Recycling Precious Metals for Jewellers with Mark Cutler of Mastermelt (podcast episode)
With the rising price of gold and silver, every speck of precious metal counts.
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, host Kelly Twigg sits down with Mark Cutler from Mastermelt to explore the fascinating and often overlooked process of reclaiming and refining precious metal scrap for jewellers and metalsmiths.
Listen now on:
Founded in 1985 in Hatton Garden, London, Mastermelts has grown into a global refining company trusted by both the jewellery trade and industrial sectors. Mark shares expert insights into how jewellers can recover value from every stage of their workshop, from lemel (high-grade metal scraps) to sweeps (low-grade material like polishing waste and dust).
Learn why simple workshop habits can make a huge difference in reclaiming precious metal content.
Mark offers practical tips for:
Maximising recovery - from bench dust to old carpet and even water waste (and find out just how much gold was reclaimed from one jeweller's carpet!)
Safe and sustainable refining - what not to put in your sweep bags.
Understanding the full refining cycle - how reclaimed metals return to the trade as new bullion and casting grain.
Choosing your return option - whether you prefer a direct payment or fine metal grain to reuse in your next jewellery creation.
Packed with insider advice and sustainability insights, this episode is a must-listen for any jeweller looking to reduce waste, recover hidden value, and close the loop on precious metal use in their practice.
Listen now to discover how every speck, scrap, and sweep can make a difference - both for your business and for the planet.
To find out more about Mastermelt, check out their website
SAND CASTING FOR JEWELLERS - new online course
One way you can reuse your scrap in your own workshop is through sandcasting. You can use clean scrap metal (no solder) and add 30% - 50% new grain, melt it down and create something new! If you’d like to learn how, check out our brand new online course. Professionally filmed with experienced jeweller Iain Sainsbury you will learn:
How to set up your sand casting area
How to prepare your mould
Seasoning your crucible
Creating your casting space
The casting process - heating the metal and pouring
Casting a wax carved piece
Casting a 3D object - in this project Iain demonstrates casting a heart pendant. The same technique can be used to cast other objects
Casting rings, pendants and charms etc
Casting heat proof stones in place
Cleaning up your castings
Health and safety for sandcasting
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my process of getting into goldsmiths north fair
With Iain Sainsbury
In this episode, Jess chats with Iain Sainsbury, who is the featured jeweller in the fourth episode of the Handmade Jewellers series and who recently got accepted to showcase his work at Goldsmiths North, a prestigious fair for jewellers. Ian shares his journey of applying to the fair, highlighting the challenges and decisions involved. He emphasizes the importance of having a platform where people can physically engage with his jewellery, which led him to apply to Goldsmiths North.