Forge-welding flux recipes
Jun 24, 2012I’m keeping track of flux recipes used by blacksmiths for forge-welding as I run across them. The flux reduces oxidation and lowers the melting point of any slag or scale and helps to carry it away. There are two schools of thought: borax and no borax. Fortunately, the MSDS for commercial fluxes is available.
- Borax-based
- Borax, Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na~2~[B~4~O~5~(OH)~4~]·8H~2~O), sold as Dial Corp 20-Mule Team Borax. Some report better results after baking it to remove the water, producing Anhydrous Borax.
- Iron Mountain Forge Welding Flux. Reportedly anhydrous borax and iron powder. No MSDS, no proportions. The third party videos of its use are convincing.
- Folk recipe #1: 3 parts Borax, 1 parts Sal Ammoniac (NH~4~Cl) available from hardware stores and ground.
- Folk recipe #2: 2 parts Borax, ^1^/~4~ to 1 part Boric Acid. Some include 1 part Black Iron Oxide (Fe~3~O~4~) or chips from a bandsaw or lathe. This sounds like a homemade version of the Iron Mountain product.
- Folk recipe #3: 3 parts Borax, 1 part Sal Ammoniac, 1 part metallurgical grade calcium fluoride powder (CaF~2~, aka Fluorite or Fluorspar). Used for Damascus steel. (Looks like reagent quality in small quantities sells for $2.00/g so I’m not going to try this one soon…)
- James Hrisoulas uses: 5 parts anhydrous borax, 2 parts powdered boric acid, 1 part powdered iron oxide, 1/2 part fluorspar, 1/4 part sal ammoniac.
- Boric Acid-based
- Boric acid, sold as Copper Brite Roach Prufe (98), Pic Boric Acid Roach Killer (99)
- Superior Flux & Mfg. products, aka Anti-Borax, Cherry Weld,
EZ-Weld, etc. Composition varies but the MSDS reads:
- Boric Acid 8-13%
- Iron Oxides (FeO, Fe~2~O~3~, Fe~3~O~4~) 45-55%
- Steel Chips 35-45%
- Neither
Interestingly, there are remarks on forums about using clean, white sand and ordinary table salt in lieu of flux. This makes me think they rely on a mechanical action instead of a chemical one.