I wanna echo what A.C. said - don't get from ebay or pottery supply, they will sell you 20 mule team that has just been run through a 400F oven thinking that is the same as chemically-dry borax. Far from it. To really get anhydrous borax, you have to melt 20 mule team down into borax glass and then crush it up. You can do it in a forge if you have one of those big iron ladles. You can't do it with an oven. Not and get truly "anhydrous." I even sent some back, and they sent me another batch of the same stuff. These guys did not know the difference.
Chemical supply works well, too. I had good luck with them. In fact, I have only bought from Chemical Supply and the place I listed earlier.
bring it on over, we will press up some damascus. I need to make a batch of wrought iron layered with low mang 1075 for a traditional gladius project. We can run the forge hot and take turns using the press. Save fuel, work two billets in alternation with two smiths.
kc
