Learning How To Prepare A Crucible Before Using It For The First Time

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If you want to melt down a reasonable amount of silver or gold then you are going to need a crucible and crucible holder. But first you need to prepare the crucible before you even attempt to melt anything in it. If you don't do this then you run the risk of ruining your precious metal.
Get some borax and your torch and follow Andrew's instruction and you will learn how to prepare your crucible for melting down.
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Andrew shows you many hints and tips that he has gained from his experience as a professional goldsmith.
Andrew Berry, a professional jeweller for 30 years, is the training director of www.AtTheBench.com, an award winning on line jewellery training website.

[@screwthecabal6453]

Your explanation of everything is beyond what other people have tried to explain, thank you

[@becooroy]

It is so nice of you to share all this knowledge you have. You always answer every single question that pops into my head as i'm watching too! Thanks for taking so much time to provide all these videos! It has been infinitely helpful to my journey!

[@theronj]

Thank you for this. I know know what to do as I get everything set up. Your videos have been most informative with a bunch of knowledge that will help in my journey in starting out in making jewelry. Thank you

[@needmoresilver3677]

Amazing video thank you for the contribution, I always find your videos the most helpful.

[@purdiewendy]

Thank you for the video Andrew, very helpful as I’m about to melt my leftover bits of S/Silver and have a new crucible.

[@tblz406]

I wish i would have watched this video an hour sooner

[@xamel94]

As with most things like this there is usually a lot more to it than meets the eye I'm thankful for watching it now

[@rocki_bb]

F Sincerely sorry friend! Lucky for me the reviews where I bought mine mentioned this needed to be done or I would be in your shoes shortly

[@connortivoli3161]

@@rocki_bb where did you buy yours? I've looked and can only find the scorifier crucible, actually it feels more like the scorifier crucible is the only square crucible that Google wants me to find lol

[@willowl1239]

Haha me too

[@kathleendobsonpiasecki9703]

Wonderful! I was just wondering how to do this. Thank you

[@dimasbonillabanuelos6626]

Very informative Andrew I liked it thank You.

[@carolynhume4878]

Thank you so much for this, so informative and practical.

[@adiem1653]

I got a brand new crucible and was just taking it to the shed to glaze it and dropped it onto the pavers 😢 thankfully only chipped the outer lip but you could imagine i was a little peeved 😊

[@petrichor7121]

Really awesome.. Helpful and informative.. 👍👍 Thank you so much!

[@coinlady5456]

Love your videos, your a good educator, thank you

[@parsavol6048]

Thank you this was very helpful. I didnt skip the adds so you got the full price of the adds. Thank you again sir.

[@warmwomyn]

I'm about to order my first crucible. Thank you!

[@haiderad459]

Thank you very much Mr.Andrew 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@theodwyer766]

your channel is the best one out there Andrew! You have been my go to guy whenever i have any questions. thanks so much for all you do!

[@CheekyMonkey1776]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@AhmedKhan-cp4ko]

This DESERVES more views

[@edmilton738]

Thanks for posting.. Subscribed‼

[@samanthan2757]

Thank you for the great video! Can I prepare the crucible without having it in the holder ?

[@beautifulmountain6590]

Thank you, great video

[@nestorsalgado2836]

Mr berry very good I love it thanks very much

[@mary-annkieckhaben5026]

Super Tutorial thank you

[@allanthompson9695]

Great. Thanks Andrew.

[@edxr12]

Wow!!! That was perfect!!!

[@vikirose9263]

This is where I went wrong! Thanks. What size burner do you use in your sievert torch though?

[@amandaw.5361]

Thank you Andrew. Can this be done with Handy Flux? I think I saw something about that and I'm wondering if it would be easier to paint that on or if you prefer the powder. Thank you so much for all your help :)

[@jimbettridge3123]

Thanks Andrew, long time no see Mate!

[@jenl336]

Thank you! I wish I would have seen this 45 mins before! I was wondering why my silver was sticking 🤦🏼‍♀️ you got a new subscriber my friend 😊

[@BEEtheJOY]

So if silver is stuck in an unprepared crucible it is never going to come out?

[@jenl336]

@@BEEtheJOY this was over a year ago and I actually stopped jewelry making and sold the equipment. I’m pretty sure most of it stuck. Good luck!

