Using Electrolysis on a Gold Ring

[XRayCam]

I saw a few good places that a pair of Vise Grips would have crushed away much of the material needed to remove. Then the Electrolysis would have worked faster...but wonderful job any way :-)

[Grundalizer]

Where did you find that clump that it was so strongly held together? THat's some insane rust action holding that together

[ebgrisi]

you could try ultrasonic cleaning

[tissuesan]

HNO3 is your friend

[MisanthropicHero]

BTW, gold doesnt dissolve in Nitric Acid. but almost all other metals do. if your trying to recover the gold, its the FASTEST possible way... other then melting and dissolving the melt.

[Zpuppy]

i saw your website- your ring finds are INCREDIBLE! what do u suggest to a new detector? i've had mine for 3 ears and used it maybe 8-10 times because ill go out for 1-2 hors at a time and find very very little. and i have been to beaches, so what do you reccomend and where? (I live in basking ridge NJ BTW) congrats on all ur finds clad and carol!

[Cujucuyo]

Depends what your price range is, the best starter is the Garrett Ace 250, if you want the best I have a Minelab Explorer II [not for sale] (new model is the SE) or the Whites DFX, they go for $1,099+ ... Search for 'findmall forums' on google.

HH!

[joseramonv]

Be careful with electrolysis on gold, it can also take off the gold!

[MisanthropicHero]

actually gold, platnium and stainless steel are used AS electrodes in electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen because they DONT corrode under normal conditions.

[jmm1233]

now you have a globy spoon ,lol

[hoekf]

chuck it in the dishwasher !

[XRayCam]

Be careful with that stainless basket technic-if the metal of the cleaning object contacts that basket, you may burn a hole in your find!!

[lVlagneto]

When I clean items, I generally keep the object very close to the surface of the water (like your bucket), to keep as much of the cathode out of the water as possible.

Also, when your solution becomes fairly clear, with a lot of dark precipitate at the bottom and foam at the top, you should change your solution, as it has become exhausted.

[lVlagneto]

If you want to speed up the process, you should try to submerge as little of the positive lead (cathode) as possible, so that more current will flow through the object rather than the (in this case) alligator clip. Electricity is like water, and will take the path of least resistance. Since the clip is very clean, the electricity is drawn to the clean metal surface, more so than the dirty surface that you desire to clean.

[utubefweek]

I'm sure you know this, but your creating a gas through electrolysis and your separating the H2O molecules into the gas form of O>oxygen and H>Hydrogen, and you can use the hydrogen as gas in your car...

[toiceborn]

Cool video and a very nice find! That sure is an oldie.

Next time use a hammer :)

Joe G

[Giant056]

Super find! I've only found 2 class rings in my time. One was snorkeling back in 67(dated 65)and the other with a metal detector in a school yard(dated 64)around 1990. We don't have saltwater around here and don't have the glob problem . . enjoy

[srfrjoe]

Now that is really cool!! Thanks for another great MD video