How to melt gold in a workshop
Equipment, temperature and safety for melting scrap gold.
At a glanceMelting gold in a workshop requires minimal but specific equipment: a graphite or silicon carbide crucible resistant to temperatures > 1100°C, an oxy-propane or natural gas torch, and an insulated crucible holder.
Melting Temperatures by Alloy: 24k Gold: 1,063°C · 18k Gold (yellow): 875–900°C · 14k Gold: 802°C · 9k Gold: 855°C. 18k White gold (with palladium) melts at 950°C and requires adapted equipment.
Melting Flux: Add borax (sodium tetraborate) before and during melting to protect the metal from oxidation and trap impurities (notably copper oxides). Recommended ratio: 5–8g of borax per 100g of metal.
Mandatory Safety: Safety glasses, high-temperature resistant gloves, leather apron. Never melt in a confined space without adequate ventilation — zinc vapors from brass alloys are toxic.
Expected Loss: Anticipate between 0.5 and 2% loss depending on the quality of the furnace and the type of alloy. Use the calculator below to quantify the impact on your margin.
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Melt loss calculator
Melt Loss (Merma)
Typical losses: Gold 0.5–1.5% · Silver 1–3% · Platinum 0.8–2%