Best way to melt down ultrafine flour gold without too much equipment?

[firebird]

I bought some gold paydirt from ebay recently, this seller because it was highly recommended on youtube. On one hand it actually paid off well since I got over 1 gram of gold but problem is most of it is really ultrafine flour gold that is so easy to lose. I'd like to melt this altogether into one lump instead, will a MAP torch be enough to melt it down?

 

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[N-Lionberger]

Should work, you're going to need a little crucible and some borax to flux it.

 

[ratled]

Search You Tube for "Peach Can Furnace" and get a little flux like borax, or some Chapman flux from E Bay and have a good time!

ratled

 

[firebird]

Thanks for the info. Does a cheaper propane and oxygen torch kit also work, can this get hot enough to melt gold with flux?

https://www.jewelerstoystore.com/PROPANE-AND-OXYGEN-KIT-WITH-TANKS-p/t86.htm

 

[ratled]

Your link states the cost is $240 A$15 smelt kit from e bay with a crucible, tongs and little flux plus a simple sweating torch from anywhere for $10-$20 will work just fine. Mapp gas is hotter than propane but ,just like putting a lid on a pot of water to boil makes it work faster, containing the heat in a simple furnace such as the peach can or a small pile of fire brick will make either gas work better and faster increasing your chances for good success in your first attempts

 

[RustyGold]

As a casting jeweler for many years I used a handheld propane tank, single tank no oxygen tank, to melt small quantities (under an ounce) of gold in a crucible with borax. Borax helps to burn off any impurities in the metal.

Thanks for the info. Does a cheaper propane and oxygen torch kit also work, can this get hot enough to melt gold with flux?

https://www.jewelerstoystore.com/PROPANE-AND-OXYGEN-KIT-WITH-TANKS-p/t86.htm

 

[RustyGold]

I would like to add that one has to coat the inside of the crucible with a layer of borax by heating it up to melt the borax into a flowing liquid.
I would also use metal tongs and the handheld propane torch to accomplish this.
Good luck!