Any advice on the one brick forge?

happycat · Jan 31, 2002

Well I got my bricks finally. Unfortunately I've lost the articles from Blade that talked about the darn thing. I've got the BASIC idea, hollow it out and drill a burner hole in the side, but am woefully lacking in any kind of detailed instructions.
I remember a certain model bernzomatic mentioned. I've just got your basic plumbers torch. Will that do? Do you hollow it out all the way through lengthwise or leave the back intact? Any other one brick advice would be greatly appreciated. I just started banging away and have forged two small knives to date and I've got the fever!
Thanks,
Ed

Tom Marshman · Jan 31, 2002

Try this on for size: http://pub42.ezboard.com/fcustomknifedirectoryforumfrm6.showMessage?topicID=240.topic

Kalindras · Feb 1, 2002

Been wanting to try one of these for quite a while, especially while I roll my boulder uphill towards getting my full-sized gas forge built...

Only one thing eludes me...

WHERE THE HECK DO YOU GET SOFT FIREBRICK?!? Is there ANYWHERE in the Dallas area to get this stuff? I can find the hard ones lots of places (heck, now that I'm looking, they practically grow on trees, it seems...), but not a single soft. Everyone looks at me as if I'm on Quaaludes or something...

So, anyone got a handy source?

TIA!

Kal

Pretender · Feb 1, 2002

http://www.eclayfactory.com/clayfac_raku.html

I think this site has the bricks you are looking for. I haven't done any business with the place; I saw this link posted on Tim Lively's forum. To get them locally, you might find them at a ceramics supply shop.

Dan

Fox Creek · Feb 1, 2002

guys, the thing to ask for is INSULATING FIREBRICK. You should be able to order these all day long from the commercial ceramics suppliers and industrial suppliers of refractories. I would be surprised there isn't a supplier in Dallas, but maybe not. If you are asking for soft firebricks, they may not understand. They are expensive though; around $3.50 each as I remember it. I my wife ordered a couple of thousand dollars worth of 'em to build her kiln.

happycat · Feb 2, 2002

Kalindras, heres where I got mine. amhearst Potters Supply
413-586-4507 Fax:584-5535
They are 3.5x9" and are 3.50
Give them a call they do ship.
I got 4 the total with UPS was 22.43.
Good luck.
Happycat

Peter Atwood · Feb 2, 2002

I would get soft bricks from a ceramics supply house. There are many around and I think there's a big one on the Dallas area. I got mine from Amherst Potter's Supply because it's local. The guy that runs it can be a little weird though.

hillbillychuck · Feb 2, 2002

This is a good post. I too have been wondering where to get these soft firebricks. Thanks for the info.

Chuck