Applying bubble alumina

M.Griffin

M.Griffin

Joined
Nov 8, 2007
Messages
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I got the bug to try damascus (thanks to our little central CA hammer-in) so I am trying to prepare my forge for the flux. I have a horizontal forge with the usual Kaowool, then satanite, then ITC-100. My question is, can I just apply the bubble alumina over what I currently have (ITC-100)? Darrin Ellis says to trowel it on damp kaowool. Am I asking for trouble if I just trowel it onto the existing refractory coatings? Thanks.

-Mike
 
Yeah, Hi Mike. I'd like to know that one too. My forge took a bit of a beating doing that damascus. Need to do some repairs and add some bubble alumina also.

Ken
 
guys my floor also took a beating but with more forge welding attempts. This is what im doing now i took a hard fire brick and cut into into 1/2 inch thick pieces and then kinda made a pool in the middle for the flux to rest in. I had to redo my forge bottom not to long back and doing this is so easy and is removable and replaceable. In my forge i can get the pretty much the complete size of the hard brick and resting on the bottom. Its basically just a ctach pan for the flux is all. Mike do u have a press?
 
You could also try adding a layer or three of stainless heat treating foil to catch the flux. Once the flux solidifies after cooling, you just pick up the whole mass, foil and all, and replace the foil.

If you want to use the bubble alumina, I would suggest re-lining, as it''s a refractory, like satanite, and has a thermal mass that will take some time and some fuel to get up to temp. Adding it inside another layer of refractory may just flub things up on ya.

If you're careful, you could probably cut the floor section of the satanite out and just replace that area. With a topcoat of ITC-100 you could make it fairly seamless.
 
I'm with Dan on this, I use a poured refractory I got from Darren In the bottom , then I have the sides and around the top with Kaowool/satanite and a sheet of stainless approx. 20ga. in the bottom to catch flux. With this setup it still gets to welding temp fairly quick but is also cuts down on re-heat time between presses. Its a horizontal forge.

Shawn
 
If you've already got the Bubble Alumina, it shoudl stick just fine to what you have now. It's a castable just like anything else. Just coat the bottom 1/3 or so of the forge about 3/8-1/2" thick.

-d
 
deker said:
If you've already got the Bubble Alumina, it shoudl stick just fine to what you have now. It's a castable just like anything else. Just coat the bottom 1/3 or so of the forge about 3/8-1/2" thick.

-d
Click to expand...

I think I will try this since I already have the bubble alumina.

My forge diameter is too small to be able to really fit the hard fire brick inside. If I really get serious about damascus at some point, I will likely build a second welding forge, but I wanted to try it in my current forge without ruining it.

Dakota11- I don't have a press, but my in-laws shop does so I am going to go down there for a weekend and give it a go.

-Mike
 
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