Precious Metal Testing
Equipment and supplies for testing gold, platinum and silver

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Shor Fire Assay System

A process dating back thousands of years, in 1979 Shor introduced the first turn key in-house fire assay systems to the jewelry industry. These first systems purchased from Shor in 1979 are still in continuous use and will probably continue to be used well into the 21st century.

The method known as "Fire Assay" is the oldest known method of assaying gold and continues to be the most accurate and economical method of determining the purity of gold. Capable of precision down to 1 part in 10,000 the fire assay system allows you to make up to 20 assays at once with a cost as low as $1.00 per assay. This system can easily and inexpensively be expanded to greater capacity. Every sample can be assayed for gold content, platinum & silver content. The process returns the sample as 999.99+% pure metal. Many samples can be assayed at the same time. We have separate procedures for both large and small batch sampling.
Equipment & Supplies Price   Equipment & Supplies Price
Porcelain Crucibles $11.99 Each Instructions No Charge
Lead Foil $64.95 (5 lb. Roll) Muffle Furnace, 110V .
Cupels (1.5") $99.95.(100pcs.box) Rolling Mill .
Cupels (4") $5.95 Each Scale .
Cupels (4") $24.95 (6 pack) Anvil .
Assay Tongs . Chaser Hammer .
Assay Book .   . .

The assaying system will fit onto a 3' x 5' (90 x 150 cm) table and includes all equipment and supplies (except acid and water). The Shor Fire Assay System comes complete with both written instructions that are updated regularly and the transcript of a seminar given by Shor on assaying (including questions and answers). Additional technical support is available over the phone and/or fax at no extra charge.

Complete Shor Fire Assay System: $3,595
A brief description of how fire assay works:

The sample of gold is weighed very precisely and the amount is recorded. The sample is wrapped in assay lead foil along with a quantity of pure silver. This wrapped ball is placed in the furnace in a cupel (a special kind of disposable crucible). All the non-precious metals are absorbed by the hot cupel. The precious metal forms a button within the cupel. The cupel is removed from the furnace, from the cupel and then brushed to remove any lingering bits of cupel. It is hammered flat, rolled thin and then heated in a porcelain crucible containing a weak nitric acid solution. The acid removes the silver, which is poured off and the silver recovered from solution. The gold is then rinsed in distilled water to remove any residual acid and then dried. The sample of gold is now at least 99.999% pure. The sample is then weighed again. The original weight of the impure sample is divided into the weight of the now pure sample. The result is the assay

 

Precious Metal Testing- Scratch Test Kits & Supplies
Scratch testing is one of the oldest methods known to man for testing the karat of gold. In experienced hands, a scratch test is sensitive to within about +/- ½ karat or about 4%. In the hands of a novice, sensitivity is more likely to be about +/- 1-2 karat or 8%-16%. Kits come complete with instructions Gold Scratch Test Instructions.

These kits are for testing gold, silver and platinum. They come with gold test needles, wooden case, test acids and a scratch stone.

  Description Stock # Price
Complete
Test Sets

Precious Metal Test Kit w/ 3 needles (10, 14, 18K)

 TES-808.00 $55.00

Precious Metal Test Kit w/ 5 needles (8, 10, 12, 14, 18K)

 56.0806++ $109.95

Precious Metal Test Kit w/ 9 needles (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 20K)

 56.700++ $129.95
.
Needle Sets

9 Test Needle Set 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 20 Karat

56.705 $95.00

5 Needle Test Set 8, 10, 12, 14, 18 Karat

 TES-805.00 $56.75

5 Needle Test Set 10, 14, 18, 22, 24 Karat

 TES-505.62 $59.95

4 Needle Test Set  10, 12, 18 Karat & Silver

 TES-804.00 $34.95

3 Needle Test Set  10, 12, 14 Karat

 TES-803.00 $31.95
....
Test Stones
Test Stone, 2" x 11/2" x ¼" 56.710 $19.95
Test Stone, 4" x 2" x  ¼" STN-719.00 $29.95
....
Gold Test Acid, 10 K TES-110.00 $4.95
Gold Test Acid, 14 K TES-114.00 $4.95
Gold Test Acid, 18 K TES-118.00 $4.95
Silver Test Acid TES-130.00 $4.95
Platinum Test Acid / Gold Test Acid, 22 K TES-132.00 $9.95
. Gold Scratch Test Instructions . Free

