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minelab gold tester
- Thread starter mike k.
- Start date
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
Just under 400.oo Looks great but price will keep me from buying, Acids are cheap and work
Slartibartfast
New member
Bloody Nora! Is that tester made of gold?
WaterWalker
Well-known member
The Minelab Pro Alloy Tester at $400 may not catch the plated pieces.
BUT if you are willing to spend between $8,000.00 and $32,000 check out the XRF or XLp analyses.
You get what you pay for! I really like checking by calculating the specific gravity of the object. But I'd love to play with a XRF "gun".
for $400
[attachment 329111 CaptureML.JPG]
OR up to $32,000
[attachment 329110 CaptureXRF.JPG]
BUT if you are willing to spend between $8,000.00 and $32,000 check out the XRF or XLp analyses.
You get what you pay for! I really like checking by calculating the specific gravity of the object. But I'd love to play with a XRF "gun".
for $400
[attachment 329111 CaptureML.JPG]
OR up to $32,000
[attachment 329110 CaptureXRF.JPG]
Fishers Ghost
New member
Check this out.
http://www.ais-alpha.com/kee_gold_tester_-refurbished-.html
I believe this was designed built and patented by KEE.
I have one of these and it works very well. ( The Minelab branded item) It is quick , non messy and no health risk.
Yes like in acid testing you have to expose the probe to the base metal in order to detect plated gold.
The tester is for gold only.
I have been using the acid tester for the best part of 40 years without any real problems but this new tester is very handy.
Yes it is over priced.
http://www.ais-alpha.com/kee_gold_tester_-refurbished-.html
I believe this was designed built and patented by KEE.
I have one of these and it works very well. ( The Minelab branded item) It is quick , non messy and no health risk.
Yes like in acid testing you have to expose the probe to the base metal in order to detect plated gold.
The tester is for gold only.
I have been using the acid tester for the best part of 40 years without any real problems but this new tester is very handy.
Yes it is over priced.
Fishers Ghost
New member
Maybe Minelab pay royalties to Kee in order to be able to put the the Minelab name to it.
fmorales9475
New member
Do you know if the tester will determine if the piece is plated or not?
fmorales9475
New member
n/t
fmorales9475
New member
Can you tell me if the Pro-Alloy tester will not recognize a plated surface. What do you do to know if it is a plated unit. Also if you don't mine to help me lean how to distinguish plated or solid, I was told l to used a magnet, or use acid testing?
I would greatly appreciated your help.
I would greatly appreciated your help.
WaterWalker
Well-known member
I have a similar unit and it will test the plating as K gold, UNTIL the plating is removed.
My unit will, which I can no longer find for sale, will remove the plating, leave an area that is of a different color and then so the object as NOT GOLD. You can also file an area to test...NOT a good idea for a fine piece of jewelry. But the same is true with acid. You have to transfer some material to the scratch block, than watch how the acid dissolves the material removed. IF you do not scratch thorough the plating the test will only "read" the plating that was scratched off. IF you use a file to cut into the object you more than likely WILL remove the plating as it is a very thin coating on the base metal and then putting a drip of acid directly on the filed area you will see the results if either solid K gold or the acid's reaction to the base metal.
This is why I use the specific gravity method...non-disstructive testing.
Hope this helps.
My unit will, which I can no longer find for sale, will remove the plating, leave an area that is of a different color and then so the object as NOT GOLD. You can also file an area to test...NOT a good idea for a fine piece of jewelry. But the same is true with acid. You have to transfer some material to the scratch block, than watch how the acid dissolves the material removed. IF you do not scratch thorough the plating the test will only "read" the plating that was scratched off. IF you use a file to cut into the object you more than likely WILL remove the plating as it is a very thin coating on the base metal and then putting a drip of acid directly on the filed area you will see the results if either solid K gold or the acid's reaction to the base metal.
This is why I use the specific gravity method...non-disstructive testing.
Hope this helps.
ronchicago
Member
This is a great and handy tester, very accurate, I sold this item for a few years but found it to be too overpriced, and not a good seller for that reason.
Many customers would bring in their finds for me to test, was kind of cool way to see what folks were finding.
It is made by Kee
Ron
Many customers would bring in their finds for me to test, was kind of cool way to see what folks were finding.
It is made by Kee
Ron
JamesBondaka
Active member
Using a tester like this is...................just like flipping a coin.......maybe it is gold.....maybe its.....not!
JamesBondaka
Active member
Jewelry is much easier to deal with than coins. Jewelry can be filled, cut , polished etc and there will be no signs of any work....if done properly.
fmorales9475
New member
I just received the KEE gold tester (refurb), it look new without any visible use. It was $ 190 including S&H. The person in AIS was very helpfully and professional. Will let you guys knows my experience with it. I think that for a $ 200 below retail cost I will take my chances, also I will lean the specific gravity method?
Fishers Ghost
New member
I have been using the Minelab/Kee gold tester for a while now and find it to be clean and accurate. the tested piece must be clean from grease and sweat and stuff and the test pad must be clean otherwise reading errors will creep in. It is a bit annoying having to check the calibration between tests plus you need a calibration piece of known 18k gold before you can use the tester.
The test probe must be kept protected by the probe cap at all times the tester is not in use, otherwise it will dry out and be rendered useless.
Unlike the acid test, the pro alloy will only test gold. other metals will read as Not Gold.
Accuracy appears to be quite good if all test conditions are met.
Batteries do not have to be totally flat before the meter cannot be calibrated.......A bit annoying.
My tester , the Minelab version costs 500 dollars Australian in Australia, so at approx 190 USD I suggest that the Kee be the instrument of choice
The test probe must be kept protected by the probe cap at all times the tester is not in use, otherwise it will dry out and be rendered useless.
Unlike the acid test, the pro alloy will only test gold. other metals will read as Not Gold.
Accuracy appears to be quite good if all test conditions are met.
Batteries do not have to be totally flat before the meter cannot be calibrated.......A bit annoying.
My tester , the Minelab version costs 500 dollars Australian in Australia, so at approx 190 USD I suggest that the Kee be the instrument of choice