Oldiron2's Marvel Mystery Flux - Homemade Soldering Flux

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Oldiron2 mentioned in post #28 poor boy soldering flux can be made from pine sap:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...354#post219354I have a pine tree needs to redeem itself because it has ruined so many paint jobs! So as Oldiron2 said, I went out to the old pine tree and harvested some sap:Attachment 24353At Carbon-Arc break time, I set up the DIY flux smelter -  frying pan and torch:Attachment 24354I had a little trouble finding just the right container to pour the flux into.The hot flux was skimmed and then poured through a special flux maker's filter -not to be confused with a common red shop rag-  into a retail ready package:Attachment 24355Of course quality testing was in order.Before - Strap is heated hot enough to melt bar solder, but the solder will not wick or tin:Attachment 24356After - With Oldiron2's Marvel Mystery Flux:Attachment 24357Just a touch of Oldiron2's Marvel Mystery Flux - Instant flow, tin, and bond. Last edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:35 PM.
Reply:Holy cow..Denrep,  Im speechless weld it like you own it
Reply:You could sell that and become rich!Thanks again for the postDavid Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Great post and I do appreciate the title too. Sure better than the Chinese stuff (probably diluted with old milk!).Marvel Mystery Oil is 100% volatile (no residue!) and can actually be used to thin/soften the rosin too!
Reply:DAMN COOL. Denrep and Oldiron2:We're loosing a lot of 'old school tricks'. Thanks for keepin' 'em alive.Edit: Would that work with a propane torch? Ain't no way my soldering iron is doin' that.Last edited by Craig in Denver; 10-16-2008 at 11:41 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Thanks Denrep and Oldiron2, I'll remember this one.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Oops, double post. 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:A quick search turned up most rosin flux is made from pine sap. Great find!JimSolder Flux BasicsContributed by Paul D. Stransky, Paul Stransky AssociatesRosin based fluxes are made from rosin which is extracted from pine sap. The purified product is known as "Water White Rosin". The active ingredient is an organic acid, abietic acid and may contain homologs such as dehydro abietic acid and leviopmaric acid (1,2).References   1. Kester Product literature   2. Alpha Metals Product Literature
Reply:oldirion 2 thanks fer showin the dime, gotta go get dry pants...
Reply:sorry denrep, thanks to you..
Reply:Yuppo... flux is basically sap in some formulas.  Cool find.
Reply:Oh shucks, fresh outta pine trees! How many watts is that iron anyway? I've got up to 120 watt irons, after that, it's the torch! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Denrep;That picture of your leaky tree reminded me that I had to drop an old Colorado Spruce a few years ago, and I got lots of sap from it soon after. I still have some wood from the tree in my firewood pile, and noticed this last spring that it was still bleeding. I haven't yet harvested this 'pure, yellow, stringy' sap but here are two shots I (finally) took of some of it. I used to get it from logs cut by a tree removal service when I was there to cut firewood and may already have five pounds, but this is from my tree, so I still need it. Attached Images
Reply:Can't see OP's images and attachments don't go anywhere.......................?Others seem to see OK?Am I missing something?200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:bert I cant see them either.... would really like to anyone got answers??
Reply:A spammer, who's post has been deleted, stirred up this old thread. So for those who missed it the first time around here are the pictures: Originally Posted by denrepFrom 10-16-2008Oldiron2 mentioned in post #28 poor boy soldering flux can be made from pine sap:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...354#post219354I have a pine tree needs to redeem itself because it has ruined so many paint jobs!So as Oldiron2 said, I went out to the old pine tree and harvested some sap: At Carbon-Arc break time, I set up the DIY flux smelter - frying pan and torch:I had a little trouble finding just the right container to pour the flux into.The hot flux was skimmed and then poured through a special flux maker's filter -not to be confused with a common red shop rag- into a retail ready package: Of course quality testing was in order.Before - Strap is heated hot enough to melt bar solder, but the solder will not wick or tin:After - With Oldiron2's Marvel Mystery Flux:Just a touch of Oldiron2's Marvel Mystery Flux - Instant flow, tin, and bond.
Reply:Im confused on how much or when the marvel mystery oil is added?Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller Spectrum 250DMiller Millermatic 200Bunch of old blue dinosaurs....
Reply:That's because it's Marvel Mystery Flux.  It uses hard to find No Oil. MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:None of the photos work for me.  Help!
Reply:I have a tin of it around here somewhere.  I showed a plumber and he went all ape over it.  He told me his grandpa use to make his own flux from pine tar/sap.  This plumber wanted to learn how so badly, but could figure it out.  This made his day.  That was back in 2010.  I got him to do all my plumbing and tried to pay him, but he said I already had.  It is little things I guess that make men happy.
Reply:I PM'd Oldiron2 the first time I saw this thread for a more definitive recipe. He told me the sap works great with nothing added to it. The Mystery Oil is added to make it easier to strain & filter the debris out of it. It also makes it spread easier. Doesn't take much of the Marvel if heated correctly to make the best flux I've ever used. I heated the sap (resin, rosin) until liquid, turned off the heat & dripped the Mystery Oil in until I thought it was liquid enough to pour thru a filter. Worked great the first time.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches