Gold and Silver Kiln/Furnace

Hello everyone,

I have decided to start smelting silver and gold. My grandpa is a hobbyist and he loves smelting and i want to learn about it and surprise him with my newfound knowledge. I would ask him, but that would ruin the surprise.

If anyone is knowledgeable I would like to know, where to find a kiln/furnace that is cheap. (I'm also not sure what it is called, either a kiln/furnace/or smelter). I am not trying to get an industrial one, but one that can maybe smelt roughly 2-3 troy ounces.

Basically what i would like to know:

• Where to find a cheap kiln for roughly 3-4 troy ounces
• How to get scrap silver (ie scrap silver)
• How to make the silver into bars (ie how to mold)
• Anyother tid bits of information i might need to know

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Thank you all for paying attention and hopefully I will be able to surprise my grandpa in the following few months.

 

This seems like an interesting hobby. I think your grandpa will be very happy when you surprise him with sharing a common interest. I recommend perhaps checking local libraries or googling/youtube methods on how to go about molding the bars. Where you're going to find a non-industrial smelter I have no idea I didn't know they existed.

 

If you melt the silver and gold down, people will be cautious to buy it form you as it won't have any stamps on it and could be filled with lead in the middle.

 

this, and really the only way to get scrap gold and silver is to buy unwanted jewelry off people but you will need to figure out how to tell real from fake first. if you're just looking to impress him you can always buy some from a pawn shop or memorabilia shop. and have you thought of having someone else ask your grandpa for you?

 

To be honest, your grandfather will probably be much more happy to teach you.

Think of it from his point of view. Would you rather spend time teaching your grandson something you're very passionate about, or have him learn what you've spent years doing in a matter of days on his own, then brag about it to you?

I'd just ask him about it man. I'm sure he'd be far happier and more proud to teach you about it himself, and turn it into a hobby for both of you.

 

i wanted to smelt them down and engrave i love you grandpa or do one for his birthday, basically something personal to put on it