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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Making gold bars

I would like to melt some gold accessories and make them into a gold bar, as my hobby. I am not sure of the processes and equipment needed. Any help from anyone is much appreciated. Thank you.

Yen
- Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
2002

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How to melt the gold accessories is simple. If you buy some gold cleaner and make sure they are absolutely clean and dry before melting the finished product will be healthy clean gold.

Secondly, you need a crucible to melt the gold in, normally the whole process is done by weight, in your case to avoid having to buy digital scales it is best to look and buy a crucible for melting gold (you can find one easy in India go into a jewellery store) and make sure it looks bigger than the amount of gold you want to melt into a bar.

Third step is to buy a fire it must be very hot for a period of time to heat the gold over hundreds of temperatures higher to melt the gold.

Fourth you must buy a metal mold called an 'ingot' you can estimate the size to buy or have a jeweller weight the gold and then go to a jewellery supply dealer and buy an ingot that will accommodate the amount of gold you would like to melt into a bar.

Now, place the clean gold pieces in the crucible and then hold on to the handle, turn on the flame and apply the heat to the crucible, when it is melted pour it (in the direction of the spout into the cast 'ingot' mold for a gold bar to come out. I can't remember how long you have to weight for the 'ingot' and the gold to cool down, when it is cooled and solid you can twist the ingot open with the press handle and a beautiful solid yellow gold bar will be the object of desire for you and all your friends to admire.

Marietta Sica
- Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
2004