Blue gas flux

Jewelry Discussion
1

Greetings, you masters of metals! I have googled and boobled and
searched the archives with abandon, but I cannot seem to find a
recipe for “blue gas flux”. Surely someone knows! I was given a
sample by someone I cannot seem to track down, and now the stash is
dwindlling fast!

I have found that using it in place of paste flux for balling the
ends of sterling and 18kt gold wire for headpins and earwires, I
experience much less frequent pitting.

Would also like to know why this might be…(admitting I am still
a bit of a novice with the torch), and what experiences any of you
might have had with it.

Thanks for any input, this digest is always a pleasure to read.

Much obliged! M

2

Blue Gas Flux is used in the hydrogen torch. It mixes with
distilled water and creates hydrogen gas.

I also use it to coat pieces of silver I am smithing. It cuts down
on firescale and covers the piece nicely when annealing

Jennifer Friedman
now in Ventura, CA

3

The blue part is just a dye, you can buy gas flux from… are you
ready The Gasflux Company ( http://www.gasflux.com ) It is basically
the same as boric acid dissolved in alcohol but they use a more
volatile form (tri methyl borate, alcohol, and acetone) so that it
can be carried along with the gas in the torch lines.

Jim Binnion

James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160

@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau

4 
The blue part is just a dye, you can buy gas flux from... are you
ready The Gasflux Company ( http://www.gasflux.com ) It is
basically the same as boric acid dissolved in alcohol but they use
a  more volatile form (tri methyl borate, alcohol, and acetone) so
that it can be carried along with the gas in the torch lines

Thanks Jim, for the link to buy it, but is there a way to make
smaller batches other than having gallons of it shipped? And also, I
have only used it in the past to coat the gold, not run it through
any torch lines, so having a more “volatile” form, makes me bit
nervous!

Does anyone know the proper ratios? And the best source for boric
acid? (Someone recently told me to mix cockroach poison with
alcohol…hmmm any comments on this one?)

Much obliged for any Orchidian insights!

meike

5

Meike- Most cockroach poison is boric acid. Boric acid is carried
by Rio. It can also be bought at drug stores.

Regards
Captain Blood
"Marlinespike Seamanship in Precious Metals"
@Alden_Glenda_Blood

6

Mieke, Get some denatured alcohol (sold as shellac thinner in most
hardware stores) and a small wide mouth glass jar with a metal lid
(like the ones that artichoke hearts come in) and powdered boric
acid. Be careful when doing this as the alcohol is very flammable.
Do the pouring and mixing in a well ventilated area away from sparks
and flames and remember to wear safety glasses. Rubber gloves are
not a bad idea either as the alcohol (ethanol) is denatured (made
un-drinkable) by adding methyl alcohol (wood alcohol) which is
poisonous and can be absorbed through the skin. Put about 1/2" layer
of the boric acid in the bottom of the jar then add the alcohol to
fill the jar to about 3/4 full, stir and you are ready to go. The
boric acid will not all dissolve in the alcohol so as the level
drops in the jar just add alcohol and stir to dissolve more boric
acid in the alcohol.

Jim Binnion James Binnion Metal Arts Phone (360) 756-6550 Toll Free
(877) 408 7287 Fax (360) 756-2160 http://www.mokume-gane.com
@James_Binnion Member of the Better Business Bureau