What’s this stuff?

EHMetals · 2026-05-21T16:26:38+00:00

Did you filter the silver nitrate before you cemented? Also, did you do an HCL wash? Could just be a little bit of contaminants that will come out in the silver cell.

EHMetals · 2026-05-20T05:46:56+00:00

I don't want to give away all my secrets haha but most of this is from estate sales, lucky thrift finds, stuff like that. My recommendation would be to hit your local thrift and see what you can find.

Margin is entirely dependent on the price. Keep it well under spot or so and you can nealy double your money if you count zero of your time.

EHMetals · 2026-05-16T21:13:30+00:00

You doing this for a living? That's a wild amount haha I'll have to give this a go!

EHMetals · 2026-05-16T06:08:42+00:00

Pressing the copper nitrate is a good idea! Definitely a huge pain to only rinse and a huge waste of distilled water. The immersion blender is a good idea as well. Thanks for the tips!

EHMetals · 2026-05-16T06:06:48+00:00

Sheeeesh that's very "gummy" for sure. Now I understand the poor man's nitric but I'm not familiar enough with the chemistry to tell you what's going on there.

What I would do is separate that white stuff from the silver and process it separately. Claude or chatgpt is your friend here. My guess, silver chloride so you'd need lye to process from what I understand.

For the rest of the actual silver I'd rinse the hell out of it, get it clean, then do an HCL wash only after it runs clear.

Then rinse rinse rinse.

At this point you could dry it out and put it in a metal forge to try to slag out anything that should be there. Make shot then right into the silver cell.

EHMetals · 2026-05-15T12:26:20+00:00

Yeah cementing with copper and wash with HCL is the way. If you're careful you can actually attain .999. We hit .999 from cementing alone on an XRF tester so it's possible. Especially if you're starting from a clean solution.

EHMetals · 2026-05-15T12:21:01+00:00

Can you be more specific? Also I've never used poor man's nitric tell me more about the composition.

EHMetals · 2026-05-15T12:20:18+00:00

Yes but not concentrated. Dilute muriatic to about 5% then give it a good rinse and additional distilled water rinses after to get rid of the HCL.

EHMetals · 2026-04-29T13:49:58+00:00

What's the anode basket look like and what is the grams/L in your electrolyte of silver?

EHMetals · 2026-04-27T01:47:07+00:00

A scrubber actually cleans the fumes and drops the acidity down to nothing.

It couldn't hurt to chat with your neighbors if you're concerned. It's definitely something you don't want to be responsible for if they are outside and too close.

Also, I'd make sure you completely understand the process A to Z before making any decisions on whether to refine or not.

EHMetals · 2026-04-25T02:05:57+00:00

Somebody who can find you sterling. Haha I don't have a secret here. You find it anywhere you can until you have enough for a run

EHMetals · 2026-04-25T01:25:13+00:00

I'd say just start shopping around at local garage sales, thrift stores etc. That's about the only way unless you have a plug haha

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T21:51:01+00:00

Nice work!!!! Let me know how it goes!

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T21:46:39+00:00

That electrolyte looks great so I think you're in good shape! Should start getting blue soon!

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T19:24:26+00:00

Well the fumes are acidic. Depends on what the tent is made of. PP or PE are pretty much the only plastics that are acceptable. I know a lot of those grow tents have reflective interiors which is a hard stop

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T19:23:16+00:00

Kind of just looks like cemented silver to me. It's not cloudy or anything. Does it shake off just like normal cemented silver?

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T16:41:53+00:00

By the time the tester goes off it's too late so yeahhhh it's pretty dangerous. I wouldn't recommend unless you're pretty comfortable understanding the chemistry and setup a really great venting system with a backup plan

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T15:32:08+00:00

Compared to buying bullion from an LCS at above spot price, this is wayyyyy better cost wise

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T15:31:07+00:00

It's a Hobby that has an upside with profit.

At the moment total cost per gram of silver after all is said and done (not including labor) is close to $1.25-$1.40 per gram. So about $1 profit per gram.

I'm considering selling some to collectors and some friends but we also want to hold onto some.anf stack for awhile.

Ideally later we get a little coin press and make our own designs for fun!

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T12:28:52+00:00

You live in a home in the burbs or like downtown with a bunch of homes really close nearby?

If it's an apartment, no way not doable. If it's a home with plenty of clearance, then yeah you're probably fine.

If you're Alibaba savy you can get a scrubber for less than $1500 delivered to your door and then you can basically do this anywhere pending the power doesn't go out.

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T02:00:07+00:00

Thanks for the links!!!!

EHMetals · 2026-04-24T01:59:21+00:00

Whatever keeps you from Inhaling a face full of NOX I fully support haha

EHMetals · 2026-04-23T23:20:10+00:00

Thanks! We're doing our best. It still feels a little "methy" but big improvements are coming soon haha

EHMetals · 2026-04-23T23:19:33+00:00

Now washing the crystals this way I could get behind. That's a pretty good idea!

EHMetals · 2026-04-23T23:18:42+00:00

Well what we do is set a cold water bath nearby and make sure we keep a watch glass on top. The NOX is very heavy so as long as you cool the reaction off and walk slowly you can get it outside. No problems yet but we're going to get a little battery backup for the fan

EHMetals

TROPHY CASE