Hi Chris, I'd better establish first that I am not criticising those bells and whistle units, just my choice not to use one. I get into trouble quite easily regarding my personal viewpoints on here <g>. I had considered having a go at making one of those, but decided not to.
I can't recommend any particular unit cos I make my own units {not for sale though, just for family members} and I include a small resistor to limit/control current. When I walk away from my setup I take a timer with me so when it goes off at the 30 minute mark I am straight back to the setup to clean the electrodes and swap them over manually to maintain even wear on both electrodes. When brewing ANY volume over 250-300ml { a drinking glass} I ALWAYS use my home made magnetic stirrer. A form of stirring method is of utmost importance to me for any volume over and above that amount, and I will ONLY use a magnetic stirrer, not a bubbler or whatever else people use, that's just my personal and preferred choice of stirring method {possible introduction of contaminants into the solution from the atmosphere, besides, I'm either making toast or smoking while in production <g>}. Time is dependant on several things so that is not a major concern, however, I'm not prepared to wait that long, but again, that's personal preference. I usually produce just over 1 litre to 1200ml {believe that's around 33.8 US ounces or more} at a time and it takes around 1 1/2 to 2 hours using either a 4 electrode setup or a two loop electrode setup. My solution can sometimes turn yellow after being in storage for a time, but that doesn't phase me...*AT ALL*. The thing I place most importance on is visual observation of solution over days/weeks or months whilst in storage and NEVER detecting anything laying on the bottom of the storage vessel, or floating on the water surface, or anything else doing water aerobics in the solution. I just wipe my storage vessel out with paper towel and it's good to go for the next brew. Occasionally I THINK I can see a minute discolouration on paper towel, can't be precise about that cos it's so minimal that it could be just silver which has collected on any impurities like fibres or something which had been present in the DW from manufacture, or has fell in from the atmosphere whilst brewing and the weight has pulled it to the bottom {vessel is not sealed while brewing}. I don't consider this as coming from the production process itself, more it's silver ions collected among those fine fibres or whatever. Whatever it is, it's hardly distinguishable which is different from what others say about decanting or leaving it behind in the vessel, I *never* get that. The time frame you refer to is probly quite normal, it just doesn't suit me that's all. Remember, anything I say is my personal opinion only {not advice} when it comes to EIS production <g>. Everybody to their own with regard to this subject. There are folk here who are far more savvy about this game than me. I do things my own way from MUCH published material I have studied over the years...Not forgetting, that includes some information from those who are very savvy here I hasten to add <g>. N. Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:08:26 -0400 Subject: Re: CS>First Batch of CS From: ch...@saucyenterprizes.com To: silver-list@eskimo.com Re: CS>First Batch of CS Hi Neville, Being new to CS making, I am detecting that I have purchased a a “bells and whistles” machine. What type of machine do you recommend, or build yourself? I am fine staying with the production and cleaning the electrodes. My first batch took far longer than I thought it would, and I was watching it until I went to sleep. When I awoke a few hours later the batch was done. How long should a batch take? I am making mine in a squared off 24oz Ball canning jar. Thanks for the continued advice, CT