Refining silver. Can I turn 925 sterling into 999?

Discussion in 'Silver' started by Buffaloknight, Aug 6, 2020.

  1. Buffaloknight

    Buffaloknight Active Member

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    I have collected a crap load of sterling over the years.
    Around 7kg. Is it possible to turn it into 999 bars? Do any companies offer this service?

    I live in Melbourne.
     
  2. wrcmad

    wrcmad Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Yes you can.
    All you need is nitric acid, and a little know-how.

    Probably easier to sell sterling as scrap, and rebuy 999 bars from a reputable brand.
     
  3. Trident

    Trident Member Silver Stacker

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    Try this team -> https://palloys.com/refine
     
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  4. shinymetal

    shinymetal Well-Known Member

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    DIY it, and pour a Crap ton of half ounce bars with a nice stamp on them, sell bars at premium.
    Profit.
     
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  5. Buffaloknight

    Buffaloknight Active Member

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    Thanks Trident for the suggestion.

    I will use that company once this lockdown ends and report the results:)
     
  6. Jason1

    Jason1 Well-Known Member

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    There are bunch if refineries who deal with the public.
     
  7. Buffaloknight

    Buffaloknight Active Member

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    Has anyone used a company/refinery to refine silver or gold into bars before? Is it very expensive? Do they do small lots? Im quite curious about this.
     
  8. Ag bullet

    Ag bullet Well-Known Member

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    The moment you dissolve it in nitric acid or melt them you lose any original hallmarking. This introduces doubt about the level of purity that exists in the mind of the buyers. You then have to have them XRF'ed then try to sell them and if your refining techniques aren't top notch you might not get 99.9% purity anyway.
    Don't be surprised if you have to price them below spot to sell them.

    the successful backyard pourers have spent a long time building a good reputation on the purity of their products. the first time hobbyist won't be able to command the same level of respect from buyers.

    plus refining chemicals are expensive and so is the means of melting and pouring them
     
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  9. screwedon

    screwedon Member

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    Plus the byproducts of refining are really nasty. Try PWBeck in adelaide or Pallion all around the joint. PWB used to offer a pickup service but im not sure if thats trade only. The charge is fair but don't expect "your" silver back. They work in massive volumes and will issue you a credit note based on the amount of silver returned from your scrap. The scrap you supply them is premelted and a sample in a tiny glass tube is taken. They then do a scan to precisely measure the elemental contents so as to be able to calculate metal returns.
     
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  10. The Crow

    The Crow Member Silver Stacker

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    Having done enough of the refining for the sake of a hobby, my comment is that, other than as a hobby & entertainment, it really isn't worth it. Unless perhaps you decide to take it seriously and can source scrap silver cheap enough. Why? as mentioned above, you lose the 'hallmarking' or whatever identification the silver had, therefore making its quality dubious to any serious buyer. Unless you are prepared to invest in certification of purity - not really suitable for a true amateur. Then there is the cost and other risks associated with the refining process - thankfully my toe healed from the rather nasty hole I put in it. It seems it is no smarter to refine metals wearing thongs than it is to weld steel wearing them. Then there is the loss - you simply don't get back what you put in.

    Can it be fun? Yes.
    Can it be rewarding? Depends on the cost of the raw materials, cost of chemicals, knowledge/skill, marketing ability.

    In a nutshell - do it for the fun of it or sell the scrap as such and buy bars. The latter is the better way to make money.
     
  11. Halfgram

    Halfgram New Member

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    Hi Guys,
    So I watched the below, thought I'd have a go, I've started out seeing what I can "recover" from two junk pre-dec 50%
    Using 68% N1t1( A(1d
    Coins dissolved within 2 hours, so now got the blue liquid, used a coffee filter, flushed with dist water, then placed some bundled copper from a old T.V I had scrapped out years ago, (I know it should be a chunk but just using whats about ATM)
    A few hours has now passed but not seeing anything (silver) go onto the copper nor has the copper changed/been effected by the "blue solution". I'll check again in a few hours.
    So the question is what needs to be done? or where have I gone wrong?
    Any advice or help is appreciated (besides any "safety lectures" Lol)


    Extracting pure silver from a coin
    :
     
  12. REDBACK

    REDBACK Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Check if the tv copper wire is coated in varnish preventing the silver precipitation.
    Id be guessing it is.
     
  13. Silver Soul

    Silver Soul Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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  14. Halfgram

    Halfgram New Member

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    Thanks guys, yes I have those CM. Hoke pdf's among others, I originally got them from a e-waste site years ago can't recall the name now.
    I'm finding myself just now starting out "doing" but I'll have a re-read a few of those books.
    Guessing the two florins are gone, I've prop used way to much acid, I'll be testing another two next wed. just having some fun learning this stuff I'm also starting out melting/smelting metals made my first "Zinc bar" last week, I then bought some stamps from fleabay and stamped it, that was a lot of fun.
    Cruicable= Half cut metal fire extinguisher from the dump for free
    Handle= Reo rod
    Mold- Cupcake tin
    Tongs= Old metal kitchen tongs
     

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  15. JohnnyBravo300

    JohnnyBravo300 Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    It's not hard to test gold. Amazon has kits. They are accurate and you dont need a hallmark.
    The same way is used for nuggets and to test jewelry, gold shot, all that fun stuff.
     

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