[@shakirathebudgie7271]

Thank you for this video. I am just learning from this video and wondering; Do you have these stations made of soldering board in your online shop (?) I know cooksongold offers something similar (at over £100) but not as good as the one you have made. I would love to buy one like yours as I cannot see myself making it. Also the shape seems to be more jeweller-friendly than the cooksongold version...

[@t0rb1naalborg44]

Hi Andrew, Looking into the crucible, it looks different from the square ones I have used. In mine the 'hole' is all concave, yours seem to have a convex (or flat?) dimple at the bottom. If so, what difference does that do? In advance, thanks.

[@splintercelloo7]

Much appreciated!

[@krodkrod8132]

I bought some perlite powder and some fine cement mix and mix it 50/50 and make like a "firebrick" mold. They are still one time use but the detail is really good. Works like the cuttlefish bones but stronger and more heat resistant. I spend about 50 dollars on the cement and perlite powder and its enough to make hundreds of molds.

[@eneeland]

Great video. Are you using propane or MAP gas?

[@stevenedwards4470]

How do you know how much borax to add to a melting? Will a pinch do it? Or is there some standard to follow maybe in line with the metal weight?

[@nahminesclarence8256]

Thanks!

[@raquelasandino5825]

Is there any difference in using Griffin’s paste flux all over the crucible including the sides versus borax powder?

[@raother527]

Thanks for the tips. I hope you are aware of flash back of flame during your demo.

[@Atthebench]

Zack Bolt yes it was because the heat from the crucible was extinguishing the flame coz I didn’t have the flame up high

[@Jaymobe07]

I bought a pre-glazed crucible since their wasnt much of a price difference and i'm a newbie. Anyhow, after doing a few pours of silver, is it normal for the crucible to get a dark greyish-green covering over it? Have i used way to much borax during the melts?

[@barbaracurtin3969]

Thank you Andrew for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I purchased an ingot mold from Drill Straight. Hans & Anne are so kind! Could you please share the make/manufacturer of your crucible & holder? I am drawn to it as it looks much more solid than others on the market. I am in the U.S. and cannot find one like it anywhere?? Thanks again

[@barbaracurtin3969]

@@LetsgoBrandon-tq3mc Unfortunately, no, I did not. But I did notice that Dave Wilson in the “Celtic Dream” videos users a similar setup. I just sent him an email asking for his source. Maybe he will return my email?

[@whywouldicare8618]

Can I do this with a propane torch and cast iron pan to hold and heat my silver?

[@prospectorpete]

awesome video , exactly what i needed to know and i couldnt find any other videos so thanks .....do i do the same thing for a graphite mould ?

[@Atthebench]

prospector_pete No you don’t need to do this with a graphic crucible

[@prospectorpete]

@@Atthebench wow ty for the speedy reply. i used my graphite mould for the first time last week and i didnt glaze it in any way . all i did was heat it up before i put anything in it . now i have a bar of what i hope is silver and its stuck hard , i cant free it

[@Atthebench]

prospector_pete the metal shouldn’t stick to graphite

[@cherylneuman253]

Can you let the silver reharden in the crucible and pop it out when cool.

[@saturdaysr4theboys125]

What if an individual doesn’t have enough money to be spending on multiple crucibles. Is there a way to clean the crucible so the individual can use different metals/karats in that one crucible?

[@dimitardzhukanov6818]

Hi Andrew, I just want to tell you that you are professor. Thank you

[@raymonddaniels9143]

What Crucible holder is that? i haven't been able to find one that i feel comfortable to tilt except a design like that and all the ones i see on amazon and other websites arent as adjustable as the one you are using

[@ma1900bi1900]

Danke das ist wirklich toll auch das werkzeug danke

[@SemoreLucky777]

Tyty I needed to know this

[@sarah-ys4ik]

Thank you🪻❤️

[@camaro14]

Hello I was wondering do you need to wear a mask so you don't breathe in the melts or the borax. I was just wondering so I can do this at home . Thank you so much 😊

[@DongLabUTHSCSA]

Would other Flux compounds work to coat a crucible? Or does it have to be borax

[@dwright485]

Is the process with the borax the same for a charcoal crucible?

