12 Art Jewelry ■ March 2016

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FRONT

Gold Test Solution Kit,

Testing Stone, Testing

Needles
UP

FRONT

WHERE TO BUY

Test Solution Kit: $19.

Testing Needles, Set of Five: $46.

Testing Stone: $20.

Rio Grande, http://www.riogrande.com

PRODUCT REVIEW

The purity of gold is based on a 24-

point scale, more commonly known as

karats. A piece of 10k gold is only 10 out

of 24 parts gold, or 41.67% gold. Knowing

the purity of your gold is important for

repair work, reclaiming scrap, or estab-

lishing the value of a piece. There are

electronic gold testers, and high-tech X-ray

fluorescence spectrometers available, but

they can be pricey. If you’re looking for

an easy and inexpensive way to check the

purity of gold, an acid test is your solution.

I dug up four pieces of gold to test:

three rings and a gnarly old gold tooth

(honestly, you never know what you’ll find

in my attic). Only two of these pieces were

stamped (guess which ones!).

Each of the testing needles is tipped

and stamped with a different karat of gold.

I drew wide parallel lines with each of the

needles across the smooth surface of the

testing stone, and labeled each line with

their corresponding 10-, 14-, 18-, and 22k.

After designating each test line A–D, I used

my mystery items to draw four more wide

parallel lines across the stone.

Working under the studio vent and

garbed in an apron, gloves, and safety

glasses, it was time to apply the acid.

Starting with the weakest acid, 10k, I drew

a steady line of acid across the eight par-

allel lines and waited. The 10k acid will

dissolve or discolor anything under 10k.

After a short time, I dipped the stone in

a neutralizing solution, rinsed it in water,

and dried it with a soft cloth. Reviewing

the lines, I saw that there was a slight

change in one of my mystery test ring

lines, but the 10k control line remained.

It was a snap to run through the rest

of the acids and determine the results,

although sometimes the results were

easier to read when the stones were still

wet from the rinse water. According to

the acid test, the two stamped rings

were correctly marked, and that filthy

gold tooth had the highest purity of gold

of the test pieces.

It’s also important to keep in mind that

gold solder could be a different purity than

the rest of the piece, which would yield

mixed results. So avoid testing soldered

areas if possible. —Theresa D. Abelew

READER CORNER

continued from page 10

Permanent Ruler

“I used a fine-tip permanent marker

to draw an accurate ruler directly

onto my work surface. I can now

quickly measure wire or chain

without having to search all over

for a ruler.”

—Dawn Lawrence Floen,

Alberta, Canada

Dawn received a $100 gift certificate

courtesy of our Tip sponsor, Contenti

(www.contenti.com)

Contenti

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EDITOR
TESTED
incorporate the green of the field
along with the blue and yellow sunny
skies. I wanted to portray the taboo
of death in a way that would remove
the fear that usually accompanies the
idea. Depicting the skull as a source
for the living, adorning her with easily
recognizable feminine characteristics
and a little touch of whimsy, removes
the darkness of the subject.”
Materials used: Goldie Bronze metal
clay and labradorite
Dimensions: Approximately 2^15 ⁄ 16 x
1¾ in. (75 x 44 mm)
For more information:
http://www.sky-and-beyond.com