Whether you’re a hobbyist crafter, blacksmith, or someone who wants to melt down old jewelry you have around the house, there are plenty of reasons to melt gold at home. If you’re interested in this basic forging process, you’ll need a few tools first. Read through this quick list of all the tools you’ll need for melting gold at home.
Gold Materials
The first thing you’ll need if you want to melt gold is the precious metal itself. You can collect gold scraps and old jewelry from around the house or source gold scrap from metal providers. Depending on your source, you may want to purify the gold using specialized materials. Refining flux is a common way to remove impurities.
A Heating Source
Gold has one of the highest melting points of any metal, so you’ll need to choose a heat source that can reach extreme temperatures. The melting point for gold is about 1,948 degrees Fahrenheit, so you may want to base your forge purchase on this metric. Electric furnaces are common for home use because they connect to traditional power sources. You can also use high-powered propane torches, though it can be more difficult to measure temperature when using these tools.
A Crucible
The crucible is where you will place the gold materials for heating. Crucibles withstand extreme temperatures while the materials inside them melt down. Manufacturers often use graphite, clay, and porcelain to create these essential tools. Make sure to choose a crucible that can withstand the specific melting point for gold.
Safety Gear and Items
Before you can proceed with any melting and smelting work, it’s crucial that you possess all the necessary safety equipment. This process requires extreme temperatures to reach the melting point, which means surfaces will be hot. Use heat-resistant gloves and wear tight-fitting clothing to avoid allowing your sleeves or pants to catch on hot materials. You should also have a safety mask or face shield and goggles or glasses to protect your eyes.
Additional Items
There are some smaller tools and parts that you may need, depending on how you want to melt and shape your gold pieces. If you simply want to form the melted gold into a larger piece, you can use an ingot mold to create a gold bar. Make sure you have sturdy tongs to lift and transport hot items, such as the crucible, mold, and other equipment.
Now that you know which tools and supplies you’ll need for melting gold at home, you can create your own smelting station too. If you’re interested in finding these home foundry supplies so that you can start the process, browse our selection of crucibles and more here at Cast Master Elite.
Can you used any else for melting down process