Borax Protection

Burchtree

Burchtree

KnifeMaker & Moderator
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I got a question for all you borax-flingers out there. When you're using a trip-hammer, or for those of you just using a hammer (like myself), how do you keep from taking a shot of borax-butter? Is it just awareness and a lot of protective clothing? when I worked on forge-welding a hawk, my swings were timid because I was afraid I was going to squirt a bunch of borax all over the place.
 
I have several scars on my wrists and arms from what you are talking about. I now wear a heavy leather apron, leather welders gloves and a leather welders half jacket. I also wear a full face shield with a #3 green welder color. I haven't had any trouble since I went to that combination.
 
It doesn't burn for too long.:D

I only where gloves and a long sleve shirt when setting my welds on a billet. That stops most of it, put not all of it. When I get ready to go to the power hammer, I put on a heavy leather apron.

If it is getting you gun shy, you might want to get yourself a welders jacket to wear while you are forge welding.


Editied to add: Tom beat me to it, I need to type faster!:D
 
Jack Daniels:)

I was trying to get some stainless to weld together one night and I tried mixing in some cast iron turnings into my flux. The cast iron melts at around 2050 or so and it is supposed to act as flux, plus eat up any oxygen.

Anyway, I had moltlen cast iron spay go through my glove and sit there and burn. I was damned if i was going to stop and shake out my glove and lose the that heat, so I continued to try to set my welds.

But at least the nice thing about burns, they cauterize themselves;)

I would rather get all those little burns than run my thumb across my grinder again. that sucker still hurts!
 
Don't forget the leather boots. I am always catching my shoes on fire. It really sucks to stand around in one wet shoe.
 
long sleeve carhart shirt

green canvas welding shirt from the welding supply house or MCS, or Grainger

Surprisengly enough, borax added to the laundry makes cotton somewhat fire resistant. Smells bettter too.
 
Michael, Michael, Michael, You big baby. Your going to have to come back to Kaiser so I can toughen you up some. Didn't your mother ever tell you, " Hot liquid borax is good for you". :eek: :D :D

Bill
 
No shirt no pants......no nothing! I like to be close to my work......really....the wife thinks the scars in strange places are sexy.

Leather welding jacket makes a world of difference, or welding sleeves, adn a leather apron. I have never caught a shoe on fire, but.....oh yea...a face shield, not safety glasses.

Doc
 
I don't forge weld, but I've seen some jackets at regular welding supply places you should look at. They are chemically treated or something to resist heat up to 1000 deg or so, and very light weight about like wearing an average long sleeve button up shirt.

The guy who taught me to weld had me wear one and I didn't even think about it. Got home and started in with the stick welder wearing a plain old sweatshirt and promptly set it on fire. Not major, but I had to stop and put myself out. I still wear it to weld, its got 100's of little holes burned in it now, I'm just more careful. If I ws going to be doing a lot of welding or taking chances on larger chunks hitting me I'd definitely get the welding coat, pretty sure they aren't even that expensive.
 
Well, after i burned myself a nice half inch hole into my expensive japanese style body suit tattoo, i decided to use an apron and a face shield from then on. But only when working with the power hammer. When working with a hand hammer i do not wear any special protection. The little occasional burns heal quickly.

Achim
 
A pipefitter taught me this trick for welding, keep a can of spray starch in the shop and spray your clothes before you start and they don't burn and repels flux.

Tony
 
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