Buzz
Gathering gold scrap can provide an enjoyable means to earn some additional income. In this contemporary quest for hidden treasures, your primary strategy involves seeking out gold jewelry at flea markets and thrift stores. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also embark on a chemical exploration by extracting gold from old computers and other electronic devices. Once you've amassed a collection, you can either sell it online or locally to capitalize on your valuable discoveries!
Steps
Discovering Gold Jewelry
Explore flea markets or boutiques with costume jewelry. This serves as the simplest method to gather scrap gold. Utilize search engines to find flea markets and thrift shops in your vicinity. Target larger flea markets with numerous vendors, as they tend to offer the greatest potential for finding gold in one location.
- Try searching for terms like “major flea markets near Columbus, Ohio” online.
- Keep in mind that some flea markets may function more like annual festivals, operating only once per year.
Arrive at the market early in the morning. The earlier you get there, the better your chances of finding great deals. Aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before opening time so you can be among the first to explore the treasures on offer. Start by browsing through the costume jewelry displays before moving on to the more expensive collections.
- It’s ideal to plan your gold-hunting excursion on a day when you have ample time. Choose a day off from work or a leisurely Saturday so you can dedicate several hours to your treasure hunt.
Bring a small magnet along. You can easily purchase a pocket-sized magnet online or from a nearby hardware store. Look for one that’s roughly the size of a domino. This handy tool allows you to test whether jewelry is made of real gold or simply gold-plated.
- A genuine gold piece won’t be attracted to the magnet.
- Test individual parts of the jewelry, such as clasps, separately. Sometimes only certain parts are plated, while the majority of the piece is authentic gold.
Check for markings indicating the gold content. Keep an eye out for labels indicating the type of gold used in the jewelry. In the U.S., most jewelry is stamped with 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. The “K” denotes karat (or carat), which measures the gold content in an item. A piece marked 24K is pure gold.
- For jewelry crafted outside the U.S., you may encounter numeric markings instead of karats. 10K corresponds to 417, 14K to 585, 18K to 750, and 24K to 999.
Avoid jewelry with manufacturer’s markings. Some jewelry may feature various letters denoting that it is plated. Stay clear of pieces labeled with:
- GE, which indicates gold electroplate. You might also come across GP, meaning gold plated.
- HGE, signifying heavy gold electroplate.
- GF for gold filled.
- HGP, representing heavy gold plate.
- It’s also wise to steer clear of jewelry with unusual or unidentifiable markings, as these are often indicators that it’s not genuine gold.
Avoid spending more than $10 USD per item. The key to profiting from your gold scrap collection is to avoid overspending during the acquisition phase. Many flea markets offer bags of assorted costume jewelry for as little as $2 to $10 USD. Alternatively, you can opt to purchase individual pieces. And remember to negotiate!
- Offer less than the vendor’s asking price and pause when they counter with a higher offer. You might say something like: “I can offer $2 instead of $5 for that bracelet.”
Harvesting Gold from Electronics
Anticipate a modest yield of gold scrap. While gold is commonly used in electronic components, extracting it from individual devices yields only a small amount. Consider this endeavor more as an engaging DIY chemistry project rather than a lucrative venture.
- If your aim is to profit from collecting scrap gold, stick with flea markets. They offer safer and less time-consuming options.
- This experiment typically yields less than 1 gram (0.035 oz) of gold, translating to approximately $30 USD or less.
- If you decide to extract gold from electronics, avoid disassembling cellphones. Returning phones to your provider is usually more profitable.
Select a well-ventilated area and wear protective equipment. Given the use of potent and hazardous chemicals, ensure you work in a location with adequate ventilation to prevent fume accumulation. Equip yourself with lab goggles, gloves, and a respirator.
- Wear closed-toed shoes to protect your feet from chemical exposure.
- Purchase lab goggles and gloves online to ensure they are resistant to the chemicals. Respirators can be found online or at hardware stores.
