Picked up a useful forge welding trick at a workshop in rural Pennsylvania

I visited a small blacksmithing workshop near Lancaster last Saturday. The old-timer running it showed me how he uses a thin coat of anhydrous borax mixed with a little water instead of the dry powder. He said it sticks better to the steel and keeps the flux from burning off too fast when you first put the billet in the fire. I tried it on a simple stack of three 1/4 inch mild steel pieces and got a solid weld on the first try. Usually I have to reheat and flux at least twice before it sticks. Has anyone else tried using wet flux or do you stick with the dry stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

emmafisher1mo ago

Oh man, wet flux is the only way I'll do it anymore. I fought with dry powder for years and it always blew off or burned up before the weld really set. The paste just sits there and does its job... I mix mine to about the consistency of pancake batter, thin enough to brush on but thick enough it won't drip off. It makes a huge difference on the first heat, especially with thicker billets. I've had guys tell me it's not traditional but who cares when it works better, right? Give it a try on some scrap first to get the hang of it.

linda_clark1mo ago

Tbh, that pancake batter consistency is exactly what I settled on too after burning through too much flux. Dry powder always seemed to fly off the billet once I hit it with the hammer, leaving bare spots that would ruin the weld. Mixing it wet just sticks around through the first couple of heats, which is when you actually need it most. Ngl, I've even gone a little thicker on really cold days since the paste thickens up fast if you're working outside. You're dead right about tradition being overrated if the weld comes out clean.