Kwik Kiln Basic
Cupelling Instructions
1. Place the Kwik Kiln on
a level fireproof surface. Align the torches with the side ports and gently
insert the torch tips approximately ¼” into the side ports of the Kwik Kiln.
Secure the torches with a suitable device so the torches don’t roll and the
valves and tips are parallel with the surface.
2. Remove one of the
torches and light it. Adjust the valve so that you have a clean blue flame
approximately 1½” long. Re-insert the torch gently into the side port of the
Kwik Kiln and replace the lid. Allow the Kwik Kiln to warm up for a few
minutes, then slowly open the valve on the second torch until it lights. Once
both torches are lit, remove the lid and adjust the valves on both torches
until you have a clean blue flame protruding into the combustion chamber of the
Kwik Kiln approximately ½” to ¾”, then replace the lid. Allow the kiln to warm
up to a bright orange color. While the kiln is warming up, place the cupel on
the lid so that the flame exiting the lid of the kiln comes into contact with
the cupel. The flame exiting the kiln should be approximately 2” to 3” tall.
Move the cupel around the lid until all sides of the cupel have been in contact
with the flame, thereby preheating the cupel.
3. Remove the cupel from
the lid and place the lead prill in the cupel. Remove the lid and place the
cupel inside the combustion chamber, centering it inside of the Kwik Kiln.
Replace the lid and continue to heat the cupel until the lead melts and the
cupel opens. Continue to heat the cupel for a few minutes until the crust has
moved off to the sides of the molten pool of lead and the pool of lead has
stilled.
4. Remove the lid from
the Kwik Kiln after the cupel has opened and has stilled. When the lid is
removed, an oxidizing environment is created and the pool of lead begins to
oxidize or ‘burn’ and is converted from metallic lead to litharge. During the
conversion of metallic lead to litharge, an exothermic reaction takes place,
significantly raising the temperature of the lead and cupel. However, when
utilizing the Kwik Kiln, most of the heat from the exothermic reaction is
released out of the top of the kiln and the contact of atmospheric oxygen also
cools the pool of burning lead.
Closely observe the
burning pool of lead during the first initial stages of the process and, if
there are any indications of the cupel beginning to freeze, replace the lid and
let the cupel and pool of lead heat up for a minute or two, then, remove the lid
and let the burning pool of lead convert to litharge once again.
Once the temperature has
stabilized and the burning pool of lead is being absorbed by the cupel, adjust
the torches if necessary, so that the feathers and rings of litharge forming on
the cupel are dark red to almost black. The color of the lead will be much
brighter than the litharge being absorbed by the cupel, as the pool of lead is
much hotter than the cupel or air surrounding it. The formation of abundant
dentric crystals of litharge (feathers) on the sides of the cupel is indicative
of optimal cupelling temperatures of approximately 700 to 850 degrees Celsius.
5. During the end stages
of the cupellation, as the alloy becomes richer, the bead becomes more and more
rounded in shape and shining drops of litharge appear and move about on the
surface of the bead. When the last of the lead goes off, these drops disappear
and the fused litharge becomes very thin and gives an effect so that the bead
appears to spin rapidly and presents a display of rainbow colors.
Once you see this
happening, replace the lid on the kiln and leave the lid in place until the
bead ‘brightens’. Once the bead has brightened, continue to heat for a couple
of minutes, while paying close attention to the feathers of litharge collected
on the sides of the cupel. The temperature of the kiln should not be allowed to
raise enough to melt the litharge feathers. If you see this occurring,
immediately remove the lid and finish without the lid in place.
After a couple of
minutes, turn both valves on the torches off, leaving the lid in place and
allow the cupel to cool slowly while watching for the ‘blick’ from the bead. As
the bead cools and solidifies, it will emit a flash of light (blick) from the
release of the latent heat of fusion.
After the bead blicks or
flashes and the cupel has cooled, remove it from the kiln and closely observe
the surface of your bead. The color of the bead and the appearance of the
bead’s surface may indicate the presence of certain metals contained within the
bead.
Enjoy, be Safe and Good Luck out there!
Your Gold Processing
Kilns Team
External crucible erosion
is directly related to the flame from the torches contacting the exterior
surface of the graphite crucibles used in the Kwik Kiln. The graphite crucibles
are slowly consumed during the process. However; if the torches are turned up
too high, the blue pencil tip portion of the flame will cut grooves into the
exterior of the crucible, causing premature failure of the crucible. The valves
on some pencil tip torches are very touchy, when the torches are placed on
their side and no two torches seem to perform the same. For this reason, we
recommend Mag-torches as our chosen pencil tip torches to use with our Kwik
Kiln, as they are more stable.
The following procedures
will help to eliminate exterior crucible erosion:
Align the torches with
the ports in the kiln and place the tip of them just inside of the stainless
steel shell, approximately ¼” inch.
Remove one of the torches
and light it. Adjust the flame to where the center blue pencil flame is
approximately 1” to 1 ¼”. Lay the torch on its side and insert the torch into
the port. With the lid and spacer removed, adjust the flame so that the tip of
the blue flame penetrates inside of the kiln approximately ¼” to ½”.
Open the valve on the
other torch and adjust the flame as described, so that both flames are equal.
Place the spacer onto the kiln and let the kiln warm up for a few minutes
without the lid in place. When the kiln gets hot, the blue torch flames seem to
recede into the ports as the torches stabilize. Once the kiln is hot, the
combustion taking place inside the kiln is much more efficient than when the
kiln is cold and you can then re-adjust the flame until the blue pencil tip of
the flame is penetrating into the kiln approximately ¼” to ½”.
Following the procedures
described above will help to eliminate the exterior crucible erosion and the
kiln will ultimately reach the temperatures needed for melting. You can also
rotate the crucible so that any grooving is not placed into the path of the
flames entering the kiln, as well. Observing the interior of the Kwik Kiln and
the flames in the daylight is difficult. However, if you take your Kwik Kiln
outside at night, it’s easy to see what is going on inside of it. Carefully
monitor your crucibles exterior as you use them. With proper adjustment of the
torches, I have crucibles with over a dozen pours on them.
DISCLAIMER
No guarantee is given
regarding the amount of gold, silver, or other precious metals obtained from
this process, as it depends upon the quality of your materials to begin with
and your own skills. These are kilns that may ultimately generate
temperatures in excess of 2200F degrees. Use at your own risk and follow all
recommended and common-sense safety precautions. The kiln and kit materials
are not toys and are not to be used by children. Sellers are not responsible
for accidents or injuries caused by hot kilns or the contents thereof. Using
one purchased from this seller acknowledges that you use it at your own risk
and are fully aware of all hazards associated with using the kiln and the
process of melting metals.