Forge welding questions?

[Trevor51]

I want to try and forge weld to peices of carbon steel toghether to make make a really simple tomahawk. I see people using expensive powders to do it. I was just wondering if I could use borax for flux.

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

Yes. A lot of guys use cheap mule team 20 borax.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I've never used expensive powders to forge weld? Borax works fine.

 

[i4Marc]

You can also use sand.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You can also use sand.

Well, not just any sand and mot without some skill at forge welding. Fine feldspar sand is what is used. Beach sand may make a weld very difficult.

20 Mule team borax works just fine.

 

[Cody Hofsommer]

I always thought in was a bit silly, but when I weld a $10 bar shoe (horseshoe) i use the expensive iron mountain flux. When I weld a $800 knife, I use borax! I guess it's true, all you need to be a horseshoer is a strong back and a weak mind

Well, there is a little more to it then that. Low carbon steel is a little harder to weld, and I certainly don't put the same effort into preparing the weld. Scarf, brush, flux and go. Most of the time I'm outside in the wind in a forge that should be up to welding temp. A lot less variables in the shop on a Damascus billet.