My forge welds went from junk to clean in about six months after I stopped using the flux from the big box store.

I was getting frustrated because every time I tried to weld a simple billet, I'd get these ugly seams and inclusions. It looked like a mess, and I was about to give up on pattern welding. Then a guy at the local guild meet in Boise told me to ditch the commercial borax and try making my own anhydrous flux. I mixed up a batch with 20 Mule Team borax I baked in the oven first, and the difference was night and day. The next weld I did, the steel flowed together like butter, no grit or bubbles. I can't believe I wasted almost a year fighting that other stuff. Has anyone else had a specific flux recipe that made a huge difference for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

perez.patricia1mo ago

Kimreed's buddy is right, adding boric acid to baked borax makes a huge difference for clean welds.

kimreed1mo ago

That homemade flux trick is a game changer for sure. A buddy who does a lot of Damascus told me he adds a little boric acid to his baked borax for an even cleaner weld. Seems like the store-bought stuff just has too much moisture and junk in it.

the_holly1mo ago

Seriously, that boric acid tip is the secret weapon for getting those glassy, perfect welds.