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Melting by Torch
To melt gold with a torch, it is recommended to place the gold in a container called a crucible. The crucible is usually made from graphite, and must be inspected for damage such as cracks before use. After placing the gold into the crucible, the crucible is then set on a fireproof and heat-resistant surface.
A torch using acetylene, hydrogen, natural gas or propane is then ignited and pointed at the gold in the crucible. The flame from this torch may reach up to 5,700 degrees Fahrenheit. The melting point of gold is 1948.52 degrees Fahrenheit, so this heat is certain to melt it.
Melting by Furnace
As with the torch method, the gold is placed into a heat-resistant crucible. Then, two types of furnace melting may be used: induction smelting or resistance melting.
In induction smelting, the crucible is set inside the smelter, which uses medium- and high-frequency radio waves to create heat. This heat causes the gold to melt. Resistance melting works by setting the crucible into a special metal-melting device that contains a coiled wire. The coiled wire is then heated enough to cause the gold to melt.
Melting by Microwave
Melting gold with a microwave takes some preparation. First, two wax cups are prepared, which are both coated with a ceramic shell slurry. This slurry must contain graphite, as traditional crucibles do. The slurry-coated cups must be coated with magnetite sand. This coating process is repeated several more times.
After the coating is complete, the cups are heated by a flame to melt the wax. The gold, along with a carbon lump, is placed into one cup. Ceramic paste is used to glue the two cups together. Next, an insulated ceramic fiber block is wrapped around the cups, which are then placed into the microwave. The gold is microwaved for some time, depending on the size and type of gold being melted. After enough time in the microwave, the gold turns to liquid.