it sounds like you’re working with a 14k alloy for casting not
rolling.
I’ve experienced the same thing melting down my old castings or
buttons and trying all the same remidies that you list here- and
having the same results! It is very frustrating indeed!
We don’t use customers’ gold for rolling- it just doesn’t work.
(Unless it’s really old stuff that was created with the classic 3
part silver, cooper, gold alloy- then you can take all kinds of
liberties with it)
If you’re going to roll sheet or draw wire use an alloy meant for
that- we’ve used PM West alloys and found them to work really well-
the casting alloy works great for casting and the rolling alloy lets
you draw wire and roll sheet with very little time out for
re-annealing. PM West is also very good about advising us self-
taught types on technical issures.
Good luck!
rona