This whole subject (hole subject?) got me wondering just what Axil or any other person not supported by an existing lab would need to pursue this subject in a meaningful manner.
Analyzing the electrodes for evidence of transmutation is a basic need. Used to be I could have slipped into the SEM lab where I used to work, and fire up the Cambridge Stereoscan with EDS unit. One sold recently for a bit under $20 grand. With one of those you could not just analyze the metal but also image it to any power from 10 x to something like 100,000 x. Just the trick for fancy nano-whatsit electrodes.
Sensitivity of these instruments is such that they are OK for semiquantitative measurements on the order of a percent. They won't do much for trace changes, but they should detect the wholesale transmutations reported. Beyond that, you would probably need flame spectrometry for precise alloy measurements, and mass spectrometry to spot unusual isotope ratios. A quadrupole mass spec can be had for around $4000 new, good for 100 AMU/q
But a used SEM is likely to be problematic. If you just want to analyze metals, there are any number of hand-held x-ray flourescence units on the markets. Not cheap, though. This one is about $30 grand. Probably you would just rent one for a month or two. But once proficient with one, there is probably a good market for its services.
http://www.trs-environmental.com/Model/ ... SD_LE.aspx
The instrumentation to do this right is expensive for amateur, but not entirely out of reach. I'll probably want to re-establish my consulting business when I retire, and a few gizmos like this might be just the ticket. I already have a selection of thermocouple thermometry stuff, current measurement, some datalogging.
Thermography would be a great benefit in analyzing what LENR apparatus is up to if it is glass and not all covered with silver tape.
The Fusor crowd shows us that amateurs can acquire decent radiation measurement equipment.