XRF analyzer recommendations for a small auction house

Smudge_Pot

I work at a smaller regional auction business in the southwest and I am often tasked to help determine the metal content of consigned items whether jewelry, US & foreign coinage among other items. We spend a fair amount of time trying to evaluate certain items to determine the metal content and I would appreciate input pointing us in a direction of a XRF analyzer or other options that may better help us do what we do daily. Countertop and hand-held options are both helpful. We do occasionally find items consigned that are not what they are purported to be and I'd really like to find something that we would use without having to acid / ping / otherwise test items. Thanks for ideas!

I was referred here from the coin forum to folks that may me more knowledgeable in this field. Thanks in advance!

doubleeagle07

For coins I would highly recommend a sigma metalytics machine. It determines if a known coin is real, however you can mix and match the settings to confirm exactly what you have if your not sure of the silver or gold content of a coin, round, or bar. The machine is really designed for coins or small bars and is not recommend for jewelry.

blitzdude

LOL sounds like an infomercial for scam city. The Sigma is junk, fooled continuously by plated fake garbage. Don't waste your $$$.

derryb

@blitzdude said:
LOL sounds like an infomercial for scam city. The Sigma is junk, fooled continuously by plated fake garbage. Don't waste your $$$.

Disregard the troll.

He's more than likely never even had his hands on a Sigma. He just likes to stir the pot. I've been using the Sigma for many years; mine has never been fooled by plated fake garbage. Does very well at identifying it.

Here's the latest plated junk that didn't get past the Sigma:

cohodk

Have you found differences in readings depending on where you place the coin? Just wondering as the coin is placed outside of the center ring.

blitzdude

Only troll here is the sigma salesman. You don't need a analyzer to tell the coin in your picture is fake, a 2 second visual is more than enough. Now go measure a silver plated one and let me know what your sigma says. lol

derryb

@blitzdude said:
You don't need a analyzer to tell the coin in your picture is fake, a 2 second visual is more than enough. Now go measure a silver plated one and let me know what your sigma says. lol

coin in pic is silver plated. No wonder it only takes you 2 seconds to lose money with silver. lol

derryb

@cohodk said:
Have you found differences in readings depending on where you place the coin? Just wondering as the coin is placed outside of the center ring.

Coin needs to be placed in center ring over internal detector or directly under one of the three plug-in wands. In the pic I am using one of the wands (detector). Not using a wand for this coin gives the same "fake" reading. Plugging a wand into the instrument automatically switches to the wand as the detector in use as indicated by the illuminated "wand" light.

pmh1nic

The Sigma model shown above is a good tool for analyzing coins (I have one). If you're going to be testing coins, jewelry and other precious metal items you might want to consider a desktop unit like the Thermo Scientific Niton DXL. It's more expensive but has broader applications.

cohodk

@derryb said:

@cohodk said:
Have you found differences in readings depending on where you place the coin? Just wondering as the coin is placed outside of the center ring.

Coin needs to be placed in center ring over internal detector or directly under one of the three plug-in wands. In the pic I am using one of the wands (detector). Not using a wand for this coin gives the same "fake" reading. Plugging a wand into the instrument automatically switches to the wand as the detector in use as indicated by the illuminated "wand" light.

Gotcha. Thanks.

Smudge_Pot

Thanks guys! All info points me in the right direction!

USASoccer

@derryb said:

@blitzdude said:
LOL sounds like an infomercial for scam city. The Sigma is junk, fooled continuously by plated fake garbage. Don't waste your $$$.

Disregard the troll.

He's more than likely never even had his hands on a Sigma. He just likes to stir the pot. I've been using the Sigma for many years; mine has never been fooled by plated fake garbage. Does very well at identifying it.

Here's the latest plated junk that didn't get past the Sigma:

Hi, does it work for sterling? I.E. flatware ect...

MsMorrisine

That’s what I was wondering… does the probe help do flatware?

USASoccer

@MsMorrisine said:
That’s what I was wondering… does the probe help do flatware?

I want to see a photo or video of that; if it worked I'd purchase one.

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Thanks