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Tools Used When Melting Gold

Gold is one of the rarest and most valuable metals on the planet. The gold content in jewelry and coins can be worth several thousands of dollars, but sometimes it is difficult to sell these items as is. Selling pure gold, however, is an option. With the right set of tools, you can melt and ultimately sell your gold.

Safety Equipment
- Melting gold is dangerous, so it is imperative to have the proper safety equipment. Heat-resistant gloves and goggles are important pieces of equipment and it also is recommended to wear a heavy apron and full face shield to further protect yourself.
Heat Source
- Gold melts at 1,065 degrees Celsius or 1,947 Fahrenheit. An acetylene blowtorch works well for melting gold, but gold also can be melted in furnaces or kilns that can reach the required temperatures.
Crucible
- The crucible contains the gold that is melting. Crucibles are made out of several different materials, but graphite crucibles are common.
Fluxes
- When melting down gold, a flux keeps small particles from blowing away. Fluxes also are used to remove oxidization, which helps you separate impurities. Borax flux is the most common, but other types of fluxes also are used.
Tongs
- Tongs are used to move the crucible. Like the crucible, tongs made of graphite might work best. Graphite not only holds up well to heat, but it also doesn't react negatively to borax flux.
Shaping Container
- Once your gold is melted, you need to have a place to store and cool the molten metal. Pure gold generally is sold in ingots (commonly called bars). Because of this, you might want to buy an ingot mold. Several sizes of ingot molds exist.

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