How To Melt Down Silver to Shape For Jewelry

Silver is one of the most common and popular jewelry metals available. It can be smelted and hammered into elegant pieces of jewelry. However, smelting silver requires some basic metal crafting knowledge. Although, with the proper training even the weekend novice can be on their way to producing elegant pieces of lasting silver jewelry. Here's how:

Supplies

• Silver pieces


• Crucible


• Propane torch


• Lighter


• Crucible


• Fire brick


• Borax


• Jewelry mold


• Fire proof gloves

1. Place your silver to be smelted into the crucible.  These are usually made of silica or graphite and can tolerate extremely high temperatures.


2. Check your propane torch to make sure you have a full tank for heating. It will be necessary to heat the silver to 893 degrees centigrade for melting to take place.


3. Put on your fire retardant gloves. These are typically made of Kevlar or another fire resistant material.


4. Set the crucible on the fire brick. 


5. Light the propane torch with the lighter. Crank the gas up until you have a hot blue flame output. Make sure you do not have any flammable items within reach of the torch.


6. Hold the torch flame about two inches away from the silver.


7. Add 1/2 teaspoon of borax to the mix once the silver starts to melt, to prevent oxidation.


8. Carefully pick up the crucible handle and swirl the metal around in the vessel. Look to see that all pieces of the silver are melting evenly. If not, concentrate the torch flame of the pieces which haven't melted.


9. Continue heating with the torch until all the pieces in the crucible are a molten form.


10. Have any jewelry molds which you plan to use for your casting ready. Immediately pour the molten liquid metal into the mold.