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Magic Flame

Jewelry Discussion
#1

My never ending experiments in fluxing and firescale prevention have
lead me to Magic Flame…

These are the instructions on the side of the Magic Flame container:

“Dip- Add Magic Flame to denatured alcohol as you normally do with
boric acid. Add as much as you need to get the fire coat you
desire”

I don’t normally use boric acid and denatured alchol…

So what’s the ratio?

Also what do you mix this in? Glass bowl?

Thanks,
Tracey
http://www.fireflyjewelrydesign.com

#2

Magic Flame works great for firescale prevention. I mix it and store
it in a lidded jar because it is highly flammable once you add the
denatured alcohol. After applying, I always close the jar tightly
before even thinking about lighting my torch. You may want to allow
it to dry as well because the alcohol will cause quite a flame on
your piece.

I don’t have an exact ratio for you. I put some Magic Flame in a jar
and add denatured alcohol until it becomes liquid enough to apply by
dipping or brushing on…maybe 1/3 Magic Flame to 2/3’s alcohol.

Geri Comstock
Works in Glass and Metal

#3

Since my magic flame came in a plastic jar, I figured plastic was
okay for mixing it with alcohol. I have it in a one-pint tupperware
like paint can from lowes. Is that not safe?

#4 
    okay for mixing it with alcohol. I have it in a one-pint
tupperware like paint can from lowes. Is that not safe?

Hi Shawn;

Definitely NOT safe. Here’s what can happen.

The container is open and accidentally gets set on fire. The plastic
container’s topmost edge begins to melt and itself begins to burn.

Now you’ve got something much more difficult to extinguish. As soon
as the container begins to sag from the heat, the alcohol is now free
to pour out over whatever surface it’s on and set fire to anything
it can.

Now if you’d had a small glass container, you could have even
smothered the fire by putting your bare hand firmly over the top of
the jar, or even your steel bench block if the lid isn’t handy. But
if you do that to a burning plastic container, you’re at least going
to get a painful burn and you might just end up setting your whole
arm on fire. Another problem. Suppose you work like I do,
occasionally getting carried away and waving the torch around a bit
:slight_smile: Hit that plastic container with really hot torch and you might
have some serious excitement. Now, where did I put mount fire
extinguisher again?

A few jewelry suppliers make a nice little wide mouth jar with a
glass lid, designed specifically for boric/alcohol mixture. They are
dirt cheap, and if that’s not cheap enough for you, get ahold of a
baby food jar. Frankly, unless you’re working on large articles all
the time, it’s best to keep only a small container of flammable
liquid on your bench… less fuel means smaller accidental fires.

David L. Huffman

#5

Good points about alcohol in plastic jars, David! Fortunately, my own
experiences with “flux flambee” in peanut butter jars haven’t been
quite so dramatic.

I like using a canning-type jar with a wire hinge and clamp, because
it can be opened and closed with one hand, and the lid is never
completely off the jar. I need to replace the seal ring on mine now,
but I still think the one-handed, flip-open lid is the way to go.

Noel

#6 
Frankly, unless you're working on large articles all
the time, it's best to keep only a small container of flammable
liquid on your bench... less fuel means smaller accidental fires.

OR… keep the plastic container and all flammable materials OFF the
bench, and then you don’t have ANY accidental fires, small or
otherwise. I keep my boric/alcohol dip in a sealed plastic specimen
container on a shelf behind me, so that I’m never in danger of
hitting it with the torch. In our student lab, the boric/alcohol mix
(which is in a glass jar) is kept on the workbench area, away from
the torches. You turn and dip your piece(s), then turn back around
and place them on the soldering surface. MUCH safer that way.

Karen Goeller
@Karen_Goeller