if you have some scrap gold on your hands and want to insure it comes out evenly coloured , bright and malleable -the first thing to do is pass a magnet over the scrap and filings.( If you have solder below 18kt gold plumb remove it and put in a container to be sent off for semi-annual refining ) This will remove all bits of saw blades, and other ferrous metals from the usable gold.

mix 1/2 powdered charcoal and 1/2 sal ammoniac ,ground or run through a screen (available at any stained glass supplier as a cleaning agent for soldering irons. It is usually in the form of a 4 oz. block). dispose of the screen after using on the chemical or bend the ends  evenly into a modified "U" to make a flat topped  soldering fixture that allows heat and flame under the piece as well as on the top.

Sal ammoniac readily absorbs water from the environment so keep it sealed with a packet of silica gel like that contained in new luggage or shoes, or other leather goods  in a glass or plastic jar with a non-metallic lid.clearly mark the contents as "refining flux" and store indefinitely out of sunlight or humid areas.

coat your crucible with borax all round and up the sides of the vessel if you haven't already done the seasoning step,otherwise:. Turn on your torch and warm the crucible, add your scrap.and a pinch or two of your refining flux mixture.Melt.

pour into a warmed ingot mold or onto the top of a charcoal block that has a well in it from previous use.air cool until grey then water quench.

remelt  this time using a flux of boric acid and borax,1:3, or just borax. When the mass is rolling mercurially pour into your prepared mould aand when cool enough to remove from the mould quench in pickle and let the ingot remain there for about ten or fifteen minites.

you may now begin rolling it, or forging it and then rolling depending on the final mill work you are  after. there should be no cracking, or rough edges from the dual step refining process.

By adding silver and/or copper one can both  lower the karat and increase the amount of gold yielded.  

by adding different metals you can change the co;lour of gold , or divide your original lot and make more than one colour and more than one karat for some variety  without paying a manufacturer high fabrication charges and special order fees as some do for both different colours and non-standard karats or stocked  materials.

     Feel free to email me if you have questions or need more information about the gold or metals in the crucible.