In the U.S. you need a license to buy and sell gold in order to be a scrap gold buyer. If you buy and sell without a license you are in violation of your state's laws. First you will need a general business license that you can obtain from your state's Department of Taxation and Finance. They will inform you of the specific license you need to buy and sell gold. If you feel you need to learn the business first to see the potential and expand, then you will not need your own license. To find a company in your local area, do an internet search under "pawn brokers, gold buyers and recyclers." You must keep a written or computerized record of every transaction you make buying and selling gold. The state department of Taxation and Finance will tell you what information you need to include in this record, as it varies by state.
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One-sentence summary -- Obtain a license. Work with someone who has a license as a Broker/Buyer. Keep good records.


This paste is heated up and creates a strong electrical connections between the two bits. Apply the paste liberally with a cotton swab. Some of the flux will squeeze out, but this is okay. Get the lug snugly onto the exposed cable for now. If you have a crimping machine, now is the time to use it. Otherwise, get a flat nail punch or angle iron, and a hammer. Place the punch in the center of the nut, then hammer hard into it to crimp the terminal into the cabling. Flip the cable and repeat on the other side. You want to get the entire piece nice and hot. You can stand a butane torch up, turn it on, and rotate the cable in front of the flame so the whole thing is evenly heated. Heat until the rosin starts to bubble out of the terminal lug. This preheats everything to make soldering easier in the next step. Use your non-acidic, non-reactive solder wire to solder the point where the terminal lug ends and the exposed cable begins. You can do this right after you have the rosin boiling. When done, let it cool for 1-2 minutes before proceeding. Make sure you have enough heat to liquefy the solder. All that needs to be exposed is the flat terminal lug, which connects to the battery. The rest of the connection should be covered and snugly fit with the sheathing to prevent corrosion.
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One-sentence summary -- Liberally apply flux paste to the inside of the terminals and the exposed cables. Slide the terminal lug onto the expose cable end, pushing it as far on as you can. Crimp the terminal lug onto the cable using a flat nail punch or a crimper. Using a flame or other high-heat source (such as from a butane torch), heat the lug until the rosin flux is boiling. Still applying heat, solder around the connection between cable and terminal lug. Slide the shrink tubing back up to cover the expose metal, then use the heat source to shrink it around the connection.


Use a foam brush to apply glue to the cones. Shake the bag to cover the cones with the spices. Give the pine cones as gifts in baskets or hang them on your Christmas tree.
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One-sentence summary -- Mix equal parts nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon in a plastic bag. Set the pine cones on newspaper or a plastic sheet. Place the pine cones with glue on them in the plastic bag. Place the pine cones on newspaper and allow the cones to dry overnight.


Soot and ash can be quite harmful to the body, regardless of whether it is inhaled or if it settles on exposed skin. Proper precautions must be taken to avoid exposure to soot. This includes wearing gloves while handling or cleaning up soot and ash.  Try to use rubber gloves (like the dishwashing gloves) to protect your hands. You should also wear long sleeves and pants while cleaning up soot to help protect your skin even more. The largest health risk, when dealing with soot, comes from the possibility of inhaling the soot and ash particles. These particles can get into your lungs and cause a great deal of damage, especially over prolonged exposure.  You can purchase dust masks at any home improvement store and even most larger grocery stores. If you can’t find a dust mask, use a bandana or t-shirt tied around your head to cover your mouth and nose. Whenever you are cleaning up soot, you want to make sure the area is properly ventilated. It can be harmful for you to breathe in the dust particles from the soot, as well as any cleaning solutions you may be using. If possible, try to clean up sooty items outdoors. But if you must clean it inside, open all the windows you can and take frequent breaks. This method of cleaning should only be attempted in outdoor areas. Use the low-pressure sandblasting machine to spray off any soot residue from your hard surface. Try to use the lowest velocity spray possible to keep the soot from flying everywhere.  You should be able to rent a low-pressure sandblasting machine at any major home improvement store. You can also hire a professional to do this kind of cleaning. If you are unsure about what to do, or cleaning the soot seems like too big of an undertaking, consider calling in a professional cleaner – particularly one that specializes in soot cleanup. Don’t attempt to clean the soot yourself if you are uncomfortable with the process. Professional cleaners can make the hassle of cleaning up the soot much easier to handle, but they can be a bit pricey. Consider price checking several places before deciding on a service.
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One-sentence summary --
Wear gloves. Use a dust mask. Ventilate the area. Try low-pressure sandblasting. Call a professional.