Dismantle your old computer to access the motherboard. Additionally, disassemble remotes, DVD players, VCRs, or CD players, as their circuit boards contain traces of gold. Unscrew all the screws to open the electronics’ cases. For computers, cut the wires to reveal the motherboard. Extract the following gold-containing components from the motherboard:
- The central processing unit (CPU), often covered with a heat sink. Lift the lever to release the CPU and detach it from the motherboard.
- The PCI, resembling a mini-motherboard with gold fingers. Remove it by tearing it off the motherboard or unscrewing it if attached with a screw.
- The RAM modules, attached to the motherboard and potentially containing gold fingers.
Employ a paper trimmer to separate the gold fingers. Gold fingers appear as gold-coated rectangles affixed to green metal parts. They can be detached from larger boards. Using a large paper trimmer or a band saw ensures a swift and tidy removal process.
Position your items in a sieve atop a bowl. Get a plastic sieve and a slightly larger plastic bowl for stacking. Place the gold fingers and any boards with gold plating in the sieve. Also, have a glass plate that can cover the stacked sieve and bowl completely.
- Both glass and plastic can withstand the chemicals used in this process. Avoid metal containers as the acids will corrode them.
- The acids added to the electronics will dissolve all metal plating and other materials, leaving only the gold behind.
Utilize a bubbler to segregate the gold flakes. Battery-powered bubblers are available online or at pet stores, typically used for circulating water in aquariums. Position the plastic tubing beneath the sieve. Once a mix of hydrochloric acid and copper chloride is poured in, activate the bubbler to aid in separating the gold from the electronics.
Apply hydrochloric acid and copper chloride onto the items. Procure these chemicals from an online lab supply company. Pour three parts acid and one part copper chloride over the electronics. Cover the solution with the glass plate and activate the bubbler.
- Ensure the liquid completely covers the materials.
- You can substitute a 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide for the copper chloride.
Empty the solution after a week. Set aside the sieve containing the fingers. Place a coffee filter over a large glass beaker. Pour the solution into the beaker, leaving the gold scraps at the bottom of the bowl.
- To prevent the filter from slipping into the beaker, use a plastic funnel beneath it.
- To extract as much gold as possible from the fingers, rinse them in water in a large bucket. Drain the water and add any rinsed-off gold scraps to the other flakes.
- You can store and reuse the acid solution by transferring it to a plastic container if you plan on repeating this process for more electronics. When ready to dispose of the acids, label the container and take it to a hazardous waste disposal center.
Preparing Scrap Gold for Market
Purify scrap gold using acids for ultimate purity. Scrap gold often contains impurities. By refining it with acids, you can achieve 99.9% pure gold. Collect the scrap gold you wish to refine and weigh it using a kitchen scale to determine the amount of acid needed. Place the gold into a large glass beaker.
- Opt for a two or three-liter beaker to ensure sufficient space. You'll also require a glass cover or watch glass.
- You can refine gold flakes from electronics or jewelry. Avoid refining 24K gold, as it's already pure.
- Before refining jewelry, consider contacting local buyers. If they offer a good price, skip the refining process.
Add nitric acid to the beaker. For every ounce (about 28 g) of scrap gold, add 30 milliliters (1 fl oz) of nitric acid to the beaker. Allow at least 30 minutes for the reaction to occur. Ideally, wait overnight to allow harmful fumes to dissipate.
- Nitric acid is highly corrosive. Handle with extreme caution and wear lab goggles, gloves, and a respirator.
- You can purchase nitric acid online from a laboratory supply company.
Form aqua regia by introducing hydrochloric acid. Combine hydrochloric acid with the beaker containing nitric acid and scrap gold. Use approximately 120 milliliters (4 fl oz) of hydrochloric acid for every ounce (or 28 g) of gold. Allow the aqua regia to dissolve the gold completely, preferably overnight.
- Aqua regia is a blend of nitric and hydrochloric acid used to dissolve gold or platinum.
