How to Melt Silver & Gold
Silver and gold jewelry can be melted down in a crucible container, which is a container that can withstand major heat. The silver and gold metal is melted down so that it can be shaped or molded into other things. Melting gold and silver is normally done by a professional since it is work that requires heavy duty tools, although with the right precautions and tools you can complete the job yourself.
Things You'll Need
- Goggles
- Face shield
- Leather gloves
- Heavy apron
- Work bench
- Crucible container
- Acetylene torch
- Crucible tongs
- Ingot mold or bucket of water
Instructions
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Put leather gloves on your hands and a face shield on your face. Place goggles over your eyes and put on a body apron. You need to protect your eyes from any sparks from the torch. The tongs will get hot, so gloves are important. Plan ahead on the shapes you are going to mold the gold and silver into or what you are going to do with it because if you wait after the metals are melted to decide, they will harden back up.
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Place your gold into the crucible container, which is a container that is highly resistant to heat. These containers are usually made out of clay. Melt the gold down using the acetylene torch. Turn the torch up and allow it to melt the gold by touching it to to the metals. Pure gold will melt quickly.
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Shape the gold into the shapes you would like or pour the liquid gold into molds. Hold the crucible container with crucible tongs so that you do not get burned. Shape the gold before it has an opportunity to cool down. Otherwise it will harden.
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Clean the crucible container out and put the silver scraps or jewelry into it. Melt the silver with the torch at a temperature of 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Clean the crucible container out once you are done melting the jewelry or gold and silver scraps.
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References
Resources
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