My first try with a borax flux substitute from the hardware store went totally sideways

I mixed a paste of baking soda and water for a forge weld, and it just bubbled off instead of protecting the steel. Has anyone else found a cheap flux that actually works for basic billets?

3 comments

3 Comments

samreed16d ago

Seriously, try powdered laundry booster instead.

kelly_rivera16d ago

Baking soda decomposes way too fast for forge welding! You need actual anhydrous borax from a ceramics supplier, the hardware store stuff has water in it.

kevinw9416d ago

Remember my buddy trying that with washing soda? He got the same foamy mess. @kelly_rivera is right about the water, he ended up ordering the dry powder from a pottery shop online. It cost maybe ten bucks for a bag that lasts forever, and his next weld was clean.