Borax substitute?

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

I found a packet of borax sub in the hardware shop, could it be used as a flux like 'real' borax?
Also, I found a carbon arc torch in the junk box, any use for silver soldering or is it a bit fierce?

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

borax sub – no. You can get most chemicals on ebay.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I would say yes – if it was among the metal flux items, but not if it were for one of the many other uses of borax. Reading the instructions on the packet maight be revealing.

Laundry products do not make good metal fluxes necessarily. Nor do insecticides. There are other boron chemicals to treat soil trace element deficiencies. Etc, etc.

Chances of it being a metal flux alternative is low, I would say.

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Carbon Arc torches were offered as extras with stick welders to provide a flame for brazing using brass (flux coated) rods for which I have used them many times.

I don't know if this equates to silver soldering temperatures

Edited By Robbo on 23/12/2016 09:45:11

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

The usual borax substitute is sodium sesquicarbonate a very different substance and is used as a water softener. Definitely no use for engineering purposes.

There seems to be much controversy over the safety of borax. Most studies seem to have concluded that it is safe unless the dust is inhaled or it is consumed in large quantities. It was however added to an EU list of chemicals of concern back in 2010.

Russell

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

Thank you all, I'll get some 'real' borax online.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Boric acid was used for wound dressings (boric acid lint etc). I would expect the 'danger' is the alkalinity of borax, more than its chemical properties as a toxin. pH of boric acid is very close to neutral (7).

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

Carbon arc torches are brilliant ! Use mine loads!

Heads up, there's 50 carbon arc rods (8mm )on ebay for 6 quid buy it now !

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by john carruthers on 23/12/2016 15:25:04:

Thank you all, I'll get some 'real' borax online.

.

John,

If you are only using small quantities, then using a Borax Cone proves very economical: **LINK**

http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Borax-Cone-prcode-998-098

[obviously not appropriate if you plan to use it by the shovel-full]

MichaelG.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

I got some from Cousins. £4.10 a kg plus £2.79 P&P. Must admit I bought it to kill off an ants' nest rather than as flux.

1kg was a bit of overkill (sorry), given that a spoonful of borax and a spoonful of sugar dissolved together seems to be more than enough to deal with any nest I've come across. It's a nerve poison for them apparently (and seems to work for wasps too). Leave the mixture in a bottle with a hole in the top (to keep it from larger animals) where they come in to the house. They don't bother coming any further, take it back to the nest to feed the others and gradually poison the whole colony.

You could probably put it on your cornflakes without coming to any great harm.

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

Loads of good leads, thanks.

Yes I use the carbon torch for 'hotting up' cast iron gears so I can put on a blob* of nickel weld to replace missing teeth, among other things. Plus it makes a good noise

* technical term

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I've found 'real' borax in pound shops, it works really well on steel with 0.63mm/1/32 brass wire 'spelter'.

An 'emergency substitute' for silver solder for use on steel but it needs lot of heat. Obviously brass would melt…

Neil

[Author]

Posts