[TheForge] Re: Rust,pickling

[Dave Brown]

At 21:42 08/16/03 -0500, you wrote:

>I have always been told (which may mot make it right as I believe
>everything I am told) 20 mule team has chemical water in it even if it
>feels dry.

You're right, Roger.  20MTB is hydrated sodium tetraborate.  There is H2O 
chemically bound to the borate.  It cannot evaporate, it must be seperated 
with heat.  Chemically it's Na2B4O7 -10H2O.  That's 10 H2O's bound to the 
sodium tetraborate.

>  I have used 20 mule team and anhydrous borax with the
>following observations.  The 20 mule bubbles up and falls off and the
>anhydrous sticks on like it is glued until it melts.

That's because of the heat driving off the water.  Gets fluffy, falls off 
easy ... use slow air at this point.  If putting the 20MTB on, have the 
iron good and hot so it fluffs up and then immediately melts before it gets 
a chance to fall off.

>   Both leave a white
>ugly residue unless it is totally removed.

That's cuz they're both the same thing after being in the fire.

<grin>

Dave Brown
Heritage Smithing
Green Bay, WI
ABANA, UMBA, GoM, MODA, ARG