QuestionQUESTION: I have about one pound of gold and 4 pounds of silver, all of which is scrap. Can I use a ceramic crucible for both? I read about the gold melting but dont know what investment ceramic is. I plan on using an oxy-acetylene torch to do this work as it is the easist source if heat for me.
ANSWER: Hello Sam,
If you are simply planning on melting and pouring the metals, then a ceramic crucible would be the go.
Where you refer to investment , you are talking a casting mould which is a one off thing and no used for melting metal but for the molten metal to be poured into when using lost wax casting.
Oxy acetylene would be the go with 80/180 being the settings with a cutting head.
Prior to using the crucibles, I would melt borax around the interior of it, which will assist in both the melt and the pour.
Good luck and happy melting, P
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Borax? I know they sell it at the local supermarkets as a detrergent. Will that work or will the jewelry supply store have what I need? I was told about blackening it with acetylene smoke
AnswerYes, it's a white powder that will melt with heat. supermarket, chemist wherever you can get it...
My father tells me that in the old days they used to put it in their shoes to get rid of the odour. A pre-cursor to odoiur-eaters.
Yes balckenning a chill plate of ingot mould with acetylene works very well.
Good Luck and cheers, P
