[Jewelry making - Article 00224] - Re: [Orchid] Dried chunky flux

[Gary]

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    I depends on what flux you mean. Here in UK I use Auflux for precious
    metals and Johnson Matthey EasyFlo (or occasionally Tenacity) powder
    for other metals. The powder fluxes work OK with precious metals, but
    its a bind mixing it up and it tends to bubble up rather more than
    the Auflux. Since the Auflux is a slightly luminous green liquid, if
    a little dries out I just discard it, but I assume you're actually
    talking about the J&M powders - probably EasyFlo. I've found that if
    it dries out and goes hard I can just crush it with the handle of a
    spoon, or a mortar and pestle, and remix it with a little water.
    Despite what I've read, it seems to work just fine. After all, the
    water doesn't actually do anything except make a convenient medium
    for placing the powder on the joint. The water gets boiled away long
    before the flux melts and is activated. The powder must melt in order
    to form the protective film that keeps the oxygen away from the
    joint. 

    I use the EasyFlo only occasionally, so it always dries out like a
    little block of plaster before its needed again. I just crush it as
    above, and remix it. 

    By the way, don't forget to add a drop or two (no more) of
    washing-up liquid when you add the water - it helps to degrease and
    wet the joint nicely. 

Regards, Gary Wooding
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