gold test kit?

[seeker41]

electronic or acid and stone? what do you use? what brand?

 

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[Montauk3]

Acid & stone for me. Works well.

 

[gravediggermax-vabeachva]

my choice

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110517428175

 

[Sandman]

I use nitric acid and various testing needles in different karats. Thou the test kit Max uses is safer and does the other metals.

 

[goldfever]

Get the acid test kit. The needles are a must though>

 

[gravediggermax-vabeachva]

sandman / goldfever

since i am a rookie gold tester..........i just got my kit 10 days ago.

explain the needles and purpose......please

should i get them?

thanks

 

[Bobbie]

Electronic, unless you spend mega bucks, is a waste of money. The acid you have to use is only good for a couple of months and then needs replacing. Go with the acid and stone.......less expensive

 

[Sandman]

Max, the needles have a sample of gold on the tip in various Kts. which you draw the line on the stone along side the scratch from your "ring." You then use a line of Nitric acid across both lines to try to match them up with both dissolving at the same time instead of using the different test bottles. I don't think you need the needles too, but might be nice as a back up. However you have to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH THE NITRIC ACID as it can eat your skin.

 

[Montauk3]

Hope this helps.
Google "gold testing acid".


Using Pre-Mixed Acids with a Test Stone
Rub the jewelry on the test stone using firm strokes (two forward and two back) so that a very noticeable streak of metal is left on the stone
Apply a drop of the pre-mixed acid to the center of the streak:
· If the metal streak noticeably changes color or disappears than the metal is less than the test acid karat.
· If the metal streak changes color only very slightly, then it has the same karat as the test acid.
· If the metal streak does not change at all, than it has a higher karat than the acid.
Example: When using a 14K test acid, a 12K gold streak will exhibit a large, change color change or completely disappear, a 14K gold streak may have a very slight color change, and if the gold is higher than the 14K it will not change at all.

Using Pre-Mixed Acids on Jewelry
Find a place on the piece of jewelry where you can file a small groove without ruining the jewelry - the intent is to penetrate the thin surface layer of plated metal ( if it is plated). Try testing behind a link of a chain if you can - beware that it is not uncommon to use karat gold for clasps on chains that are only plated with gold.
Apply a drop of pre-mixed test acid in the small groove that you filed.
Note the color changes if any ( as above when testing on a stone)

Most jewelry pieces have areas of wear that can be good places to test. Occasionally the wear is sufficient to remove any plating and testing these areas without filing can confirm that the jewelry is a lower karat that the test acid. If you do try this and there is no color change, file a small groove and try again to be sure.

Test Acids Easy-to-use plastic bottles with, color-coded caps. Use with test stones or on a portion of the jewelry that has been sufficiently field to reveal the base metal ( if any ). Pre-mixed test acids are available for 10K, 14K, 18k, 22K gold, platinum and silver.

The test stone can be used to test a streak of metal laid down from the jewelry, or a small groove can be filed on an inconspicuous place of the jewelry and tested.Testing Platinum
Rub the article on the test stone and apply a drop of Platinum. A platinum mark will remain the same white color with no reaction.Testing Silver
Rub the article on the test stone and apply a drop of Silver. The color reaction with the solution will be as follows ( take in to consideration that the background of the test stone is black) ( Remember , most Mexican silver generally contains less than 90% fine silver)
925 Silver - Dark Red
800 Silver - Brown
500 Silver - Green
Note: With the silver solution, it is possible to test directly on the piece being tested, however, the solution will dull the finish on the piece and leave a mark where the acid was placed.
Each bottle contains 1/2 fl. oz
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

 

[Silver Surfer]

my choice

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110517428175

Thats the one I use, but I had to request a silver replacement x 2 to get one that worked... The first two the acid was almost a rust color to begin with, so I couldnt tell a difference in color change when used... The last bottle is a nice light red color, and the color change is now recognizable..
I also have an electronic, it works fine, or seems to. But I am not sure how "wet" the papers are supposed to be.. Mine are pretty dry, so my trust in it slipped a bit..

 

[Sandman]

One old guy told me he doesn't test them but if they are yellowish he drops them in a bucket to save them. No worries that way.

 

[lucky d]

acid and stone.....ebay, under 20 bucks...hh

 

[drewan29]

I use the Mizar E? don't have it on hand right now sorry. I seem to like it,it tests 10k to 18 k white and yellow gold you just put 3 drops of one solution and 1 drop of the other clip the aligator clip to the piece and dip .
HH-drewan

 

[seeker41]

thanks everyone!