[TheForge] Drying Borax (was: Welding flux?)

[Bruce .]

I've told you guys this already, now LISTEN UP!

Chemists dry chemicals at relatively low temperature.  I can't give
you an exact minimum temperature for drying borax, but I would bet
money it's WELL under the melting temperature of the stuff (something
like 1100 F!).

Put the borax in a thin layer in an appropriate container into an oven
and bake it for maybe an hour at something under 1100 F.  8^)   I
would start with 250 F, but possibly a higher temperature would be
needed.  A chemist would dry to constant weight, but a blacksmith need
only dry till the stuff doesn't foam when placed on red-hot steel.

Store the dry borax in a tight-fitting jar or can, as it will
certainly pick up moisture from the air if you don't.

No, I haven't tried to dry borax, as I've never see the need.  I just
get the steel hot enough to melt the borax.

The advantage of drying this way is that it avoids the grinding operation.

BTW, I've got a friend who puts borax into old plastic grated-cheese
containers for dispensing.  Same problem with those as with squeeze
bottles.  But maybe somebody could fabricate a simple metal squeeze
container -- think of the old oil cans with the bottoms that "oil can"
(that's a verb, boy, that's a verb).  Or maybe get a very large old
oil can, clean out the oil residue, and shorten and widen the spout to
maybe 1" long and 1/4" in dia.  Alternatively, get a one-quart metal
solvent can and drill a hole in the cap.  Fill it maybe half full of
flux powder and use it as a dispenser -- the broad sides will "oil
can" to help dispense the borax.
-- 
Bruce
NJ