How to Melt White Gold
A household craftsman interested in working with gold jewelry can melt her own white gold at home. White gold consists of palladium and nickle alloys, making its molecular structure slightly different from red and yellow gold. It also has a slightly higher melting temperature. White gold should not be melted with other varieties of gold, since contamination can result. Virtually any carat gold will melt at approximately the same temperature, so the tools used remain basic and consistent. The primary concern in melting white gold involves following the proper safety measures.
Things You'll Need
- 6 Gypsum blocks
- Drill motor
- Concrete drill bit
- Small commercial furnace, if applicable
- Clay crucible, Hessian
- Face shield, heat-resistant
- Welder's mask (optional)
- Gloves
- Propane torch
- 1 tsp. Borax
- Crucible tongs
- Mold
Instructions
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Lay out your items on a sturdy workbench. Fashion a small furnace by using two small blocks of gypsum for a platform. Add four blocks of gypsum to form four surrounding walls. The inside of the furnace should be about 1 1/2 times the diameter of the crucible. The height of the furnace walls should be anywhere from 1 1/4 to 2 times the height of the crucible.
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2
Bore a hole through one of the furnace side blocks with a drill motor and a concrete drill bit. Drill the hole off center, so when you stick a propane torch nozzle through the hole it will direct the flame onto the edge of the clay crucible. Assemble the furnace walls, set the crucible inside and stick the torch nozzle through the hole to ensure it is drilled properly.
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3
Set the crucible inside the middle of the furnace. Place your white gold inside the crucible. Put on gloves and a face shield. Wear a welder's mask if you can tolerate one. Place the propane torch nozzle through the furnace hole. Light a piece of newspaper and set it inside the furnace in front of the torch nozzle.
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Turn on the torch gas and let it ignite. Adjust the flame to maximum and point the nozzle at the edge of the crucible. Heat the white gold until it begins to shine and liquefy, usually within 15 minutes depending upon the amount. Continue heating, then add 1 tsp. borax which will act as a flux to remove impurities. Wait until the gold has balled up on its top surface and has a yellow-hot glow.
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Lift the crucible with crucible tongs and transfer the liquid gold into a suitable mold, such as an ingot mold. Pour the gold into the mold carefully but quickly so the gold does not have a chance to cool and harden. Turn off the torch.
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Tips & Warnings
To fashion a small furnace to your exact preferences, you can cut gypsum blocks to any width or height desired, using a cement saw. The small furnace is used only to retain heat and concentrate the torch flame in a confined area. It also helps circulate the heat around the crucible, hitting all the sides. Many commercial crucibles come with circular walls for just this purpose.
Purchase a small commercial furnace that fits into the crucible, if desired.
Make sure the area has good ventilation and do not work near combustible materials such as paint cans, flammable solvents, cardboard, paper and rags.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
