Grand Rapids Business Daily

How do I refine scrap gold jewelery into higher purity gold?

I have some 14 Karat gold jewelry, and I just wondered how you refine it to make it more pure. I heard that you can heat it up until it melts, and keep it hot, then add borax, and the impurities can be separated.

Public Comments

1. unless you have the proper oven i would not do it on your own, gold melts at 1947, that temp is extremely dangerous. if its just a custom piece you want to make, bring it to a jeweller that does their own work, tell them you want to smelt it, they will take a few points for themselves of course, but you will get at least 90-95% of the purity. basically a middleman for a refiner. Being in the pawnbroking business for almost ten years i know 100% this is you best method to get you value! Pawn shops will give little, if your lucky $5 per gram maybe $6 max. (thats what i give) . A higher end jewellery store may put it on consignment and ask for 20%, and may even take years. In short, find a middle man for a refinery.