One last thing about the mercury vapor bubbles - reducing the heat input significantly reduces the bubbles, in fact to none with the right setting. It will take slightly longer to retort but if you are concerned about the vapor escaping then a longer firing time won't bother you at all. In the few tests that I ran - I was able to reduce the bubbles to zero and it still only added about 5 minutes to the firing time for 8 grams of liquid mercury. Thanks again for all the comments - you've made me re-think and refine the process to make it absolutely the safest possible way to recover clean gold AND re-claim the mercury from the environment. Happy Pans!
Thanks very much! Please understand very well how mercury can hurt you before you do anything with it. I've built many different retorts, some for simple amalgam separation and some for purifying the mercury. This one is by far the best in terms of health and safety. I make these in small batches, as time, money and demand converge. I'll have another batch completed this weekend. I typically list them on eBay but listing fees really gouge an already small profit margin so I may re-think it
For those who commented about the mercury bubbles... this got me thinking - "How do I verify and show that it's safe?". I created another video that shows that there aren't any mercury vapors coming from the retort during use. This is a visual check however and I know I can do better. I've designed a filter that will capture these bubbles and any mercury will coat the filter media. I'll weight the filter before and after and I'll have real data. I've yet to build the filter and set up the experiment but stay tuned... for now - take a look at the mercury vapor video. I don't know how to link a video to a comment - sorry - you'll just have to find it on my channel.
Hi Ray - Yes. Another batch is in process. I'll post details on where/how to order one when they are ready to ship. Also, I viewed your gold melting video (the wheelie video was cool too), you'll have better results if you pre-heat your graphite mold. You can do this effectively by placing the mold over the exhaust of your furnace. You did this on your first pour but I don't think it was hot enough. When you move it to do your pour don't place it on a steel plate. Place it on a refractory brick or even on your pizza stone (at least that's what it looks like). One other thing that will help clean up your pour is to use straight Borax. Chapman's flux is great for removing impurities but you are past that by the time you are ready to cast. Once it's cast, leave it in the mold and use your oxy torch to re-melt it. That will smooth out your surface and consolidate the remaining flux (use the torch to move it all to one side). A straight Borax flux will be really easy to remove from your casting.
A new batch of the "Colorado" kit is available on ebay. Search for "Gold Recovery Retort" - I just listed though so it may take up to 24 hours for it to be searchable. The "Colorado" Kit is new and improved! Still all Stainless Steel but now it's an all welded construction. Printed Instructions are included but we've also added Mercury Hazard and Instruction labels to the outside of the container. I need to update the video. I appreciate everyone's comments about safety. Indeed I wasn't wearing gloves in the video and I should have been. The reality however is that mercury uptake through the skin is very slow and my contact time was minimal (and of course I washed my hands before dinner).
+omalleyrr another batch is underway. I don't have an anticipated date yet but when they are ready to go, I'll post an update here. Thanks for your interest!
+Dash Weeks Sounds great. I'd be more than happy to pay extra to get one shipped quickly. Say an extra $100 for one within the next two weeks? Very interested in your product.
Sorry about the blurry text.... I'm not an expert in video production... I am however expert in processing mercury amalgam. It is impossible to draw water all the way up the retort tube in this design. You may be thinking of another retort design.
Thanks for the demo. Of the mercury retorts I've seen on TH-cam this one scares me the least. I just constructed two different styles but I can't make myself pull the trigger on using them. I just don't feel good about them. This stuff scares the pants off of me but I have material that i need to get done. I'm sold! Where can I buy one of yours?
i lookes online and cannot find one😢😭😭😭 i need one as im in colorado and i more often find amalgamated dold and want to do things the right way.. help! id even buy a used one if someones looking to upgrade...
+Frank Matyus Good Point - Selenium is good for treatment and reducing the effects of mercury poisoning. I'd rather keep it out of my body before I need treatment. Of course I was handling the retort pedestal without gloves but I'm most concerned with mercury vapors. Be well and happy pans!
+Frank Matyus - Thanks for viewing Frank - If you have something that works and it's safely recovering your gold AND the mercury then by all means keep using it. This design cannot over-pressurize as it can't take up water, create the steam and have no where to go. The kit also includes a storage tube for safely and securely storing the contaminated retort. It's also robust enough to take to the field and do the separations at the source. I haven't seen any other alternative that has those features, so I'm not sure what you mean be "just unsafe". Be well and happy pans!
+Dash Weeks glad you know about Selenium, retort i use is the old style with the water jacket, I do not put the tip in the water, bad jojo, i use a strip of cloth wrapped on the tip to make contact with the bowl of water, your system works i would just be fearful of knocking over during the cooking and with the system i use their is no vapor loss good luck
One last thing about the mercury vapor bubbles - reducing the heat input significantly reduces the bubbles, in fact to none with the right setting. It will take slightly longer to retort but if you are concerned about the vapor escaping then a longer firing time won't bother you at all. In the few tests that I ran - I was able to reduce the bubbles to zero and it still only added about 5 minutes to the firing time for 8 grams of liquid mercury. Thanks again for all the comments - you've made me re-think and refine the process to make it absolutely the safest possible way to recover clean gold AND re-claim the mercury from the environment. Happy Pans!
