borax & forges

[Rick Leeson]

I use two gas forges. One for welding only and one for clean forging only.

The welding forge is seldom cleaned as everything going in is covered with Borax so I don't care how much Borax is in the bottom. Just keep adding a bit more cat liter from time to time. When forge becomes too much of a mess I scrape out the bottom after forging while the goo is still liquid. Then start over with more cat liter.

The clean forge never has any Borax put into it.

 

[Mark Williams]

I plan on doing the exact same thing.

I did cheat a little and do a tad of forge welding last night.

Mark

 

[Marjanp145]

Can somebody please tell me why and for what purpose borax is used in forging

 

[Cliff Parker]

oxygen free environment

 

[Marjanp145]

oxygen free environment

I'm sorry, but I still don't understand

 

[T.Saslow]

I am by no means an expert in either field (mig welting, arc welding, or forge welding) but I do have a good idea and a little experience with it. I believe, and I may be wrong, that when oxygen is present durring welding (either with a welder or forge welding), having a clean weld is virtually impossible. It causes pits and makes the weld weak. This is why they use Argon, CO2, and other gasses to displace the oxygen when you use a regular MIG welder. I don't know everything about it but it has something to do with the steel oxidizing. Correct me if I'm wrong though

 

[Marjanp145]

So do u use borax for just forge welding and welding. Do u have to use borax for regular forging, for example flattening out a steel rod

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The borax melts and covers the steel surface with a glass. This excludes all oxygen from the steel, preventing oxidation, scale, and decarburization.

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