Electronic Gold & Platinum Testers

Electronic gold testers are a fast and easy way to test gold. They have the advantages of:

  1. Speed
  2. Accurate, sensitive readings even when operated by a novice. Sensitive to within � karat or 2%.
  3. Nondestructive- the surface of the piece being tested does not become marred by a scratch
  4. Builds confidence with your customer- the karat reading is easily demonstrated to your customer.
Electronic Test Stone & M Series Electronic Gold Testers

wpe25.jpg (2186 bytes)

 Electronic Touch Stone-   For slightly more than the cost of an acid test kit, the ET18 precisely determines gold karat values equal to or greater than 10K, 14K and 18K.  Pocket sized and battery operated.  One year warrantee.

Stock # ET18            Price $109.95
 Replacement Activator & Electrolyte Kit TES-172.10     $29.95
wpe23.jpg (4199 bytes) M18A9-  Precisely determines gold karat values equal to or greater than 9K, 10K, 12K, 14K and 18K.  Battery operated.  Two year warrantee.

Stock# M18A9                           $189.95
Replacement Activator & Electrolyte Kit TES-172.10     $29.95

M18A9 Instructions
wpe24.jpg (4188 bytes) M24-  These are some of the most advanced gold testers in the world.  Precisely determines gold karat values equal to or greater than 9K, 10K, 12K, 14K, 18K, 20K, 24 K.   Battery operated and are warranted for two years.


Stock# TES-170.00               Price   $229.95
Replacement Activator & Electrolyte Kit    TES-170.10  $29.95

M24 Instructions

 

GXL, GS & GT Electronic Gold & Platinum Testers
These electronic testers operate on ordinary household current and can also be run on batteries (requires two 9 volt batteries, not included). Replacement consumables include the conductive gel tube and the Pro cleaning solution.

We carry 2 different categories of electronic testers: Direct Reading electronic testers and Chart Reading testers. They all work similarly. 

Direct Reading GXL Electronic Gold & Platinum Testers- These testers give you a direct L.E.D. reading of what the karat is. So, for example, if the karat of jewelry you are testing is 14K, it will show "14K" on the L.E.D. display. This can be quite useful when buying jewelry from the public or when, when selling, you feel the need to show customers that the karat stamped on your jewelry is the true karat.  The GXL electronic testers come complete with written instructions.      

Chart Reading GT Electronic Gold & Platinum Testers- To use these testers, you must compare the numerical L.E.D. reading with a chart that is printed on the tester. These testers have two advantages; They are somewhat more sensitive than the Direct Read testers and they are also significantly less expensive. Their disadvantage is that you have to look at a chart to get your result..  The GT electronic testers come complete with written instructions.      
Description Range Voltage Stock# Price
Direct Reading GXL-18 6-18 K Battery (optional adaptor available in 110v or 220v) 56.762 $599.99
GXL-18 Gel . . 56.766 $17.55
Direct Reading GXL-24 PRO 6-24 K, Platinum Battery  ( optional adaptor available in 110v or 220v) 56.763 $723.75
GXL-24 Gel . . 56.767 $17.55
GT & GXL Cleaner . . 56.769 $12.20
. . . . .
Chart Reading GT-3000 6-18 K Battery  ( optional adaptor available in 110v or 220v) 56.782 $273.75
GT-3000 Gel . . 56.766 $17.55
Chart Reading GT-4000 6-24 K, Platinum Battery ( optional adaptor available in 110v or 220v) 56.785 $484.99
GT-4000 Gel . . 56.767 $17.55
GT & GXL Cleaner . . 56.769 $12.20

 

Consumable Supplies for Electronic Gold & Platinum Testers
Description For Which Testers Stock # Price
Pro Cleaning Solution All GXL & GT Testers 56.769 $11.20
Replacement Gel Tube G-XL-18, GT-3000 56.766 $17.55
Replacement Gel Tube GXL-24 PRO, GT-4000 56.767 $17.55

 

The I. Shor Co.

I. Shor Canada
Shor International Corporation
Fine Tools, Equipment and Innovative Products Since 1918
20 Parkway West, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 10552
Phone (914) 667-1100 Fax (914) 667-0190

e-mail:

shorinternational@attglobal.net