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c/blacksmithshenryr45henryr456h agoProlific Poster

Finally got my first clean forge weld on a Damascus billet!

I was stuck between using borax or just trying to get the steel hotter and cleaner. Went with the borax after watching a video from a smith in Montana. It flowed perfectly and sealed everything up on the third try. Anyone have tips for keeping the layers from sliding when you start drawing it out?
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3 Comments
the_robin
the_robin6h ago
Borax is just a crutch for poor temperature control. Getting the steel truly clean and hot enough should be your only goal. That sliding issue you mentioned is often caused by the borax itself creating a weak layer.
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pat_harris
Tell that to my clean, hot, and still stuck billet, @the_robin.
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skyler_kelly69
Yeah pat_harris, borax can definitely get gummy like that.
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