Melting / Smelting



Melting your fine gold into a dore bar/button is easy.
One potato, one teaspoon of flux and some gold.

 

But it didn't start out that way.

Here's an aborted attempt, another big mess.

I'd have to pick out the gold then pan out the smaller gold

from the burnt potato. Then dry it all out
  and start over.



I tried various fluxes and methods, most didn't work.

My fine gold would get melted some but no nice button.

Here I'm trying again using another homemade flux mix

with the same somewhat melted gold.

This one didn't work either.



Then it finally worked!
On the left is a one ounce gold button and on the right is
a half ouncer, I made these today. These are shown bottom
side up, the tops are nice and round/flat. This is the best
 result I got and using the simplest flux.
 Dime courtesy of  Jack.

more on this process

(or as my pal Bluebowl says if I can't find a nugget I'll just make one)

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