[Jewelry making - Article 01022] - [Orchid] Annealling 14K gold

[Chris]

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Hi

    I've been given some 14ct gold scrap by a customer who wanted it
    converted into some jewellery. I have tried working the meatl into a
    usable form, rather than just a melted lump, by casting it into a rod
    and then milling and forging into the right size, 

    I know it's 14ct because I sent a sample to the UK assay office for
    testing but unfortuenantely that's all they told me - nothing else
    about the alloy constiuents. 

    However, i'm tearing my hair out because the gold is incredibly hard
    and cracks as soon as I try and work it. I have managed to get some
    of it down into sheet, but I can see cracks in the sheet and I'm not
    sure that it is really of high enough quality to use! 

    I have read the article on ganoksin about metal quality and working;

    http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/wrought-alloys.htm 

    but how can I know whether this gold has picked up impurities and
    are there any ways around the hardness problems, for example can I
    try holding the metal at annealing temperatures for many minutes.....
    etc.... 

    Any thoughts much appreciated. 

many thanks
Chris
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