Forge weld flux

[ThomasPowers]

Well not a wood fire but a charcoal fire can get hot enough; real wood charcoal NOT BRIQUETTES.

They have been welding with charcoal for over 2000 years now so if you have a problem it's with your process or set-up.

[Damascus Mike]

Is it possible to borax or any thing that will forge weld?is it true that fertilizer can be used as flux.thanx DM

[Finnr]

Well kind of depends on what fertilizer you are looking at dung sure won't do it. And most of the others I am familiar with would be real unhealthy.
Finnr

[Glenn]

Is it possible to borax or any thing that will forge weld?

Would you please state the question again, or in another way? I am not sure what you are asking.

There are many many different types of fertilizers, can you be more specific as to which fertilizer you have in mind using?

[Damascus Mike]

Is it possible make to borax or any thing that will forge weldthat is cheap and doesnt require much science?sorry i left out a few words

[Finnr]

Borax is mined not made. It is a natural occurring chemical. It is also very cheap. I use it as flux and also use it in my laundry. Here it is sold as 20 Mule Team Borax in the laundry isles of groceries. You can also get it from about supplier of chemicals.
Finnr

[Damascus Mike]

do you put it in the washing machine as a soap to wash your clothes?

[Damascus Mike]

doesnt using sand as a flux go into the metal and make tiny holes in it?sort of like wen u hit a punch into a piece of metal to mark out where u ganna drill?

[Finnr]

As an additive along with the soap.
Finnr

[Finnr]

No. the sand melts before welding heat is reached. That's why it's there to melt and exclude oxygen.
Finnr

[new guy]

ok that is totally true. and i make my own charcoal on site so i am totally sure if i screw up it is only my set up or (lack of a) blower.

[Glenn]

Borax (or any flux) is NOT glue. The forge weld can be achieved without flux.

[new guy]

how much for a bag? i would like to start welding for an axe and other tools and it seems i need flux. i think 25 lbs would work.

[ThomasPowers]

I used to weld billets in a charcoal fire using a double lunged bellows I built myself so you can make your own "blower". A fire just sitting there will not get hot enough to weld with without extra air being pushed in.

[ThomasPowers]

Another place to check a ceramics supply place to see if they have anhydrous borax to be used in making glazes. Some folks like it better than regular borax.

[new guy]

how do you recomend a blower? i usually fan with a folding camp chair. will i be able to use a hari dryer?

[Steve Sells]

Hair dryers work well. best if you don't waste energy using the heat settings, as it only overloads/heats up the dryer. Just use air setting.

[Steve Sells]

I forge weld a lot of damascus billets. I buy my borax by the 3 pound box. It lasts me a few months.

25# will get wet(wetter?) before you use even a portion of it.

[Frosty]

New Guy.

Could you sign your posts so we can tell if it's you or your Dad please? I'm having a heck of a time trying to decide whether to answer like I'm talking to an adult who knows enough to understand basic answers.

For instance, if someone doesn't tell New Guy the younger to put a blower in a piece of pipe and put the other end in the base of the fire my bet is he'll just point it at the fire and hope.

New guy the older on the other hand would at least ask if he didn't know.

Frosty

[Steve Sells]

MOD alert, we are happy to give Dad his own log in, actually we prefer to keep them separate, rather than continue the issue Frosty just mentioned.

please set up separate accounts. If you have trouble Glenn who is the forum owner, will assist you.

[new guy]

ok yeha i think i may just start signing my posts. ps. try me with the basic answers i may just know or you may be right frosty and Steve
new guy JR.

[johnptc]

air output from a shop vac is pretty good and yes by all means hook up a steel pipe and put the air in at the bottom may even an angle and diffuser :)

[new guy]

ok will do as soon as the rain stops and i have time
new guy jr

[Damascus Mike]

how can sand melt in a forge?i thought it must be much hotter.is sand as in beach sand or what?

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

I guess there are higher temp sands, but basically its silica, the same stuff they glaze pottery with so yes it does melt in the forge, you can look up melting point of silica to see exactly what temp it melts.