[@JaimeGarciaX]

Do you have any mold recommendations for molds for copper? Something just 100-500 grams?

[@zhaiken6607]

Nice

[@101mosioatunya]

Thanks for this, Andrew. I need to know how to construct the heat proof box made of 12" soldering boards. Can you screw into this material without it splitting? If not, how are you holding the soldering boards together? Thank you, in advance, for your help.

[@Ray-gz4ut]

5:41 you can see he used wood screws in fact on the right you can see where he screwed it too close to the edge and it nearly broke out. I would personally drill a pilot hole smaller than the intended screw before you screw it together this will reduce the chance of the board splitting.

[@101mosioatunya]

Thanks so much for your advice, Ray. I did notice the screws but couldn't believe that they would not split through the soldering boards.

[@laj1285]

I assume I would need to glaze the crucible for melting copper as well?

[@DreidMusicalX]

I was wondering about the borax. I have borax soap from a grocery store. Will that borax also work? Or is this a more refined borax?

[@johnkidd797]

What was the bit you took of the tool for?

[@crappymeal]

Perfect timing, all the other vids out there about this are rubish

[@kelvinbarrs4291]

My question is do you do that with the ladle

[@catch2297]

Nice video, have you got a link for the crucible you use?

[@tinahinojosa9326]

www.cooksongold.com/category_select.jsp?channel=uk&query=scorifier

[@okayokay2010]

Can i use kiln instead torch?

[@mateuszminsky5619]

an what if you want to anneal a 5-ozt bullion bar so it can be worked? how big torch is needed?

[@RandyGendronChannel]

Till next time - Thank You.

[@holohulolo]

What's the crucible made of?

[@DBHC_PRO]

What would you do if the crucible wasnt glazed fully and now you have gold specks stuck on the upper edges?

[@mikedoan4247]

Why do you have different crucibles? What happens if you use the silver crucible with gold?

[@geovaniperez7648]

Excelente trabajo

[@bmolale081]

Mine didn’t turn out like this at all, the borax didn’t spread around and clumped up, any suggestions?

[@lindzann]

I have been stuck because when I sprinkled the borax powder, it globbed together and didn't stay stuck to the sides of the crucible, but pooled and spots that were previously glazed, were rough again. Also, my borax glaze cracks in a sort of 'shattered' pattern (not the crucible, just the glaze) as it cools. Is that normal? Am I putting too much borax in? I think I did turn the torch off and on in between heating the crucible and each time I sprinkled more borax powder in, so does the heat have to stay on it constantly? (I'm scared of getting burned.) Shall I start over with a new crucible? Or is there a way to save the old one?

[@Atthebench]

lindzann Keep the torch on as you add the borax. As the crucible gets red the borax should be moisten and you should be able to move the crucible to move the borax. Also add the borax to the bare areas whilst heating it up

[@ponda.5203]

Use a lower temp when heating the borax. Shattered pattern is fine, the borax is just hardening up. Coat (season) it with borax a few more times and you'll be good to go

[@matron81]

Hey Mr. Berry.. can you link the crucible holder and crucibles you purchase for your work please?

[@Atthebench]

We sell them in our store store.atthebench.com/product-category/shop/melting-casting/

[@Love.Yourself.1976]

What material of mold should be used for the pouring of the melted metal? What should the liquid be poured into? If I'm asking that correctly!

[@Atthebench]

Love Yourself Hi. Take a look at my previous videos on here

[@thors_bane]

Love Yourself, there are many different materials you could use to cast metals into, primarily it depends on what you want your finished product to look like. There are casting sands, clays (delft clay), cuttlefish bone, you can even cast into wood or stone. It all depends on how much work you want to do, how you want your surface to turn out (rough and rustic or something that would be closer to a near finish [light trimming and some polishing]). Hope that helps, good luck and happy casting.

[@GopalNandy13]

I usually keep a stock of different size ingots and flat sheets of different thickness and width, the projects that I usually work on these days are rather small (like rings, earring, studs, pendents etc) so I don't have to keep stock of larger size metal pieces. So, to answer your question, I pour my melted metal into ingot mold of either square wire or flat sheets, which I then roll mill or hammer to my required specification.

