[TheForge] Re: flux additives

Sun Aug 17 22:15:00 2003

Chuck -

Yeah, I found this awhile back on the internet posted by Jim Hrisoulas.
This popped up when I was researching red iron oxide as a flux as it applies to
pottery.
(Any misspellings are his.)

"The below flux recipe I have used for the last 15 years..everyone that has
tried it calls is steel glue.  All ingredients are to be finely powdered
and well mixed.

5 parts Anhydrous Borax
2 parts powder Boric Acid
2 parts Flourspar (calcium flouiride)
1 1/2 parts powdered red iron oxide
1/2 part powdered Sal Amoniac
1/2 part non iodized Salt

Mix well and keep in an air tight container as this mixute is hydroscopic.
 Now this is a very active and agressive flux and will destroy most
refactory materials...

This works well in a coal fire, but best in LPG..  I have used this to
weld everything from wrought iron to stainless steels in a forge..I even
managed to get Stellite to forge weld, but I will never do that again..."

Now that I've posted it to theforge, I won't ever have to search for it on the
internet ever again.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Chuck Robinson
Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2003 8:52 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: flux additives

Hey Bob, You might want to try adding a pinch of sal ammoniac also.
When I talked to Jim Hrisoulas many years ago he used to add red iron oxide
and a pinch of sal ammoniac to his fluxing formulas.
Chuck