To be blunt, if you don't already have one, you either weren't aware of its existence or you've made a costly mistake by not buying one before. It's that simple. There are over 5,000 units in use today and from just 1999-2001, over 5 metric tons of gold were refined in these refining systems. We estimate that our customers, by refining their gold themselves, have saved over $12,800,000 in just these past 2 years!

There is nothing in your shop that you can't refine yourself (though things like polishing sweeps do require some preprocessing).

Here's how it works:

Scrap gold is composed of several metals; gold, copper, zinc etc. Using a battery charger or rectifier and the Simplicity, your scrap gold is stripped (dissolved) into a special salt-water bath. A special ceramic cell prevents the metal from plating out of the water. To the water is added a powder which turns the gold, but not the other metals, back into solid form. While the pure gold drops to the bottom as small particles, the other metals remain dissolved. The water is then poured off and the fine gold particles are rinsed, dried and melted. The result is gold of 999.5% purity with losses of metal left dissolved in the waste water of less than .01 dwt. If desired, the other metals can be removed from the water by the addition of aluminum foil.

Consummables for Preprocessing Material for both Acid and Salt Water Refining Methods

Also known as lye or caustic soda.  Add water and simmer in a Pyrex or Visionware pot for 1 hour.  Removes rouge, shellac, rubber wheels, iron filing and even deoxidizes your bench sweeps. all in one step!  Sodium hydroxide is a hazmat item

Sodium Hydroxide (5 lbs.)   Price $24.95

The only acid approved by all governmental agencies for use in neutralizing caustic solutions like lye.  This is not a hazmat item.

Citric Acid (1 lbs.)   Price   $9.95
Citric Acid (5 lbs.)   Price $34.95

$11.99

$99.95

$19.95

Always use great care when refining with aqua regia. There is always the potential for getting burned when working with acids.

Refining Videos

Shor Electrolytic Thumb Cell Silver Refining System

This is a purely electrolytic system, requiring a separate rectifier and working  only with silver that is at least 90% pure before refining (Sterling silver is 92+% pure). Produces standard electrolytic grade silver of 99.95-99.99% purity. Uses a dilute nitric acid for electrolyte, so some ventilation is required.  Requires a rectifier of at least 25 amps.

Features include:

• Produces electrolytic grade silver (99.95-99.99% pure).
• Easy to use. Requires no experience.
• Low labor. Requires almost no monitoring.
• Continuously produces pure silver. Not a batch operation. Just put in a new bar of scrap silver as the old one is dissolved into solution. Take out the pure silver any time, without interrupting the refining process.
• Compact- Takes up just 1 cubic foot.
• Snap on lid. All plastic construction.
• Can also be used for refining gold scrap, but only when the gold to be refined is already at least 90% pure before refining.
• Very inexpensive to purchase and to run.
• Please note:  when purchasing this product, you are buying, primarily, knowledge.  Because this knowledge cannot be unlearned, this product is not returnable.

Shor Electrolytic Refining System       Price: $495

Refining Silver Chemically

If you want to refine silver without buying equipment, you can do it chemically. You'll need baking soda, pancake syrup (Karo brand syrup, which is ¾ dextrose), drain cleaner (lye), water, buckets, wooden or plastic spoons and some other ingredients. Sounds like baking a cake, doesn't it? Well take precautions and do it out-of-doors because one of the "other ingredients" is nitric acid. We have complete instructions.

Shor Buchner filter funnels have a flat, perforated plate at the base of each funnel that is eminently suited for very rapid filtration (especially when combined with a vacuum pump [see the very inexpensive Shor aspirator vacuum pump below]). Shor Buchner funnels are designed to accept filter paper that is the same diameter as the inside diameter of the funnel. However, we recommend that, when using them to filter precious metals, use a filter paper of one size larger than the funnel's diameter. All Shor Buchner funnels, except the 5" diameter, sit flat on a tabletop.

Allows for hands-free filtering when using a Buchner funnel with a vacuum pump.  Can completely eliminate acid fumes during the filtering process. Because different systems require different hose sizes, the plates and gaskets come undrilled and without hose fittings.  See below for sizes and prices.

Filter Fabric

Buchner filter funnels have relatively large holes.  When working with powerful vacuum pumps, the pressure can punch holes in even double layered heavy duty filter paper.  Filter fabric is used to underlie the filter paper, providing both support and the ability to catch particles of precious metal that pass either through or around the filter paper.

This is a very small, inexpensive vacuum pump , yet it provides a quite respectable 27"Hg vacuum.  Requires running water with good pressure from a tap or garden hose to operate.

Price $19.95

Shor Acid Resistant Vacuum and Transfer (ARVT) Pump System

The ARVT Pump will deliver decades of trouble-free service when properly maintained with regular replacement of the "O" rings and Cap Seals. If you do a lot of refining with acid, this pump will make life a lot easier (and safer) for you. Maximum setting will move 1 quart of acid every 2 seconds.  You can adjust the amount of draw by raising or lowering the stroke adjustment bolt.   

When used in combination with a Buchner filter funnel, gasket and vacuum plate,  you can do all you filtering and acid moving operation without ever pouring any acids, ever!  

This pump operates by air pressure and requires a minimum compressor size of ½ hp.

ARVT Pumping System.................. $3,495

Shor ARVT Pumping Table System..................$3,795

This is a complete assembly for vacuuming and transfer of highly corrosive acids such as aqua regia. It consists of the ARVT acid resistant transfer and vacuum pump assembled with all of the necessary switches, relays, hose connections, etc. all conveniently mounted under a table. Buchner filter funnel, vacuum plate and gasket not included.

The I. Shor Co.