[@TheHitman6421]

I have already had metal stick in my crucible, is it ruined? I would assume so, but I don't want to just throw it

[@flyingcheff]

Borax is used as a pest killer also, is it advisable to wear a mask while doing this? I think this is so great but want to do it safely. Of course, it's hard to talk (to us with a mask on). Thanks Andrew!

[@Ray-gz4ut]

Just don't eat the borrax and wash your hands before eating and you will be fine. It is poisonous if consumed but you will just be melting it, it is a very common flux so you don't have to worry if you keep your hygiene up.

[@me2suspans]

Hei mister Andrew Berry, i love your videos! Can you pls make a new one, to teach us how to clean Cruciable ! They get full of borax, oxides and impurities. I've heard about all this methods using (soda ash, or other chemical solutions) or the old way using crushed glass to catch the borax and a graphite stick) I'm really exited, i hope this mesage catch you well!

[@HouseholdDog]

You could try putting the crucible in your acid. It will remove the borax layer. Then just season it again. Having said that I don't really think the impurities get into the ingot. If you've seen the state of gold refiners equipment you will know what I mean. It's often filthy but produces pure ingots.

[@me2suspans]

@@HouseholdDog i did that and it’s working , it need to stay at least 24 h in it, and also after u clean it with fresh water good it need to stay in the water 24h more.. after that a week to dry. But accept the situation “it's not possible to buy a new one.." doesn't worth.. i did it because i had a lot of them..

[@HouseholdDog]

@@me2suspans Oh good sorry just realised you posted that 9 months ago.

[@warmwomyn]

What do you use to label each crucible? Can you use a Sharpie marker on the outside of the crucible?

[@Atthebench]

The sharpie will burn off. You could get a hard stone grinding wheel and grind the crucible to mark?

[@nepentheoflethe]

This is like a year late, but figured I’d chime in. I’m really paranoid about spilling the metal while pouring so I took a graphite pencil and marked a line on the outside of the crucible exactly where I need to line it up with the edge of the ingot mold before tipping it over and pouring the metal in. And then I seasoned the crucible. And the graphite mark is still perfectly there and visible. So you could probably label your crucibles with a pencil and it’ll work? Seems to be fine so far. They make graphite crucibles and the pencil is graphite so I’m assuming a graphite pencil mark can withstand the heat and your label will stay on the crucible.

[@coburnlowman]

I was a machinist turned , tooling maker. Jewelry is something that I highly respected when seeing a well made piece. Anyway what about simply making crucibles out of steel? Not cast iron such as small frying pans , as they have casting pores in them.

[@mbrunnme]

It will introduce impurities into the casting. Even using steel tweezers when placing a silver piece in pickle will immediately cause copper plating of all the jewelery in the pickle. Steel is also a terrible insulator, so you will spend forever trying to get your metals to melt while the crucible absorbs and conducts away all the heat you are trying to focus on your melt. Ideal substances are ceramics like the one in the video, graphite, and delft clay. Pores aren't a huge issue. Surface tension keeps the melt in a nice bead as long as there is no chemical adhesion to the crucible material.

[@frankryan3206]

Is it normal for the borax glaze to pool at the bottom of the crucible? I've glazed it completely, but my silver seems to be sitting in 2mm of borax. (I didn't pour it, just let it sit in the crucible as a little experiment)

[@Atthebench]

Yes totally normal

[@zacharymaes9404]

Where can I get borax? I don’t want to wait for an online order is this something I can get at a local hardware store?

[@Jaymobe07]

if in the states, 20 mule team borax can be found at most box retailers in the laundry detergent aisle. Its only $5.

[@seanfoltz7645]

What is the brand/type torch you used for that and can it handle Nordic Gold, which is mostly copper?

[@nepentheoflethe]

I’m like 99% sure that was a Big Shot torch. I have one just like it. And no, don’t even try to melt metal with a butane torch, it doesn’t generally work out well. Also don’t try to season a larger crucible with a butane torch. It worked for him because the crucible he used was small and he was only seasoning it.

