[TheForge] Re: New Discoveries: Ersatz EZ Weld

[Peter Hirst]

Success!  60% Borax, 20% Boric Acid, 20% fine steel.  Did a 6" faggot weld 
w/ 3/8 in 3 heats.   The weld stood up to a cold chisel and 4lb drill 
hammer.  Steel wool fibers were visible in the foamy part of the flux, 
separate from the work, right up to welding heat.  If I ever get a hold of 
some wire rope for a knife, this is the flux I'll use.  Next step is to make 
anhydrous.  the bubbling off of the H2O wastes a lot am flux and I'm sure 
doesn't cover as well.

Thanks for all the input.

Keziah
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Frost" <akfrosty at mtaonline.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: New Discoveries: Ersatz EZ Weld


> Yeah, that's right. Been too long since I took a welding class. <sigh>
>
> Frosty
> -------------------------------
> If it ain't forged
> it ain't real.
> Wrought iron is.
> The FrostWorks
>
> Meadow Lakes, AK.
>
>
> From: "David E. Smucker" <davesmucker at hotmail.com>
>
>
>> Frosty,
>>
>> The data I have says iron oxide as Fe2O3 has a melt point of 1566 C and 
>> iron (pure) at 1538 C.  Alloy steels should be lower including carbon 
>> steel.  Not that it makes much difference as those two temperature are 
>> rather close.  My understanding, and it may not be fully correct is that 
>> the reason a cutting torch works is that when iron "burns" or oxidizes in 
>> the O2 steam of the torch the reaction is exothermic and drives the 
>> cutting.  This doesn't happen with aluminum for example and you can't cut 
>> it with a torch -- only melt.  None of this helps me understand why 
>> putting Fe2O3 in a flux makes a better flux -- but it seems to.
>>
>> Dave
>
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