I heat my DW in microwave for 4 minutes first then add electrolyte and electrolysis for about twenty minutes then reduce with karo , on stove in pan of almost boiling water for about 10 -15 minutes. I don't know if the last step ( with heat) is necessary but I used this method prior to reading the recipe here in the articles. One of my early batches which turned out dark but pretty good I used maple syrup which I added with electrolyte before electrolysis. It was homemade syrup so it was reasonably pure. I reduced with heat, in pan of water as described above and it darkened as I watched. I haven't tried to make capped colloidal silver yet. Don't have stirring system set up yet but I think I was making higher than 20 ppm colloidal silver accidentally by added the sugar early. One of Kephras recipes outlined similar method.