[@seanfoltz7645]

@Dana Schneider I've got a 10kg gas and 2kg electric furnace but I'm trying to pour coins with Notdic Gold so wanted to go with a jeweler crucible for more control. Butain torch is fine for lead, bisthmuth and zinc though - aluminum and higher don't work. >_

[@foreign40]

Hello Andrew I am confused you have used the term Borax and flux which is you used to seal the crucible

[@Atthebench]

Yes that’s right. Borax is a flux and is also used to coat and seal a a ceramic crucible

[@nikkil2420]

Mr. Berry, Do you have to repeat this process after so many uses or is the initial coating of borax sufficient for the life of the crucible?

[@louiseclaire219]

Yes, I'm wondering this also?

[@timblok1602]

Where did you get the crucible from?

[@tinahinojosa9326]

It's been a year since you asked this question, but for anyone else who comes along and wonders, it's called a scorifier and they can be ordered from cooksongold.com.

[@larryswitzer4336]

Do you need a different Crucible for fine and sterling, or can you use the same Crucible.

[@Atthebench]

As they are different purifies I would have one for each

[@larryswitzer4336]

@@Atthebench Thank you very much. Love your videos

[@Patrick-jd1ku]

I recently tried to glaze a crucible, and the borax doesn't seem to be covering it evenly. there are spots where it just doesn't seem to flow, and spots where it had coverage, but then flowed away when I heated it to try and get it to fill in some other spot. do you have any advice on this?

[@Atthebench]

I put plenty in the bottom and then when it is molten tip the crucible to coat all the surface

[@Patrick-jd1ku]

@@Atthebench I tried this and it definitely worked better, thanks!

[@firebirdbullion8123]

Hi Have you ever noticed that once you have seasoned your crucible and then melted some silver the borax blends with the melted silver and sets on top of the silver once cooled?

[@Atthebench]

Doesn’t really blend with it. I like to sprinkle some on top just before I pour. I get a cleaner smoother surface of the ingot

[@firebirdbullion8123]

@@Atthebench thanks My borax is melting and setting on top of the silver like a creamy substance. It’s sets hard on the silver like a glaze. Have you got an email and I’ll send you a pic. I’m wondering if I’ve added too much borax and it’s melting when I go to hear it up. So strange!!

[@firebirdbullion8123]

@@Atthebench I should also mention I’m using oxy/propane so wondering if it’s too much heat? So melting the borax/glaze along with the silver

[@firebirdbullion8123]

@@Atthebench it’s the flux that is melting at the same time my silver melts and both pours into the mould. Thanks :)

[@saint8228]

Firebird, have you figured out a solution to this? I am having basically the same problem. The borax just remelted and mixed with my silver....so now I just have an awful half silver/half borax clump that I have no way of separating. Ingot frustrated so threw the clump out. So I still need to figure out how to get the borax to not melt and mix with the silver.... Seems like there has to be a better solution than using borax.

[@nepentheoflethe]

I have a question if anyone could provide an answer, I know this video is a few years old. I have two crucibles, I’m using oxy-propane. I seasoned the first crucible, everything is lovely and perfect, the Borax glaze is a beautiful clear glassy finish because I haven’t used it to melt metals yet, all I did was season it so the borax glaze is clean. So a day later I seasoned the next crucible. The Borax glaze (which hasn’t had any metal melted in it, all I did was season the crucible) oxidized and turned dirty and brown as I seasoned it. The other borax glaze is clear and glassy, but the second crucible I glazed oxidized for some reason. Any idea why this happened? Why did the first one remain clear and clean and the second one oxidized?

[@Atthebench]

The borax has not oxidised. The flame may have had a different mixture of gas and air and so the brown could well be carbon or soot from the flame. Nothing at all to worry about.

[@karenwu472]

how to avoid your crucible turning black? i just got a new crucible, it was nicely coated with borax and after the third time melting sterling silver the crucible turned all black (looks like from oxidation?). am i using too much heat?

[@Atthebench]

It’s ok for the borax to turn colour. It absorbs a lot of the ‘stuff’ from the silver, especially if you use old scrap solver.

[@karenwu472]

@@Atthebench thank you so much for your reply! i love your channel!

[@cainbeeton8967]

My borax keep balling up and won’t coat the crucible. What am I doing wrong ?

[@lizw2853]

I was sent a graphite crucible when I ordered a crucible. It’s quite small. Is it ok to use?

