To start, I gather my scrap metal to melt together
I picked a metal that I had enough of to melt a small button. In this case it was 10k yellow gold for my ring, and 10k rose gold for my wife. The standard size crusible is perfect for the average ring size, for bigger fingers - opt for a larger crucible.
I melt the gold in a clay melting dish, lined with a sprinkle of borax. Using a camping propane tank with a hot head torch, it takes about 5 minutes for a even liquid melt. Once completely liquified, I pour the molten gold into the crucible. It takes half a minute for the metal to harden.
Drill a small hole
This hole is for the jewellers saw blade, once I inserted the saw blade I attached it to the handle. Its time to start the most tedious task out of the project. For thicker rings it is even harder (like mine was). I made sure to leave a good amount of material for shaping and sizing.
Once I finished sawing a crude middle, it was ready for the next step. It is now time to file, shape and size.
After filing, shaping and sizing - it's again ready for the next and final step. Polishing.
Her ring. The little bend is so that the wedding band fits snuggly around her engagement ring.
My ring
Just returning to say I couldn't help myself adding this fantastic post to the Homesteaders - Living Naturally, Newsletter
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Wow thank you so much, you truly made my day when I saw my name in your newsletter!
It may not be a recommended method, but it sure is clever! I didn't know you could get enough heat from a blow torch to melt it evenly. Does it melt at a lower temperature than silver?
Why the borax?
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Thanks for saying so! It suprised me aswell when I found out they were hot enough - I was so happy I didn't need a special torch for it. 10k melts at a higher temperature than silver, but 14k has a lower melting temp. Then 24k has a higher melting temp. The borax acts as a flux to get the heat even through all the metal, and also attracts impurities to make the metal purer. Although I started with 10k it will likely test higher on a nitric acid test, due to melting it with borax. Its quite neat, once everything is said and done - the borax has melted into a layer of glass.
24k melts at a higher temp than 14k And so does 10k? Now I am confused...
So potentially you could melt fine silver with a blow torch? Would you use borax for that too, do you think?
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I know the melting points confused me too, thats why I thought I'd mention it lol. You definitely can melt fine silver with a blow torch! I dont think you would need borax, but it can help things along.
And again more good info on this. Thanks, maybe I will get into it one day!
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Wow, so cool! I always wanted to get into making rings... but sometimes you got to chose your passions, and I can't do all the things I want to get into, there's not enough time!!!
Nice work.