How To Melt Gold To Repair A Ring

By keeping some basic guidelines in mind, you can learn how to melt gold to repair a ring. While this task may seem daunting at first, with skill and practice you can learn how to repair a variety of different types of jewelry. Just don't tell the women in your life, or they'll be asking you to make them some new jewelry!

Equipment:

• Soldering tool
• Vise
• Leather work gloves
• Jeweler's tools

1. Turn up the heat on a soldering tool. In order to achieve optimal results, make sure the tool has reached a temperature of between 710 and 787 degrees Fahrenheit. While this may seem excessive, it is necessary in order to achieve great results.
2. Secure the gold ring into a vise. Wearing sturdy leather work gloves, carefully bring the soldering tool to within twelve inches of the spot on the gold ring that needs to be repaired. Continue heating the ring until the gold appears to be the consistency of putty.
3. Use jeweler's tools to form the ring to the desired shape. It is essential to do this while the gold is still hot; if you wait until the gold has begun to cool, it may need to be re-melted. Re-melting gold jewelry can damage the structure and integrity of the jewelry.
4. Allow the ring to cool completely before removing it from the vise. Examine the ring thoroughly-if there are still spots that need to be repaired, put it back in the vise, and repeat the above steps until the desired result is achieved.