Something I've been thinking about for a while has been building a microwave melting furnace for assay and/or flux testing purposes.
Here's some existing work people have done:
http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2003-09/smelting-microwave
http://www.instructables.com/id/microwave-smelter/
I think the best implementation would be to build an enclosure of insulating refractory brick and then get a small silicon carbide crucible (like such: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silicon-Carbide-Crucible-125ml-Free-Shipping-/121516548449?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4af36161 ) and wrap that in kaowool.
Some larger microwaves approach 1.5 kW. This should be sufficient to melt perhaps a kg of silver and 500 or so grams of gold.
This guy is melting small amounts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_758176&feature=iv&src_vid=Aa2uQgMMVUc&v=9gRiNM2P3dA
Lou
Here's some existing work people have done:
http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2003-09/smelting-microwave
http://www.instructables.com/id/microwave-smelter/
I think the best implementation would be to build an enclosure of insulating refractory brick and then get a small silicon carbide crucible (like such: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silicon-Carbide-Crucible-125ml-Free-Shipping-/121516548449?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4af36161 ) and wrap that in kaowool.
Some larger microwaves approach 1.5 kW. This should be sufficient to melt perhaps a kg of silver and 500 or so grams of gold.
This guy is melting small amounts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_758176&feature=iv&src_vid=Aa2uQgMMVUc&v=9gRiNM2P3dA
Lou