How to Make Gold Ingots
Gold ranks as one of the most popular and widely available precious metals in the world. If you have piece of gold jewelry that you no longer wear, or perhaps got lucky with a recent gold dig, you can melt gold into ingots. These brick-shaped pieces of gold are easier to store than several small pieces, and make a desirable package for anybody interested in buying bulk gold should you feel the need to sell it. Best of all, you can melt gold into ingots at home with a standard propane torch.
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Instructions
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Wash the gold with warm water to remove impurities.
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Measure the gold in ounces with a scale. It's important to get an accurate measurement of the weight.
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Dump the gold into a small graphite crucible.
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Mix equal parts of borax and soda ash in a bowl. You need 1/8 tsp of the mixture for each ounce of gold. For example, if you have 5 oz of gold, you need 5/8 tsp of the borax and soda ash mixture.
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Add the appropriate amount of borax and soda ash to the crucible. You can simply sprinkle the mixture over the gold.
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Place an ingot mold directly beside the crucible. You need to pour the gold into the mold quickly, so it must be nearby.
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Light a torch according to the directions of your particular torch. Almost any type of torch will work as long as it can reach temperatures above 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature between 2500 and 3000 degrees is ideal for melting gold.
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Hold the flame of the torch 6 inches away from the gold. Move the torch back and forth over the gold until it melts. The height of the gold will drop as it melts, so adjust the flame distance accordingly.
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Turn off the torch once all of the gold is completely melted for five minutes. The time it takes for this to happen depends on how much gold you have and the temperature of the torch.
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Grab the crucible firmly with a pair of crucible tongs. Carefully tilt the crucible sideways over the ingot mold until all of the molten gold pours out. Wait for the gold to cool and harden before removing it from the mold.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear safety glasses, leather gloves, long sleeves and pants when working with molten metal.
References
- Photo Credit Aaron Graubart/Digital Vision/Getty Images
