When Gold or Silver Alloying Crucibles Go BAD

When Gold or Silver Alloying Crucibles Go BAD- Sooner or later, your crucibles will go bad and need to be replaced. I will show and explain how to identify this metalsmithing problem and how to safely solve it. This metalsmithing technique is the same whether goldsmithing or silversmithing. I will demonstrate how to remove your gold or silver safely when your crucible needs to be replaced and some tips on preparing your crucible.
To purchase my favorite metalsmithing tools and my favorite crucible and handle, please visit www.jewelryart...
My favorite ingot mold for pouring gold or silver www.jewelryart...

[@reidsmith9575]

This is so valuable, especially since I have not experienced this problem. When I do, I will spend slightly less time thinking I am the problem or I am stupid. THANKS!!!

[@JewelryArts]

The pleasure is all mine :)

[@scrappydoo7887]

I love the fact that you speak your mind instead of fretting about swearing ect lol Naturally an excellent piece of information too because I had no idea this could happen. Thank you 🙂

[@JewelryArts]

So glad you enjoyed! I have a strict-no bullshit- policy. :)

[@scrappydoo7887]

@@JewelryArts it's the best way 🙂

[@JewelryArts]

I could not agree with you more 😃@@scrappydoo7887

[@JewelryArts]

I could not agree with you more 😃@@scrappydoo7887

[@seanmcguire6998]

WTF! Yeah! She’s just like those few teachers many years ago that knew I could do better and actually SHOWED me how to do it better and do it the easy way.

[@JewelryArts]

So glad you enjoyed it! No one gives an award for doing things the hard way. :)

[@incantationsbykaryn]

I love your style and you give such great tips and teachings. You are my new favorite artists who do tutorial videos. I love the potty mouth btw, right up my alley!! 😂😂 Tysm!

[@JewelryArts]

You are so very welcome!! I have a strict *No Bullshit* policy.

[@missyjeyne2319]

Fabulous!! Love your presentation style as well. This was exactly what I was looking for. So I take it that when you get bits of your crucible embedded in the gold, there is no saving it and it has to be refined?

[@LryuzakiLN]

Nope, if you can separate it and get it out you can reuse the same, no refining needed. If you didn't add/melt any other metal in the same crucible.

[@JewelryArts]

Usually there is just borax, and that I just hit with a hammer and pickle to get rid of it. You shouldn't need to refine. :)

[@sezstamorae9004]

I don’t get how borax could prevent the heat

[@JewelryArts]

Too thick of a coating and the metal won’t get hot enough to melt.

[@sezstamorae9004]

@@JewelryArts I have a question I always wanted answered! When setting prongs, sometimes the prong doesn’t sit all the way down and springs back up a bit. Even with annealed metal. What can I do to fix and prevent this???

[@JewelryArts]

I assume you are using fairly hard alloys for your prongs? People usually compensate by using more force while setting, like a hammer or hammer handpiece. If the prongs have been properly annealed, there is no getting them any softer. :)@@sezstamorae9004

[@sezstamorae9004]

@@JewelryArts Thankyou, well it’s not the alloy that’s particularly hard, but I tend to make thicker larger prongs from hand pulled wire, I think they become too work-hardened to then be used as prongs. I should just start with a smaller ingot, so the final prong has had less work on it. But that brings me to another question, I find it extremely hard to properly fill a round ingot in the smaller sizes, 2-3mm. The silver just clumps up at the entrance and spills over, I’ve tried pouring extra slow and fast, maybe it’s because Im In Michigan and it’s realllyyyyyy cold??? I’d love to see a video on someone properly pouring such a small round ingot

[@JewelryArts]

Any amount of work hardening can be annealed out but a very thick prong will definitely bounce back. No one can easily pour a thin ingot, I don’t bother. 😃@@sezstamorae9004