QuestionThanks for your response! I use paste flux so I was confused by your suggestion to another persons question regarding borax. I haven't used borax before. Also, although I did a one year apprenticeship about 30 years ago - I am largely self-taught so may do some unorthodox things as well as have what might seem like some unusual questions...i.e. the borax as well as, perhaps, this next question: Can I use the same pickle pot and solution for silver as well as gold or should I have two separate pots? I use sulphuric (dry) acid in my pickle pot. Thanks for your help and patience!
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
HI Peter, I have been reading past answers to some questions asked of you regarding melting gold. You didn't mention to me that I should use borax in my previous question...is that something I should do if melting old gold on a charcoal block? 2nd question would be will the charcoal block contaminate the gold?
-----Answer-----
Hello Barbara,
My apologies. I assumed as you were already melting silver then you would be using borax as the flux. It's easily obtainable, in fact a lot of chemists used to sell it as a shoes de-odoriser.
It removes the oxide from the molten metal and assists in the pour if you are creating an ingot. It will also result in much smoother nuggets.
Charcoal block will not contaminate the metal, however I've never found it to be particularly long lasting.....which is why I use a crucible.
On another note you may wish to carve some shapes into charcoal, soft fire brick, wood whatever and see what happens when you allow molten metal to set on them......this is the earliest form of casting.
Good luck and happy metal making, P
AnswerHello Again,
Borax is one of the active ingredients in many paste fluxes, which are primarily for soldering, not melting.
I would suggest trying the borax as it tends to give a cleaner ingot/nugget etc.
And yes you can use the same pickle pot. It's only when you start using base metals such as copper gilding metal and nickel silver that you should be using a separate pickle.
Good Luck again, and Enjoy, P
