cragknives Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 well I am a 17 year old knife maker and am just getting in to blacksmithing. I have wanted to start making damascus but cant find borax locally (guatemala, central america), so i can only get boric acid. Can I use it instead of borax?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason @ MacTalis Ironworks Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Short answer: yes. Long answer, it works, but doesn't last long at heat. It melts at a lower temperature than borax, so starts it's fluxing action with less heat, but doesn't protect as well as borax. I usually add 1 part boric acid to 5 parts borax in my flux just for that reason. The boric acid melts at a lower temp and protects the steel till the borax melts and takes over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I have used it successfully. It doesn't bubble like laundry borax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cragknives Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 Short answer: yes. Long answer, it works, but doesn't last long at heat. It melts at a lower temperature than borax, so starts it's fluxing action with less heat, but doesn't protect as well as borax. I usually add 1 part boric acid to 5 parts borax in my flux just for that reason. The boric acid melts at a lower temp and protects the steel till the borax melts and takes over. In that cast what color should I try to weld at. Any tips on using boric acid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason @ MacTalis Ironworks Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Use ut exactlty like borax, just don't expect the fluxin action to last as long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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