Excellent advice about the toothpick and so obvious no one would have thought of it! lol. What do you think about rubbing it item your testing onto a granite stone? THat's what I do but sometimes its hard to see the color since the black granite can make it harder to read what colors youre seeing and of course how much of the silver are you testing? Just the top (the plate) or am I getting enough of all they "layers" (for lack of a better word.)

Any tips on whether there is a better material than black granite. I cant bear to pour the acid directly on anything of value. I just cant do it!