Many professionals use acids to test for gold content, as the process is simple and something that you get better at the more you do. This simple gold test contains 6 different testing acids, a set of gold testing needles, a small portable gold scale and a neodymium rare earth magnet all for under $100.00.
This kit contains:
- 150.108 GemOro Platinum V600M Super Mini Pocket Scale
- 156.806 Gold Test Solution Kit-One each of 10K-14K-18K-22K-Platinum-Silver Testing Acids
- 156.709 Gold Test Needles Set of Five-8K-10K-12K-14K-18K
- 156.714 Large Gold Test Stone Glass 6" x 4"
Ships FedEx or UPS Ground Only-No Air-No outside USA!
This is a traditional gold test kit with pre-mixed acids. Instructions for using this test kit are given below.
Each small plastic bottle is filled with approximately one ounce of an acid specially formulated for testing the metal it is marked for. This kit can only ship FedEx or UPS ground. If you order this item and select any other shipping method other than FedEx or UPS ground service, we will not be able to ship it that way. Do not select air service (FedEx Priority or Standard Overnight, FedEx 2nd Day, UPS Next Day, UPS 2nd Day or UPS 3 Day Priority Mail, Global Express Mail) for shipping this item. Your package will ship ground if you do, and we will not refund your shipping charge.
This item cannot ship via the post office. The US Mail will not accept acids for shipping. Sorry, cannot ship outside of the USA.
This is a simple guide to test precious metals with testing acids. You will need the acids, test stone to rub the metal onto, eye protection, rubber gloves and some sort of cloth for cleanup. Please note that using these acids can be hazardous to your health. Always handle the acids with great care. Please note that the acid will stain your skin or worse, so be careful not to spill any on yourself and don’t even think of getting any in your eyes.
This kind of testing is entirely subjective. Skill is developed through experience and repetition. You will be watching for a reaction, and making a comparison of the "test" reaction to your own personal experience to how a certain karat is suppose to react.
For Gold Testing with Acid and Test Stone Only:
Scratch or rub the metal being tested onto the testing stone. Place the smallest drop you can of the closest acid to the karat you estimate the metal to be. If you think it's 14K, start with the 14K acid. If you think it's 10K, start with the 10K acid.
- If the acid dissolves the metal it’s less then the karats on the bottle and you should try again with lower level acid.
- If the acid dissolves the metal slowly, it’s possible you would have a bit less then the karat of the acid in the bottle.
- If the metal stays it’s most likely the karat of the acid in the bottle.
With Test Needles:
A better test is to compare a known sample of karat gold to the test sample. To use this method, you will need a set of test needles, or better yet, pieces of gold of which you are certain of the karat. Using the same technique as above, make a rubbing or scratch with your test needles (or known sample of gold) next to a rubbing or scratch of the item to be tested. Watch the reaction, and if the reaction is the same, you can infer that the karat content is the same. The glass acid test bottles with stoppers work well for this method, as the glass stoppers allow you to drag a drop of acid across the two scratches.
Testing instuctions for platinum and silver:
Platinum:
Should stay and not dissolve under the platinum acid. Some platinum is 800 type of platinum and will dissolve a bit.
Silver:
Rub extra metal onto the stone, apply a nice drop and wait for a reaction.
* 0.999 pure silver will turn bright red color
* 0.925 sterling silver will turn dark red color
* 0.800 silver will turn brown color
If you choose next day or second day or third day shipping when purchasing this product, your order will ship ground, as this product can not ship via air.
