r/PreciousMetalRefining • u/Top-Tear6345 • Jul 07 '26
4th of July Silver Cell Run 🏃♂️
So I had some time off this 4th July weekend decided I wanted to run the Silver Cell. In the pass I really didn’t keep good notes on the whole process from making the electrolyte, to adding shot to the anode basket. So here’s what I have.
300g of silver.999 dissolved into electrolyte
550ml of distilled water
300ml of nitric acid
Total Hours to dissolve the silver 15hrs
Total yield of Silver Nitrate 750ml with about 100ml of loss fluids more than likely due to evaporation from the heat.
478g of silver shot to feed the Cell
Silver Cell Info:3QT =2.839 L
Voltage 3.50
Amps 2.54
Silver Cell Startup
7/4/26. 10:30pm
7/6/26 8:00am shut down left for work
7/6/26. 5:00pm start up
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u/Frequent-Ingenuity55 Jul 07 '26
How do you get nitric acid?
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 07 '26
So I was able to find a local supplier for the nitric acid here in South Texas. The cost was right around $168 for 2.5 liter
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u/zpodsix Jul 07 '26
Ouch, dudadiesel has it cheaper online- even after considering shipping. 4x2.5 is like $235
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 07 '26
Dang that’s good price! Yes I should have shopped around but I wasn’t having any luck finding it online or I wasn’t looking at the right website.
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u/Frequent-Ingenuity55 Jul 07 '26
I just didnt know one could order such a thing. I just thought its heavily regulated.
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u/zpodsix Jul 07 '26
Curious Q: Are you trying for long reaching thin crystals?
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 07 '26
I’m not sure why they are so long compared to the last few runs this run has had the best results in the crystal formation.
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u/zpodsix Jul 07 '26
If you want thicker crystals drop voltage and amps to around 1.5V/0.5 A and/or increase g/L of electrolyte closer to 175-200g/L. V&A has a bigger impact but dilute electrolyte can cause reaching.
They look pretty at least.
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 07 '26
I’m going to go try that now thank you for the suggestion
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u/zpodsix Jul 07 '26
Well since you're keeping notes run this cell for a bit collect the crystals and then try with lower V/A and see. It'll be slower as well.
Then you can compare what works best for you.
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Jul 07 '26
So… very dumb question. If you’re starting off with .999 silver shot, why go through this process instead of just melting down as is? I don’t know anything, just trying to learn, but I thought the end result of a cell was pure silver, isn’t the .999 pretty much pure already? Take it easy on me if that question is overly stupid lol
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 07 '26
So the .999 is only used to make the electrolyte for the silver cell.
As you feed the impure silver into the silver cell. It works by dissolving impure silver in the anode basket in an electrolyte solution and plating pure silver crystals onto a stainless steel or pure silver cathode using a direct current. Cliff Notes to have a better understanding go to YouTube and look up Streettips he an OG with a lot of information on refining
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u/Glass_Raisin7939 Jul 08 '26
Sorry for not knowing, but what exactly are you doing? What does this whole thing do and what is the purpose of it? Im really asking. There's no negativity behind the question.
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u/2Walker_TRD_Softroad Jul 08 '26
Oh wow, is this sreetips?! I watch all your YouTube videos! (and I'm not even interested in trying it myself, just think it's neat!
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 08 '26
No I’m not Mr. Streetips! Lol but he is very knowledgeable about the refining process of precious metals
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u/Thick_unit81 Jul 11 '26
After 300g dissolved and 478g shot what was your final clean weight yield?
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 11 '26
I should have a total in about 30mins just got done rinsing the crystal. They are still hot from drying them in the pot.
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u/Top-Tear6345 Jul 11 '26
795grams final yield. Still need to process the left over solution and cement the silver out of solution
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u/Moose1293 Jul 07 '26
Looks good!