Filter the solution to eliminate solid particles. Pour the liquid over a damp coffee filter into another large beaker, ensuring any solid particles are retained in the filter. These particles can contaminate the gold.
- The mixture should now be clear and emerald green in color. If it appears murky, filter it again.
Prepare a water and urea mixture for boiling. Boil one quart (approximately one liter) of water and add one pound (0.45 kg) of urea powder. Gradually add this mixture to the aqua regia solution, allowing the foam to settle after each addition.
Choose a specific precipitant to incorporate into the mixture. Purchase a specialized precipitant intended for refining gold online. Dissolve one ounce (28 g) of precipitant per ounce of gold in another quart (or liter) of boiling water. Slowly introduce this into the emerald green mixture. Wear a respirator and keep your face away from the beaker opening. Allow about 30 minutes for the process to take place.
- The green mixture will gradually transform into muddy brown, indicating the presence of gold particles.
- Various brands of selective precipitants are available. Search for 'selective precipitant for refining gold for sale' online to find several options. Any of them will suffice!
Assess the mixture for gold content. Purchase a premade precious metal detection liquid online. Use this to verify that all the gold has separated from the acid. Dip a glass stirring stick into the acid and place a drop on a paper towel. Employ a pipette to add a drop of detection liquid to the acid. A purple spot indicates dissolved gold in the acid.
- The objective is to ensure that all the gold turns into mud and settles at the bottom of the beaker.
- If any gold remains dissolved in the liquid, wait another 30 minutes and repeat the test. If a positive result persists, add more precipitant, wait again, and then retest.
- The purple hue may appear blackish or brownish.
Separate the acid into another vessel. Avoid pouring off any of the mud. After removing the acid, add tap water to the mud and filter it again. Repeat this rinsing process three to four times. Then rinse the gold with a small amount of aqua ammonia before filtering it once more.
- You can purchase aqua ammonia online.
- You'll need to contact a hazardous waste disposal service to dispose of the acid waste. Pour the liquids into a labeled container and arrange for proper disposal through an authorized facility found online.
Utilize distilled water to collect all the gold particles. Pour a small quantity of distilled water into the beaker containing the gold particles. You can also wet the filter to collect any mud lost during the rinsing process. Transfer the distilled water and mud mixture to a new beaker and place it on a hot plate. Boil off the water and dry out the mud.
Melt the dried gold powder. Once the gold mud has dried, it will resemble a powder. Place this powder in a clay crucible. Acquire a mold, as it will be necessary for shaping the gold after melting. Use a propane torch to liquefy the powder into metal, which should occur within a few minutes. Pour the molten gold into the mold and allow it to cool overnight.
- Wear flame-resistant gloves, safety goggles, and long pants. Exercise caution and work on a flame-resistant surface.
- To prevent the powder from scattering during torching, consider using a Burno crucible, a jeweler's tool equipped with a small cover.
- Once you have a pure gold bar, contact local gold buyers and explore online options for selling your gold.
Pointers
Cautions
- Only dismantle electronics you don't intend to use again.
- Unless you have numerous old electronics, collecting gold flakes with acid won't yield significant profits.
- Refining and melting your own gold is a time-consuming and potentially hazardous process without proper equipment and experience.
Necessary Items
- Old computers or other electronics
- Small screwdriver
- Lab goggles
- Lab gloves
- Respirator
- Ventilated or outdoor workspace
- Paper trimmer or band saw
- Plastic bowl and strainer with lid
- Battery-powered bubbler
- Several large beakers
- Watch glass
- Pipettes
- Coffee filters
- Plastic filter
- Electric hot plate
- Hydrochloric acid
- Copper chloride
- Urea
- Nitric acid
- Selective precipitant
- Glass stirring stick
- Precious metal detection liquid
- Paper towels
- Aqua ammonia
- Distilled water
- Clay crucible
- Propane torch
- Flame-resistant gloves and safety glasses
- Gold mold
