ceramic tile for forge floors???

B . Buxton

B . Buxton

Joined
Jul 8, 2001
Messages
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Anyone try ceramic floor tile to protect the bottom of their forges from flux. Just curious how it holds up.

Thanks,

Bill
 
I didn't use it on the floor, but as a spacer in front of the forge. It work well for about 5 minutes. HEHEHEHEHE!!!! I just use the half brick/hard firebricks in all my forges for the floor and they are just $1.25 a piece.:D Never had the flux go through one yet.;)
 
I.G I use the 1/2 bricks for the bottom also but my vertical has kaowool under the floor brick, the flux goes between the brick cracks and eats up the wool, I was hoping ceramic tile would let me make a solid pieced floor. :( I use the brick with cat litter to fill all voids but it still doesn't protect the wool long if I'm making a bunch of damascus. Without the wool in the bottom with just bricks, it takes forever for the forge to come up to heat.

Thanks,

Bill
 
I know it's a bit pricier than hard firebricks, but why not make the bottom of Mizzou or a similar flux-resistant castable? Darren Ellis sells the stuff in reasonable quantities: http://elliscustomknifeworks.com/ Twenty-five pounds was enough to give me a 3" thick floor of 14.5" diameter, with plenty left over.

On second thought, you could probably just get a couple pounds of Satanite or APG #36 and use it to mortar your firebricks together.
 
I was thinking about getting some of the resistant refractory from Darren at the blade show if he has any with him. But the problem is the need to replace the floor as the flux builds up. Also a soild floor of the refactory would work like a fire brick floor and create a terrible heat sink. I would like to find something that could be easily placed over the wool to protect it, plus be thin enough not to create a big heat sink. I had some SS sheeting from an old counter top that worked well, but it did burn up after while. I was hoping ceramic tile might with stand the heat. :( Would have made for an easy replacement every so often.

Thanks,

Bill
 
Fair enough. (The floor of my forge is a bit heat sink, but I don't mind. Fuel's free and I have no trouble getting it hot enough.) I still think you could mortar your firebricks together with APG 36 or Satanite, though, without making them impossible to remove.
 
B . Buxton said:
I was thinking about getting some of the resistant refractory from Darren at the blade show if he has any with him. But the problem is the need to replace the floor as the flux builds up. Also a soild floor of the refactory would work like a fire brick floor and create a terrible heat sink. I would like to find something that could be easily placed over the wool to protect it, plus be thin enough not to create a big heat sink. I had some SS sheeting from an old counter top that worked well, but it did burn up after while. I was hoping ceramic tile might with stand the heat. :( Would have made for an easy replacement every so often.

Thanks,

Bill
Click to expand...


The bubble alumina is a coating, like ITC-100. Here is from Darren's site:
Highly flux resistant! This material works really well for coating an Inswool lined forge for protection against flux when forge welding. This is one of the most flux resistant coatings we have found to date!

- 3300 degree temperature rating
- 2.5 # bag is enough to do the floor in a 12" vertical forge (3/8" recommended thickness)

2.5 pound bag - $14.00
5 pound bag - $25.00
 
Matt, I was thinking the same way you are. I was thinking of a thin layer over the firebrick to seal the cracks between, I'll talk with Darren and see what he recommends.

Thanks everyone,

Bill
 
The Chile Forge folks provide ceramic tile with their forges just for that purpose. Whatever they are using glows like a mofo when it heats up just like the forge walls. You should have a chat with them at Blade.
 
You are welcome sir. I had them send me an extra tile that is cut in half. i now use the small tiles inside my muffle pipe to create a flat "floor". Seems to work ok.
 
Bill why don't you just make yourself a vertical forge for doing damascus in? When the old flux gets a couple of inches thick in the bottom of mine I generally take the bottom out, break up the old flux and chunk it out the back door. Pour some more kitty litter in and its good to go for a couple more years. Suspended billets above the floor don't get covered with old crap you pick up off the floor either.
 
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