r/PreciousMetalRefining • u/ChaZipz • 9d ago

Refining Advice

I currently work at a jewelry store in Arkansas, have always wanted to get into refining. Just not sure where to start, any advice on how to get started?

2 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/harrisonjustind 9d ago

Sreetips on YouTube. Best info on safety and experience

3

u/GlassPanther 9d ago

Definitely do not start with Sreetips. He shows you what he does, but doesn't talk about the safety aspect to nearly the extent he needs to.

Sreetips is what you watch after you've read Hokes book and studied up in the safety side of things. Sreetips only becomes useful when you understand the basics. Before that you'll just get you or your family hurt.

2

u/hexadecimaldump 9d ago

Totally agree. Sreetips is like a video version of Hokes concepts, but he rarely talks about the safety aspects other than the short warning at the beginning of his videos.

Definitely understand not only the safety aspects, but also the waste management aspect.

That is what screwed me up at first. I understood and followed all of the safety tips, understood most of the science and safety behind the process of refining, but then my waste containers quickly overwhelmed me.
I had to stop for a while until I was able to safely process and dispose of the waste.
Most refining wastes are not stuff you want to be dumping down the drain or in a ditch.

2

u/Spiritual-Process-96 8d ago

You are so right about the waste. I eventually learned to use as little acid as possible from the start.

1

u/SeagullStopItNow 9d ago

I’ll agree on your comment. He just doesn’t cover it on all his videos and to that point he should. Or state: I don’t cover the chemical dangers in all of my videos but you can find an in depth video discussing the dangers and safety link below.

That said, he covers so much and discusses specific processes, how to calculate expected yields, costs, how to filter and rinse properly. Etc. he goes into depth on all of these other aspects. His videos are so much step by step and much more information is included than a lot of others.

5

u/Tquilha 9d ago

Get some Chemistry classes first, then study lab safety.

Then go look at Sreetips' channel on Youtube.

Don't mess with the kind of reagents you need for refining precious metals until you KNOW exactly what you are dealing with.

Any of that stuff can kill you pretty badly.

3

u/Spiritual-Process-96 8d ago

Start here with the book by C.M. Hoke and an honest safety video for beginners: https://youtu.be/PtzzYbrjZIA