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no most alloys donot separate
they are molecules formed in bonds
mercury is used to make pure gold
the gold and mercury strongly bond to each other with heat
and then they vaporize the mercury a messy and dangerous process
mercury is a deadly and persistent poison esp as a vapor
in short not a home style DIYS safe idea
about as safe as home cooking meth

Quote:

Originally Posted by jensmusic (Post 6100983)

When you melt down gold and after it is melted doesn't it become pure gold? By melting the gold it burns up all the impurities in it, right? Like for instance, if you melt down different types of karats of gold into one melting pot then doesn't it all merge together burning out the all the impurities that each gold piece had making it one pure gold piece? I don't know, just asking so I do know. :confused:

No. Not at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tervuren (Post 6106238)

Most of the impurities do not just burn away - they are other metals and materials mixed in. Gold is very very heavy, so when melted, it stays at the bottom, and you can scrape away the top layer of other stuff. It takes multiple attempts to get gold to a high level of purity.

That is not true. You can't scrap it away. The alloy is mixed into the melted gold.
We only melt 14k (.585) with other 14k gold together. Do not mix 18 (.750) and 14 together. You will screw up thing up. We do not work with 10K, so I can't tell you anything about it. My father is a jeweler. I work for him for many years in my youth. Why do you want to melt it? the thin gold leaf will melt in a heart beat and it will end up in tiny, little BBs unless you have lots to melt.

Craig,

I take it to an assayer if you have a lot of gold to melt. He can give it back to you in its pure form, 24k, .999. Half and ounce isn't that much. If you were here, I do it for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nota (Post 6106570)

He's talking about melting old, not separating pure gold from alloy. The answer is , yes you can do it at home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig 930 RS (Post 3773229)

They are small pieces, light as a feather.

Is there a torch you'd recommend for heating a crucible?
Something to add to the gold so it won't stick, or ?

All ideas welcomed, thanks in advance!

A little boric acid along with the gold to be melted in the little crucible will do. Just put a pinch (I don't know how many or how big a piece are you trying to melt?). Point the torch at it on low setting so it wouldn't blow away all of the boric acid. The Boric acid will melt and look like molten glass (this will take 10-15 seconds). Now its time to give it more propane or whatever gas you will be using. The melted gold will separate itself and the ceramic crucible. You can pour the melted gold over a metal plate and let cool. Make sure you oil it first so it wouldn't stick. 3 in 1 oil will do the trick. dip it in some water to cool it.

Jeff