Thanks very much! Please understand very well how mercury can hurt you before you do anything with it. I've built many different retorts, some for simple amalgam separation and some for purifying the mercury. This one is by far the best in terms of health and safety. I make these in small batches, as time, money and demand converge. I'll have another batch completed this weekend. I typically list them on eBay but listing fees really gouge an already small profit margin so I may re-think it
Hi ! Where can these retorts be purchased ?
For those who commented about the mercury bubbles... this got me thinking - "How do I verify and show that it's safe?". I created another video that shows that there aren't any mercury vapors coming from the retort during use. This is a visual check however and I know I can do better. I've designed a filter that will capture these bubbles and any mercury will coat the filter media. I'll weight the filter before and after and I'll have real data. I've yet to build the filter and set up the experiment but stay tuned... for now - take a look at the mercury vapor video. I don't know how to link a video to a comment - sorry - you'll just have to find it on my channel.
The music totally makes the video. rock on brother, rock on.
Hi Ray - Yes. Another batch is in process. I'll post details on where/how to order one when they are ready to ship.
Also, I viewed your gold melting video (the wheelie video was cool too), you'll have better results if you pre-heat your graphite mold. You can do this effectively by placing the mold over the exhaust of your furnace. You did this on your first pour but I don't think it was hot enough. When you move it to do your pour don't place it on a steel plate. Place it on a refractory brick or even on your pizza stone (at least that's what it looks like). One other thing that will help clean up your pour is to use straight Borax. Chapman's flux is great for removing impurities but you are past that by the time you are ready to cast. Once it's cast, leave it in the mold and use your oxy torch to re-melt it. That will smooth out your surface and consolidate the remaining flux (use the torch to move it all to one side). A straight Borax flux will be really easy to remove from your casting.
I'll post another reply when I've got them done and can point to where to buy one. CheerZ
What kind of material do you want to bring to your home?
A new batch of the "Colorado" kit is available on ebay. Search for "Gold Recovery Retort" - I just listed though so it may take up to 24 hours for it to be searchable.
The "Colorado" Kit is new and improved! Still all Stainless Steel but now it's an all welded construction. Printed Instructions are included but we've also added Mercury Hazard and Instruction labels to the outside of the container. I need to update the video. I appreciate everyone's comments about safety. Indeed I wasn't wearing gloves in the video and I should have been. The reality however is that mercury uptake through the skin is very slow and my contact time was minimal (and of course I washed my hands before dinner).
+Dash Weeks Will you be selling any more retorts? Looking to purchase. Thanks.
+omalleyrr another batch is underway. I don't have an anticipated date yet but when they are ready to go, I'll post an update here. Thanks for your interest!
+Dash Weeks Sounds great. I'd be more than happy to pay extra to get one shipped quickly. Say an extra $100 for one within the next two weeks? Very interested in your product.
+omalleyrr send me your email. I have a kit for you. Thanks for the offer for more money but that's not how I do business.
I can not find your kit in eBay, please advice.
please tell me, I have an ampoule with mercury vapor and how can I recover it from the vapor
Nice tool. Well done video.
Where do we buy these retort kits at
Sorry about the blurry text.... I'm not an expert in video production... I am however expert in processing mercury amalgam. It is impossible to draw water all the way up the retort tube in this design. You may be thinking of another retort design.
Have you tried processing dental amalgam?
Thanks for the demo. Of the mercury retorts I've seen on TH-cam this one scares me the least. I just constructed two different styles but I can't make myself pull the trigger on using them. I just don't feel good about them. This stuff scares the pants off of me but I have material that i need to get done. I'm sold! Where can I buy one of yours?
The music doesnt exactly scream professional.
i lookes online and cannot find one😢😭😭😭 i need one as im in colorado and i more often find amalgamated dold and want to do things the right way.. help! id even buy a used one if someones looking to upgrade...
Wont the water go back up the tube and hit the mercury and make an explosion? Please verify i
Don't forget about the benefits of Selenium
+Frank Matyus Good Point - Selenium is good for treatment and reducing the effects of mercury poisoning. I'd rather keep it out of my body before I need treatment. Of course I was handling the retort pedestal without gloves but I'm most concerned with mercury vapors. Be well and happy pans!
Touching that pedestal with bare hands with all the mercury residue on it ... that cannot be good.
Do you still sell these?
Do you still sell these
também podemos usar latas ao invés de inox
Are you still selling these? If so, how much?
parabéns muito inteligente
that's awesome. i want one.
Cant read its all blurry... From what i do see its not vented and if cooled too fast w
just unsafe, keep to my old retort
+Frank Matyus - Thanks for viewing Frank - If you have something that works and it's safely recovering your gold AND the mercury then by all means keep using it. This design cannot over-pressurize as it can't take up water, create the steam and have no where to go. The kit also includes a storage tube for safely and securely storing the contaminated retort. It's also robust enough to take to the field and do the separations at the source. I haven't seen any other alternative that has those features, so I'm not sure what you mean be "just unsafe". Be well and happy pans!
+Dash Weeks glad you know about Selenium, retort i use is the old style with the water jacket, I do not put the tip in the water, bad jojo, i use a strip of cloth wrapped on the tip to make contact with the bowl of water, your system works i would just be fearful of knocking over during the cooking and with the system i use their is no vapor loss good luck
Got some ready to ship! Available on eBay - Search for "Gold Recovery Retort - Mercury Amalgam - 321053596019"
no mercury in the bubbles my arse!
Fake gold
fake or not, it's not the point bro....
फेक है fek hai ,, बेकूफ़ बना रहा है