the forum to be discussing this for a number of reasons including safety issues.
    Last edited by Mechanic688; 09-04-2013 at 11:56 AM. Reason: Removed Quote about Refining

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  14. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by eesakiwi View Post
    I thought I posted about how to remove the gold using HCL acid & the 'oxidation method' in this thread yesterday.
    .
    Which is basicly getting the fingers wet with HCL & letting it oxidise the copper under the gold untill the gold comes off in flakes & bits.

    Takes months, I finished doing 50 grams of gold plated wire yesterday & was impressed with the bright gold flakes I got.

    So I will do a bigger batch soon, I don't have any new HCL to remove the lead solder at the moment.
    ----------------

    Scraping the gold off? Nah, its got copper under the gold, you will still have to get rid of the copper.

    I saw some Russians sanding the fingers off with a hand held finger sander & selling the grains. They had a system allready sorted with their scrapper. It was years ago.
    Ryanw is correct that there is a forum dedicated to this type of work. We will remove posts of this nature because the Gold Refining Forum is where it needs to be discussed at. The safety aspect cannot be stressed enough. Thank you,, Mike

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    Quote Originally Posted by ryanw View Post
    I think the first post about processing gold fingers was removed because this is not the forum to be discussing this for a number of reasons including safety issues.
    Sorry....I was only responding to a question asked by the person who created the thread .As far as the safety issues how can it be any different then the thread explaing the removal of those water tanks? His entire thread is a safety hazard if you were to remove the tanks in the manner he did. I guess I am just confused on how this forrum operates.
    Sean Beuque
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    Cause water tanks are scrap related an folks here possibily have the exp, with such things. Refining isn't scrap metal. It's..Gold Refining. An you know you can die from simply breathing the fumes, gases, etc. Or possibly injure your family, friends, neighbors, pets, etc with gold refining.

    An why would you expect gold refining tips on a forum dedicated to Scrapping Metal, Plastic, cardboard, etc.

    Aftrerall its the Scrap metal forum, not the Scrap Metal Forum an Gold Refining Forum.

    Not trying to be a **** here, but it's pretty easy to understand, nobody wants a noob to scrap thinking they can just go out an do refining. If you need to post on it..Google up GRF, a lot of us are members here an there.

    Sirscrapalot - Read Hoke. - Everyone on the GRF forum who's ever answered the question of how to refine.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot View Post
    Cause water tanks are scrap related an folks here possibily have the exp, with such things. Refining isn't scrap metal. It's..Gold Refining. An you know you can die from simply breathing the fumes, gases, etc. Or possibly injure your family, friends, neighbors, pets, etc with gold refining.

    An why would you expect gold refining tips on a forum dedicated to Scrapping Metal, Plastic, cardboard, etc.

    Aftrerall its the Scrap metal forum, not the Scrap Metal Forum an Gold Refining Forum.

    Not trying to be a **** here, but it's pretty easy to understand, nobody wants a noob to scrap thinking they can just go out an do refining. If you need to post on it..Google up GRF, a lot of us are members here an there.

    Sirscrapalot - Read Hoke. - Everyone on the GRF forum who's ever answered the question of how to refine.
    Ya you definatly couldnt die from having the water tank fall on your cutting hoses and slicing them clean thru more then once while flame cutting with a bottle of LIQUID OXYGEN and explaining on this forrum in detail how he did it. And if YOU read and understood my post you would realize that i listed only how to remove gold from fingers not how to refine it. Seperating metals from one another is part of scrapping its not refining. Refining would be the stage after the removal of gold from copper wich i did not list.I am not trying to be a **** here , But its pretty easy to understand the difference from removal of metals verse Refining metals.

    And for the record I have been a member of the GRF for about 7 years. Perhaps next time you will think about what your saying before you write it

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    LOL!

    First off, I just answered why it was likely removed. Second, I didn't read your post, it's hard when it's removed. Obviously by the Mods POV you did share to much. So..direct your ire at them. third..the Kiwi's post, was full of details on how to do it with acid, etc. You did read his post before it was removed right? An yes, dropping a tank is dangerous nobody denied that, difference being it falls in the scrap category. Did you see in my post where I said scrapping a water tank was safe? I sure didn't. I said it was scrap metal related. You decided to assume my whole post was directed at you, it wasn't. My bad, I wasn't clear on that. It was a general "why we don't discuss such things here" I didn't even quote you. I can see why tho you thought I was only talking to you, fair enough.

    An don't worry bout being a ****, I deal with way worse then your reply on a regular basis so fire away. I got my big boy pants on. Oh an I also apologize for not having my GRF member list in front of me to know you've been a member for 7 years. To you I give my cookie of awesomeness, may it bring you as much joy as it brought me.

    Sirscrapalot - Wearer of flame proof big boy pants. Soon to be sale for all sizes an types.

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    LOL.. Nice . I have my Big Boy pants on as well...LMFAO

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  25. #17
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    Excellent, when I expand the line I'll send you a another pair in the color of your choice.

    An for the record no offense is taken, an I hope you feel the same as none was intended. An my cooler is still open to you my good sir.

    Sirscrapalot - Equality for all beverages!

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    Everybody " Kumbaya my Lord, Kumbaya" .

    I likey when there is harmony on the forum. Now go rip something apart.

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  28. #19
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    group hug!

    Sirscrapalot - Peace, love an full coolers.

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    Quote Originally Posted by manchvegassalvage View Post
    Ya you definatly couldnt die from having the water tank fall on your cutting hoses and slicing them clean thru more then once while flame cutting with a bottle of LIQUID OXYGEN and explaining on this forrum in detail how he did it. And if YOU read and understood my post you would realize that i listed only how to remove gold from fingers not how to refine it. Seperating metals from one another is part of scrapping its not refining. Refining would be the stage after the removal of gold from copper wich i did not list.I am not trying to be a **** here , But its pretty easy to understand the difference from removal of metals verse Refining metals.

    And for the record I have been a member of the GRF for about 7 years. Perhaps next time you will think about what your saying before you write it
    Not that a response is required, but we all determined a long time ago that refining and dealing with those chemicals does not have a place here as there are too many people that stumble in here and want to try it without the knowledge base that the GRF has.

    If you were not aware of that then that is cool. We run across it all the time. and try to mention it when we have to remove such content. Sometimes stuff slips past us.

    As far as the water tower goes. It is along the lines of what everyone does here, and when you see a safety issue, please feel free to point it out and find a better way to do things. We do that here a lot. The poster of the water tower thread had even pointed out in hindsight some safety flaws I think.

    And for the record, hydrochloric acid and peroxide are NOT common tools used for scrapping metals.

    FINI
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