Talking with an old timer about forge welding changed how I look at flux

Had a chat with a retired farrier down at the flea market in Boise last Saturday, and he told me he never used borax, just plain sand from his driveway. He said the silica does the same job if you get the heat right, and I gotta admit I laughed at first, but then I tried it on a small chain link repair. Anybody else ever swap out their usual flux for something weird that actually worked?

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wrenwilson24d ago

My grandpa swore by crushed charcoal for years and I thought he was nuts, but after trying silica-based flux on a stubborn weld last month, I finally get it. Heat really does most of the heavy lifting.