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How to Smelt Metal

There is a big difference between melting and smelting. Melting is a simple process of changing a substance from a solid to a liquid. Though smelting often requires melting, the chemical process is a bit more complex. Smelting is used to refine a metal, reducing its contaminants and producing a purer end product. The main goal of smelting is to oxidize the contaminants, like copper content in a chunk of gold, and leave the pure metal.

Things You'll Need

Piece of contaminated gold
Crucible
Acetylene torch
Sodium nitrate
Borax
Glass
Welding goggles
Welding gloves
Tongs
Old cast iron pan

Instructions

- 1
  Add the gold to crucible, which you can buy online for around $10. Add a teaspoon of sodium nitrate, which can be purchased online, or in stores carrying gourmet food products, as it is sometimes used in curing meats. Add a teaspoon of borax, which can be found in the laundry aisle of the grocery store.
- 2
  Break a glass bottle into small shards and add a few teaspoons to the crucible.
- 3
  Put on the welding goggles and gloves and light the acetylene torch. Apply the torch to the materials in the crucible until the mixture is liquefied. This may take several minutes.
- 4
  Pour the mixture from the crucible into the old cast iron pan, using the tongs.
- 5
  Break off the glass from the metal once the mixture cools. You may be able to do this with your hands, but you'll most likely need to smash it with a hammer. The contaminants will be dissolved in the broken glass, and the metal will be more pure than before.

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