lyuv Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Hi all, I"m doing my first steps with forge welding, so please forgive the possibly harebrained thought. When fluxing with borax, it needs to melt, and needs to cover all surfaces (to be welded). Sprinkling powdered borax works, but doesn't seem like an effective or efficient way. How about this: A metal pot full of borax, placed by the forge's fire, so the borax will melt. When you want to flux, you just dip your piece in the molten borax. Super fast, and the flux penetrates everywhere. What say thee? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JME1149 Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Sounds interesting in theory, but borax has a melting temp of 1369°F so you'd be looking at a crucible heated to at least that temp, and I have no idea what would happen when you cool it down at the end of the session (can you reheat and reuse?). I'd also think you'd need a significant amount in the pot to melt down initially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Geist Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 2 hours ago, lyuv said: When fluxing with borax, it needs to melt, and needs to cover all surfaces (to be welded). Sprinkling powdered borax works, but doesn't seem like an effective or efficient way. . What's ineffective or inefficient about it? It always worked for me. Thinking too deep into this stuff will cause you to complicate the simple. George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 that is inefficient is the waste of borax over applied will cause welding problems. ITS A FLUX NOT A GLUE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jclonts82 Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Steve is correct, its not glue. However, you can use it in this manner to get as early of an oxygen barrier as possible short of using a canister. I did this recently as an expirement and it worked... ok-ish. I started a charcoal fire in an old rivet forge and placed the lions share of a box of 20 mule team borax in an old coated cast iron dutch oven. It took a long time to melt, ended up using a weed burner on the top to help it along. In the end I got about 2, maybe 3 cups of the liquid at the consistency of really cold syrup. It worked, but in the long run, I think sprinkling powder flux between layers probably is much more effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 if you really think you need to coat everything, dissolve the borax in water and dip in that, allow to dry and you have a fully coated thin layer of borax with out making so much mess. Too many noobs worry about magic flux and things rather than learning how to forge weld in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 12 minutes ago, Steve Sells said: if you really think you need to coat everything, dissolve the borax in water and dip in that, allow to dry and you have a fully coated thin layer of borax with out making so much mess. Saw a video of Ilya Alekseyev doing this on a section of cable he was welding up into a billet. Makes a lot of sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 JHCC, Where is Ilya Alekseyev & his billet? (& not Waldo). Seriously, I would like to view that video. Can you u.r.l. the reference. I appreciate your heads up. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 The real trick is that once you have melted your borax it's anhydrous (until it rehydrates...) and you can let it cool and grind it up and use anhydrous borax to flux with---no popcorn effect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 20 minutes ago, SLAG said: JHCC, Where is Ilya Alekseyev & his billet? (& not Waldo). Seriously, I would like to view that video. Can you u.r.l. the reference. I appreciate your heads up. SLAG. It was one of the "Man At Arms" videos on YouTube. The bit about the borax-and-water slurry starts at 2:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALv580sAm2Y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 JHCC, Thank you for the reference. Regards, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 A saturated borax water solution is an old jewelers trick for fluxing. Works a treat on cable but needs a degreaser so a few drops of Dawn or Citrus degreaser does the job. Fluxing with molten borax hasn't impressed me, the thought occurred to me quite a while ago so I gave it a try. "Paterson's #2 blue" welding flux is available in welding supplies everywhere and works as well or better than most "real" forge welding fluxes, for about 25% the cost. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 I've always wanted to sell "Dumbo's Magic Feather Flux"; but the Disney folks are MEAN when it comes to infringement! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 3 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: I've always wanted to sell "Dumbo's Magic Feather Flux"; but the Disney folks are MEAN when it comes to infringement! Dumbo's Magic Infringement Flux? You could give it away but accept generous donations to the Powers that be Defense fund. Ooh ooh. "Dumbeau's Magic Feather Flux." With the picture of Dopey on the can! Accept no substitutes! Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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