Among all precious metals, gold is considered one of the most popular. Due to such unique characteristics as resistance to corrosion and the negative effects of an aggressive environment, this metal is loved by many jewelry masters. Due to the fact that gold is relatively soft, it will not be difficult to process it with special equipment. Often, beginners ask a question, how to melt gold at home? According to experts, this is within the power of home craftsmen. To make any jewelry from this noble metal, it is not necessary to contact a specialist. Information on how to melt gold at home and what it will take will be found in this article.
Acquaintance with metal
Surely many of the buyers wondered why gold is so expensive? The reason for this is an attractive color, due to which gold items look very impressive.
In addition, this material has a lot of advantages that make it popular in such industries as jewelry, medicine and industry. In its natural form, gold can be represented by grains or nuggets. Therefore, before being sent to a store or bank, gold is processed. Mostly this is a factory procedure. However, judging by numerous reviews, it has been successfully implemented in a handicraft way. Read about how to melt gold at home.
About supplements
In order to improve the characteristics of the alloys, various impurities, which are also called ligatures, are added to their composition. Gold can be equipped with silver, copper, palladium or platinum, rhodium, nickel and chrome. Metal with silver and copper after melting will turn out with a reddish tint. If there is more copper in gold, then it will be completely red, and if silver - yellow.
About the melting point of gold in degrees
According to experts, the highest grade gold will melt at a temperature of 1064 degrees. This applies to 999 gold. If another thermal mode is used, this will lead to complete burnout of the precious metal. Often beginners wonder if gold can be melted on a gas stove. Due to the fact that the temperature resulting from the combustion of natural gas depends on the distance to the burner, experts advise not to risk it.
Near the burner itself, the temperature ranges from 300 to 400 degrees. Having reached its peak, it will be 1,500 degrees. Before you begin, you should know the exact melting point of gold in degrees. Precious metal 375 samples will melt in a mode not exceeding 770 degrees. 585th test - at a temperature of 840 degrees. It is considered the most popular among professional jewelers. Often this test is faked by scammers. According to experts, 999 gold can not be melted using a makeshift method. To reach a temperature of 1064 degrees is possible only in the factory. Some home craftsmen unknowingly make a mistake - they use ordinary welding machines as a means of heating. However, only steel can be melted with these devices. If the welding machine is used for gold, then the precious metal will completely evaporate.
What do you need for work?
Before you melt gold at home, you need to get the following:
- The crucible. If for pure gold the melting temperature is 1064 degrees, then for alloys containing copper, heating will be required more. Therefore, there is a need for a container that can withstand high temperature conditions. If you could not get a crucible, then you can use potatoes. It is enough in the center of the raw root crop to cut a recess for gold.
- Forceps. Preference should be given to products made of heat-resistant materials.
- The flux with which gold is refined. It is represented by a mixture, which contains borax and sodium carbonate. According to experts, at least two pinch of flux are required to clean one ounce of precious metal. You can also cope with this task by using bicarbonate and baking soda.
- Metal melting furnace. For attention of consumers in specialized stores, electric furnaces for working with precious metals are presented. Judging by the numerous reviews, for this purpose home craftsmen use microwaves. However, not every microwave is suitable. It is imperative that its power is not lower than 1200 W, and the magnetron is located in the side or back. According to experts, it is not recommended to reheat food in the oven in which the molten gold was located. If there is only one microwave in the house, and the master is not ready to sacrifice it, then you can recommend him to buy a gas burner.
What to make a device for heating?
If it is not possible to get professional equipment, you can melt gold with a gas burner. Before proceeding with its manufacture, you need to acquire the following:
- Spray gun for airbrush. For this purpose, an air injector or garden equipment with which chemicals are sprayed is quite suitable.
- Bank. It is important that it has an airtight cover.
- By car air pump. A machine compressor is also suitable.
- Hose.
- Sealant.
How to make a burner?
A device for melting is made as follows:
- First, the jar needs to be equipped with two holes in which the hoses will be inserted.
- In the first hole, insert the hose connected to the pump, and in the second - the spray hose.
- Connected hoses are carefully sealed.
At the end of the work, it must be ensured that the output of gasoline together with air is carried out through the nozzle of the injector. The flame must be blue. Judging by numerous reviews, such a device is no worse than a special furnace for melting metal.
Where to start?
Due to the fact that scrap from gold is a precious metal in which various impurities occupy over 20%, it should be sorted before smelting. For this, experts advise paying attention to its color. Pieces with a redder hue contain more copper. Next, the scrap is crushed.
Smelting process
When the gold scrap is carefully sorted and crushed, you can begin to melt it. For this, a flux is poured into the crucible. Then there should be placed gold. If the pieces have different diameters, then those that are larger are first put into the crucible. Smaller scrap will be more convenient to add during smelting. Then the furnace with the crucible located in it is turned on. Wait until the scrap has completely melted. Only then can it be poured into molds. After the precious metal is poured, proceed to its hardening with alcohol or water. If the melting procedure is carried out not in a special furnace, but by means of a homemade burner, then the process looks different. The crucible should also be treated with flux. The best option for this purpose will be a borax. Then they put gold scrap inside. There, alcohol is poured and set on fire. Wait until the alcohol burns out completely. Then the crucible is placed on bricks and a gas burner is ignited. In the central part, the flame should be blue, and yellow at the edges. Start melting the precious metal. At the end of the procedure, molten scrap is poured into molds and hardened.
Finally
For those who have difficulties with the manufacture of a crucible, experienced craftsmen recommend paying attention to barbecue stoves or barbecues with a thick bottom. These products will become an alternative crucible. Gold handicrafts made by air often have a porous structure and are very fragile. Therefore, before pouring molten gold into molds, it must be shaken.