[@Atthebench]

Yes it’s fine but you won’t need to prepare it as in this video. You can use it straight away

[@lizw2853]

@@Atthebench Thank you very much.😀

[@enriquesilvas771]

Is it ok for the borax to crack after you have glazed your crucible for the first?

[@Atthebench]

Yes as long as the surface is all coated, cracks don’t matter

[@enriquesilvas771]

@@Atthebench . thank you for the info.

[@JustME-ft4di]

Can you just sprinkle the crucible with borax and stick it in an enamelling kiln?

[@Atthebench]

Not really as the flux does not coat evenly. That is why you need to sprinkle the flux on the areas where the crucible shows through

[@ingridbeckman121]

Can I use anything else than borax? I can't buy borax in Sweden as a privat person. Only certified companies are allowed to buy. Thanks for great videos!

[@ingridbeckman121]

@landon L. I don't use borax for soldering. There are lots of other fluxes. What I mean is-does it have to be borax, or can I use any flux?

[@Atthebench]

It can be any flux

[@ingridbeckman121]

@@Atthebench I use a paste. Do I put it on and then heat it up? Obviously I can't sprinkle it on while heating. 😁

[@leetomlinson4756]

Do you need to glaze an iron cast 🤔

[@Atthebench]

I would initially coat it in oil and then heat the mould up so the oil burns and leaves a sooty deposit

[@leetomlinson4756]

@@Atthebench Ok great, what oil would u use, seen these little iron melting pot on eBay, thought they might work better

[@whywouldicare8618]

lee tomlinson you ever find what oil to use I wanna use my cast iron pan to melt down my silver or copper have a lot around

[@Atthebench]

A light engine oil or household oil would be fine. We use 3 in 1 oil here in the UK

[@neferin]

gorgeous

[@pijnto]

I made my own holder from stainless steel I don't like rust

[@deborahdalzell]

I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but my borax powder keeps balling up not melting. Complete nube here needing help!!!

[@queercomputer]

he had those fingers sooo close to the flame omg

[@elderulo4626]

DO YOU HAVE TO GLAZE THE CRUCIBLE ? IS IT REALLY NECESSARY I MESSED UP A COUPLE TRYING TO GLAZE IT . IT WOULD TURN MY SILVER REDISH BROWN . HELP PLEASE

[@Atthebench]

Yes you have to. The colour you see is the borax itself. It will not colour the silver. Borax can be all colours when heated up and cooled down

[@elderulo4626]

@@Atthebench so it means my silver needed more heat?

[@Atthebench]

@@elderulo4626 May be

[@elderulo4626]

@@Atthebench because I pour it down and the silver comes with the REDISH spots even when turning solid

[@Atthebench]

The spot may be flux or some oxides. Pickle it and it will be removed

[@TheBigfatmatt]

So, I'm not too good at internetting, it seems I can't find anywhere that sells Borax , Or I should say, anywhere that looks legitimate, I do NOT want to be buying bags of unlabled white powder online hahaha Any links to reputable UK suppliers please 🙏

[@lauraskeet9302]

Hi, same problems. I believe it is illegal to sell borax powder in the UK? Your flux cone is made out of borax though so you could shave some of that off maybe? At least that's what I am planning to do but yet to do it yet....

[@TheBigfatmatt]

@@lauraskeet9302 please let me know how you get on👍

[@lauraskeet9302]

@@TheBigfatmatt it worked! Sort of 🤷🏼‍♀️ need to definitely build a shelter out of fire bricks and make sure the crushed powder is really fine :)

[@TheBigfatmatt]

@@lauraskeet9302 Watched a few more videos after replying to you, seems like the cones from amazon or fleabay would work to line a ceramic piece for pouring, I have an old bbq and heat bricks so will be having a go soon, my first ever attempt 15 yrs ago ,was a propane blow torch on a concrete step, the resulting explosion put a fist sized hole in the step and somehow I didn't lose my eyes or good looks, but had to fix the step and never did find any of the ring I was trying to melt into a blob for a pendant Hahaha

[@shadowmihaiu]

"20 Mule Team Borax" sold as a laundry additive at many stores (at least in the US), is just straight powdered borax.