Problem during Melting Gold

[localearner]

This is my first time melting gold ever, and I watched a few tutorials prior to melting.

I put my freshly refined still wet gold in a ceramic crucible, and started to blowtorch the gold to dry it, and added a lot of borax once dried.

After about an hour of melting with occasionally sprinkling borax on it he dish, the gold did not appear to be melted, only hardened. I suspect lack of heat caused this, but I’m not sure.

What do I do?

(Also I know that accurately estimating amount of gold off a picture is unlikely, but how much gold would be estimated to be found in the dish?)

 

[BGDOCK]

It should not take an hour to melt what kind of setup are you using to melt the gold powder ?

 

[Yggdrasil]

This is my first time melting gold ever, and I watched a few tutorials prior to melting.

I put my freshly refined still wet gold in a ceramic crucible, and started to blowtorch the gold to dry it, and added a lot of borax once dried.

After about an hour of melting with occasionally sprinkling borax on it he dish, the gold did not appear to be melted, only hardened. I suspect lack of heat caused this, but I’m not sure.

What do I do?

(Also I know that accurately estimating amount of gold off a picture is unlikely, but how much gold would be estimated to be found in the dish?)

You have way to little heat.
The melting dish has no discoloration at all,
it looks like it is fresh out of the box and you sprayed water on the powder.
What kind of torch do you use?
Pure Gold do not need Borax at all, a little is good for keeping it in the dish but that is all.

 

[localearner]

It should not take an hour to melt what kind of setup are you using to melt the gold powder ?

I used a blowtorch that can reach up to 1300•C, a ceramic dish and some borax. I used the blowtorch in very close proximity to the gold in the dish.

 

[BGDOCK]

1.) what size torch are you using ?
2.) you don’t have to put the cone on the powder to melt it , you can lose values that way .
3.) propane should be able to reach temp of 3000 F / 1900 C

 

[Yggdrasil]

I used a blowtorch that can reach up to 1300•C, a ceramic dish and some borax. I used the blowtorch in very close proximity to the gold in the dish.

You need to insulate around the dish and it do not matter if it says it can reach 1300C or not.
It need to push out enough heat (BTU) to overcome the loss of heat and then have surplus to heat the Gold to the desired temperature.

 

[Shark]

This might help.
Mini Melting Furnace

 

[Jimbriese]

This is my first time melting gold ever, and I watched a few tutorials prior to melting.

I put my freshly refined still wet gold in a ceramic crucible, and started to blowtorch the gold to dry it, and added a lot of borax once dried.

After about an hour of melting with occasionally sprinkling borax on it he dish, the gold did not appear to be melted, only hardened. I suspect lack of heat caused this, but I’m not sure.

What do I do?

(Also I know that accurately estimating amount of gold off a picture is unlikely, but how much gold would be estimated to be found in the dish?)

Make sure you insulate the out side of the crucible if you get enough heat to melt the gold without the insulation the crucible will most likely break found that out the hard way my first time. Ceramic fiber insulation that’s used inside a forge works great and helps the melting of the gold.

 

[FrugalRefiner]

A "blowtorch" is a pretty general term. I have seen the term used to describe everything from a gasoline powered torch, to propane and MAPP torches, to oxy/gas torches. Perhaps if you can tell us what type or "blowtorch" you're using, we might better diagnose your problem. A picture of the torch would be great.

Dave

 

[goldshark]

I used a blowtorch that can reach up to 1300•C, a ceramic dish and some borax. I used the blowtorch in very close proximity to the gold in the dish.

Without a furnace, Kurtak made the suggestion to me, about putting it on a propane camp stove. This will insure you have enough heat on the bottom, which you are not getting with a top fired torch. The next best solution is to get a piece of Kaowool. Make a slight depression so the melt dish is slightly recessed 1/4 - 1/2 ". This will insulate the bottom, keeping more heat in the dish.

 

[localearner]

A "blowtorch" is a pretty general term. I have seen the term used to describe everything from a gasoline powered torch, to propane and MAPP torches, to oxy/gas torches. Perhaps if you can tell us what type or "blowtorch" you're using, we might better diagnose your problem. A picture of the torch would be great.

Dave

It's a generic butane blowtorch that reaches up to 1300 degrees Celsius, and from what I see thanks to the replies, insulation seems to be the issue where the crucible is losing a lot of heat. What type of insulation can I use that won't be difficult to find, is readily available or something I can make myself?

 

[goldshark]

It's a generic butane blowtorch that reaches up to 1300 degrees Celsius, and from what I see thanks to the replies, insulation seems to be the issue where the crucible is losing a lot of heat. What type of insulation can I use that won't be difficult to find, is readily available or something I can make myself?

It is probably easier to get another torch like what you have, and mount it underneath. I don't know if you have thrift stores (second hand stores for unwanted stuff ) in your area, but I have sourced a few things from there. The stoves I mentioned are very popular for camping as they already have a flat holder for pans. Very plentiful in my area.

 

[Jimbriese]

It is probably easier to get another torch like what you have, and mount it underneath. I don't know if you have thrift stores (second hand stores for unwanted stuff ) in your area, but I have sourced a few things from there. The stoves I mentioned are very popular for camping as they already have a flat holder for pans. Very plentiful in my area.

I get this one at Walmart for about 30-40 dollars runs on the butane works great. And the torch you have will not produce enough heat to heat the dish and gold to the melting point. Be better with a map gas or propane plumbing torch from a home improvement store like Lowe’s or even better you can also find a oxy/propane,map gas brazing torch.

 

[Kasse]

This is my first time melting gold ever, and I watched a few tutorials prior to melting.

I put my freshly refined still wet gold in a ceramic crucible, and started to blowtorch the gold to dry it, and added a lot of borax once dried.

After about an hour of melting with occasionally sprinkling borax on it he dish, the gold did not appear to be melted, only hardened. I suspect lack of heat caused this, but I’m not sure.

What do I do?

(Also I know that accurately estimating amount of gold off a picture is unlikely, but how much gold would be estimated to be found in the dish?)

To little heat. Need to use Map gas at a minimum, Oxy torch is best. Need 2100 degrees for gold to flow.

 

[Yggdrasil]

To little heat. Need to use Map gas at a minimum, Oxy torch is best. Need 2100 degrees for gold to flow.

The op is talking about 1300C which is appr 2300F

 

[FrugalRefiner]

Theoretically, a candle flame is hot enough to melt gold as the hottest parts of the flame can reach 1,400°C (2,552°F). But a candle can't put out the BTUs needed.

Similarly, the small butane torches like localearner showed are well adapted for caramelizing the sugar on a crème brûlée, but not to melting gold in a melting dish. The heat escapes faster than the torch can put it in.

Dave

 

[Martijn]

I was surprized to see my small creme brule torch melt 0.4 grams of tiny karat gold pieces I strained and picked from the black sulfuric cell goo.
I put them on a piece of flat aerated concrete and it turned into a small bead with a bit of borax sprinkled on it. Soldering a thin wire should also work, but that's about as much it can handle.
The earated concrete works great to make a small furnace and keep the heat in.

 

[Martijn]

Here is what made to melt my gold.

And using it: