the issue is easily resolved... lead has a melting point of roughly 621 f... which is considerably lower that the activation point of the Chapmans... in short, throw a few quarters or dimes in the smelt and allow the lead to be "the collector metal" as it's intended. Gold melting temp is over 1900 F... which if you heated lead to that point alone, it would vaporize. The lead is intended to alloy into the other precious metals, and raises the melting point of the lead, while lowering the melting point of the precious metals. Then when you get to the cupelling part of the process, you have a precious metal to shed the contaminant metals into the cupel. The absence of a precious metal is the cause for the error. Calling it a failure would be, a complete jerk maneuver. Other than that, you're doing just fine. I would suggest you visit walmart and buy a big box of Borax, yep regular old Borax laundry detergent, cheap, easy and effective for smelting any precious metal.
Yeah, I'd like to use just plain-jane borax. I am using Chapman Flux because it is an oxidizing flux. I am worried that I may not be able to roast away all the huge amount of sulfides in the ore before smelting. I may be overly worried about that. Anyway, I figure the oxidizing flux would oxidize any remaining sulfides during the flux. I'll experiment with different things in the future. I have a feeling this is going to be a rest of my life type hobby. Plenty of time for experimenting. Thanks for the advice.
@@omegageek64 When we smelt our fines, we use anhydrous borax, simply because of water content that needs to be boiled off... that being said, any borax is just as good, only takes a few minutes longer. However, regarding the "sulfides"... throw a few nails in the smelt and the process will convert the iron into FES which is captured in the borax. Another trick we use to get the sulfides out, is to add a few grams of pure sulfur per kilo to the base weight of the smelt on the front end, to ensure that all the iron and other sulfides are converted to FES. The lead collector will alloy into your Precious metals, and unfortunately, some base metals will always remain in the smelt. When you cupel the button, the lead will oxidize out all the base metals, and leave you with 100% precious metals... then the chemical classification/refining part of the final process is used to get to 999 fine. I've watched your other videos, and you're really good at the chemical process, so should be a breeze for you. We resmelt out cupelled buttons into bars and send to the refiner for that part of the process, as the time needed to chemically process out the PM's is kind of a pain in the ass. Also, we're not making videos. Good luck and enjoy, Fire Assay is always fun and the end of the process is the pay off...
Hi Mike, 12:13 When you pour out the crucible, try this: Instead of twisting it back, turn the crucible forward for a full loop. This makes the last drop of flux fall back inside the crucible instead drooling down the outside. Best regards from Germany!
Hello sir, I just started to practice cupelling, but in electric muffle furnace. Well, self made cupels were disaster, I did buy some good ones. Cleaning silver goes well, cleaning gold is a bit harder, especially if contais silver. I use bismuth instead of lead. I am a bit affraid to use lead.
Hi Mike, You're doing great! It's all trial & error! I add 50 grams of silica sand (pool filter sand) to every crucible. I've never had one fall apart as it cools - I end up with an almost complete pyramid every time. Another person commented that they use Bismuth instead of lead for the cupel. I also use Bismuth - no health issues with it. Take Care! Looking forward to the next one. Jim
Yes, I may switch to bismuth in the future. The lead is free and plentiful though. I'm trying to keep costs down since I'm not expecting to get much gold out of these samples. But I need to not poison myself too.
I’m sure you probably already have checked him out, but just in case, check out Mount Baker Mining and Metals (MBMMLLC) channel. He has tons of videos of him learning how to smelt properly and he’s got it down pretty darn good. A very good channel to watch and learn with him if you go back in his videos far enough.
the issue is easily resolved... lead has a melting point of roughly 621 f... which is considerably lower that the activation point of the Chapmans... in short, throw a few quarters or dimes in the smelt and allow the lead to be "the collector metal" as it's intended. Gold melting temp is over 1900 F... which if you heated lead to that point alone, it would vaporize. The lead is intended to alloy into the other precious metals, and raises the melting point of the lead, while lowering the melting point of the precious metals.
Then when you get to the cupelling part of the process, you have a precious metal to shed the contaminant metals into the cupel.
The absence of a precious metal is the cause for the error. Calling it a failure would be, a complete jerk maneuver.
Other than that, you're doing just fine.
I would suggest you visit walmart and buy a big box of Borax, yep regular old Borax laundry detergent, cheap, easy and effective for smelting any precious metal.
Yeah, I'd like to use just plain-jane borax. I am using Chapman Flux because it is an oxidizing flux. I am worried that I may not be able to roast away all the huge amount of sulfides in the ore before smelting. I may be overly worried about that. Anyway, I figure the oxidizing flux would oxidize any remaining sulfides during the flux. I'll experiment with different things in the future. I have a feeling this is going to be a rest of my life type hobby. Plenty of time for experimenting. Thanks for the advice.
@@omegageek64 When we smelt our fines, we use anhydrous borax, simply because of water content that needs to be boiled off... that being said, any borax is just as good, only takes a few minutes longer. However, regarding the "sulfides"... throw a few nails in the smelt and the process will convert the iron into FES which is captured in the borax. Another trick we use to get the sulfides out, is to add a few grams of pure sulfur per kilo to the base weight of the smelt on the front end, to ensure that all the iron and other sulfides are converted to FES.
The lead collector will alloy into your Precious metals, and unfortunately, some base metals will always remain in the smelt.
When you cupel the button, the lead will oxidize out all the base metals, and leave you with 100% precious metals... then the chemical classification/refining part of the final process is used to get to 999 fine.
I've watched your other videos, and you're really good at the chemical process, so should be a breeze for you.
We resmelt out cupelled buttons into bars and send to the refiner for that part of the process, as the time needed to chemically process out the PM's is kind of a pain in the ass. Also, we're not making videos.
Good luck and enjoy, Fire Assay is always fun and the end of the process is the pay off...
It's really cool to see you getting further on in your methods of recovery and refining 👍
Hi Mike,
12:13
When you pour out the crucible, try this:
Instead of twisting it back, turn the crucible forward for a full loop. This makes the last drop of flux fall back inside the crucible instead drooling down the outside.
Best regards from Germany!
Hello sir, I just started to practice cupelling, but in electric muffle furnace. Well, self made cupels were disaster, I did buy some good ones. Cleaning silver goes well, cleaning gold is a bit harder, especially if contais silver. I use bismuth instead of lead. I am a bit affraid to use lead.
If you bring up the temperature slowly, it will cut down on the bubbling. According to mbmm.
Hi Mike, You're doing great! It's all trial & error! I add 50 grams of silica sand (pool filter sand) to every crucible. I've never had one fall apart as it cools - I end up with an almost complete pyramid every time. Another person commented that they use Bismuth instead of lead for the cupel. I also use Bismuth - no health issues with it. Take Care! Looking forward to the next one. Jim
Yes, I may switch to bismuth in the future. The lead is free and plentiful though. I'm trying to keep costs down since I'm not expecting to get much gold out of these samples. But I need to not poison myself too.
Excellent video remember lead is your collector!!! Put some copper or silver in it and try again
The one who smelt it, dealt it.
Sorry for the bad joke.
I was wondering how long it would be before someone went there.
I’m sure you probably already have checked him out, but just in case, check out Mount Baker Mining and Metals (MBMMLLC) channel. He has tons of videos of him learning how to smelt properly and he’s got it down pretty darn good. A very good channel to watch and learn with him if you go back in his videos far enough.
Boa noite meu a migo poderia me falar o que e chapman flux e lithargen
This is like MBMM RUclips
You had to say "constructive criticism" i have nothing to say. But good luck.