Mercury retort?

[IDAu]

Does anyone have a recommendation on a quality retort? I’m hesitant to randomly buy one that may have leaks and let vapor out.

 

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[russau]

I'd either make it myself to keep the price down and to be able to test it for any leaks BEFORE I want to use it. OR buy one from a known ,and trusted equipment manufacture. and I DO understand your concerns completely !

 

[IDAu]

I'd either make it myself to keep the price down and to be able to test it for any leaks BEFORE I want to use it. OR buy one from a known ,and trusted equipment manufacture. and I DO understand your concerns completely !

I’d definitely rather save some money, but I’m so strapped for time getting set up right now I can’t.

if anyone’s bought one that passed a leak test please drop me the mfg!

 

[lukdiver2]

Speaking of mercury leaks. I read years ago the 49ers use to put the amalgam mercury they put in the gold pan to collect the fine gold into a potato they placed alongside the campfire. The mercury 'flashed' off and left the gold button behind. Then they ate the potato. I'd recommend something a little more scientific. We've collected mercury from one of the wrecks we dove at Pt. Sur ("Ventura" 1875 and originally she was the "Resaca" a Civil War sloop of war). We keep it in a glass jar covered with water.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Speaking of mercury leaks. I read years ago the 49ers use to put the amalgam mercury they put in the gold pan to collect the fine gold into a potato they placed alongside the campfire. The mercury 'flashed' off and left the gold button behind. Then they ate the potato.

Which is why so many of them went mental, and then expired.

They also used to use that same pan as a dinner plate. Fact is, they didn't even know what they didn't know, and it put a bunch of 'em in an early grave.

 

[southfork]

Does anyone have a recommendation on a quality retort? I’m hesitant to randomly buy one that may have leaks and let vapor out.

I bought one like this works perfect follow instructions https://www.ebay.com/itm/1664154254...ZiHpaD9lb7zOo55iqaJP0aKbmB|tkp:Bk9SR-K155PYZQ

 

[Bonaro]

I have built several small retorts out of copper pipe and brass fittings. The issue with this is that mercury will amalgam to the brass. I avoid this by coating it internally with soot from my acetylene torch. Steel is a better way but harder to work with.
I also have a couple production retorts and they all work well.
Most of the time when working with small quantities of amalgam, I just use nitric to separate the gold, then precipitate the hg out of the acid. Whole new set of precautions needed here and with any retort, always use in a well ventilated area.

 

[IDAu]

I have built several small retorts out of copper pipe and brass fittings. The issue with this is that mercury will amalgam to the brass. I avoid this by coating it internally with soot from my acetylene torch. Steel is a better way but harder to work with.
I also have a couple production retorts and they all work well.
Most of the time when working with small quantities of amalgam, I just use nitric to separate the gold, then precipitate the hg out of the acid. Whole new set of precautions needed here and with any retort, always use in a well ventilated area.

That’s what I’ve been doing for my sample clean ups, but I really want to be able to just throw all my gold in and recover the mercury from it. Why waste more nitric and deal with extra safety and contamination I figure