Au4Gold2 Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I am looking to clean some of my specimens that I have found over the years with hydroflouric acid. Done enough research to know not to mess with this nasty acid. I have been able to locate two mineral preparation labs, one in Colorado Collectors Edge and Voelter Minerals...Texas. I am not comfortable sending them via air mail . If anyone knows of anyone in California who does this type of stuff I think a few of us would use this service if its available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevada Brian Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Hi AuWanderer, I clean all my gold including specimens with a product called Whink. Most hardware stores and even WalMart carry this product. It is 1-2% Hydrofluoric Acid. In just a few days my gold is clean, but not polished clean. Removes the iron staining, some host rock and the black, which I was told is Manganese. I have even noticed, that on the more brittle quartz and gold pieces, after a few days, the quartz will begin to release. I'm very possessive of my gold, so I do everything in house :) You might also try looking through the ICMJ magazine. Brian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Previous thread on subject... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sourdough Scott Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Try Dave Varabioff of Goldbay in Spokane ,Washington. Great to work with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Au4Gold2 Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Ok sorry Steve, I guess no California Labs..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 No reason to apologize. As a rule if somebody starts a thread about a subject that has been discussed before I will provide a link. Not everybody reads or knows everything that goes on here. My post had no intent beyond that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LipCa Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 If you soak it too long, the quartz that does not loosen may turn yellow. not very attractive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brogansown Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 What Brian and then Steve said--Whink from Walmart. Will eat away all the quartz if you leave the specimen in for a month or so and change the Whink occasionally. Remember though, only use plastic and not your wife's porcelain or glass bowls, it etches that too. We've never had any accidents or problems with it. Gary 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LipCa Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Well, I left it in for a week and quartz turned yellow. I wonder how much quartz it would eat in a month? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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