Fire/kiln bricks in or near central CT - Found In Hebron

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Remyrw

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Jun 17, 2010
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I've just about worn out my fingers typing and dialing trying to find a local or even regional source for 2300 degree bricks. I'm near hartford, ct and while there are tons of places that sell bricks, not one has anything rated this high.

I'd rather avoid NY and PA, but Mass, RI or even NH aren't out of the question, I can visit family at the same time. Any ideas? There HAS to be a source in the area. I don't even mind paying more per brick, up to where it equals out to paying shipping. Avoiding damaged bricks and being able to actually see what I'm getting is more important to me. Supporting a local place is always nice as well.

I need 14, and could get away with 12 if nothing got damaged and I didn't keep anything handy to close off the front and back at all. I plan to be able to at least partially block both but it's a pretty small chamber so it's not essential I don't think.

Current layout results in a 13" deep, 4" wide and 2.5 or 3" tall chamber depending on the brick height. Heat source is expected to be a Bernzomatic JTH7 torch. It's only going to be used for heat treating, and honestly, if I start doing anything more complex than the currently planned 1080 I'll probably also be upgrading to a thermocouple controlled chiliforge or an electric ht oven with computerized controls. This is as much a proof of concept and learning tool as anything else.
 
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Call your local ceramic/pottery supply house. They will typically have stock on hand for kiln construction. Another place to try would be masonry supply houses - most will carry some firebrick for traditional masonry fireplace construction.
 
None of the masonry places have high temp stuff around here. Every single one maxed out at the regular fireplace bricks. The pottery places I've found that carry any kiln supplies don't have brick, one place thought he had some used ones, but nothing. It's like this area's a black hole for this stuff. I've pretty much dialed every place I could find in the area that might have it, checked every web site... I seem to recall one place in NH but can't find it now, at the time I was trying for more local, at this point anything I can get to and from in an easy day's drive is tempting.

I even pestered the local wrought iron place and they said they just buy it all online and aren't aware of any local suppliers for the bricks or other materials.
 
I'm sure I'm missing one or more places that have it, but if it shows up for this area in a google search for fire brick, kiln brick, forge, forge supplies, pottery.... you get the idea, I've called or at least checked out their web site. If they showed any indication they might have the bricks I called.

I'm thinking that the place I need very well might not be online or isn't showing up in my search as someone I would try for kiln/forge materials. There were more places that sold clay, glaze... that said nothing at all about kilns or supplies for them.
 
Every place that I've tried locally, sells them for at least $10.50 each.

I did however buy 4 of them from an ebay supplier. They all made it here with ZERO chips, cracks and any other blemishes...I was very impressed at the shipping packaging. I almost took pics for proof of how perfect it was.

I hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting the link to the ebay auction I bought them from, but here it goes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...020627&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_500wt_1154

The shipping cost to ship my 4 bricks was $14. Don't mind the price for shipping on there, it only goes up a buck or $1.50 for every additional brick.
 
Yeah, if I order I've found a few places, same general pricing. I'm just amazed there's nothing local. There are a LOT of big heat treaters and metal working companies around here, but I guess they get serviced by the company that made the furnace or buy by the pallet/truck load direct.

*sigh* I'll keep looking but if I haven't had any luck by tomorrow I'm just ordering them. It's tough to support the local businesses when they don't carry what you need.
 
I stopped by Amherst Potters Supply today to buy some for a heat treat oven but they were out. They list them on their website and they usually have them in stock. They said they would give me a call to let me know when they would be coming in. The 2300 degree ones are 3 bucks each and 2600's are 3.50

Mike



http://www.amherstpotters.com/
 
Thanks, that's about an hour and a half but I have to be up in Springfield anyway at some point and can hold off till then. I'll give them a call and see about reserving what I need from their incoming supply. At that price difference I'll probably upgrade to the 2600's as well.
 
I'm in Norfolk and I'm looking to build a forge as well. We should get together and help eachother. I'm gonna check a masonry supply in Torrington this week and I'll let you know what I find.
 
Well, if BrennanScott doesn't have any success in Torrington and Amherst Pottery isn't going to have any for a while, and Thermal Ceramics doesn't have anyone local... Hehe, New Bedford isn't exactly close but if that's the place then maybe that's the place.
 
Have you tried the local hardware stores? I found a couple boxes of 2300 and 2100 in both the hardware store and lumber store in the fireplace section with the chimney pipe. They even had high temp cement in tubes and tubs. At $3 a brick for hard and $4 for soft, I bought a box of each.
 
The closest thing we've got around here to a local hardware store is a small but good lumber yard. Otherwise it's the big box guys and neither carry the product in house. I guess I could check if ACE carries them at all, we have a couple of those in the general area, just not close enough that they come to mind. Since they didn't come up on my searches they just never hit my radar.

I'll give them a call in a bit, thanks.

Ok, scratch out Ace and the local lumber yards. But one had a couple possible names for me to try and pointed out that maybe the local university would know, they do have a pottery program.
 
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Hmmm. I just spoke to Amherst and the guy said they don't stock them and don't plan to get any unless someone orders some, but they can't get them quickly/cheaply, it's basically the same as if we order them ourselves plus his profit margin. :(

I am really starting to be tempted to buy a pallet load and market them myself. Bit of an investment up front, but it really shouldn't be this tough to find them in an urban/suburban area like this.
 
Bingo.
Only 2200's but he has a good supply and keeps them in stock.
http://www.firesidesupply.net/Index.htm
They're in Hebron, CT and were a name I got from Ace Hardware.
Price was a bit under $4 he said, and they're the standard sized ones, not the flattened ones. I'll have all the details when I get mine tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help folks.

Remy
 
Ok, they weren't the 2.5 or 3" but not the super wide flat ones, I haven't measured, but I think maybe 1.5" thick and then the usual width and length. After tax they ran me $3.7 each. Very friendly folks there and a pretty nifty shop.
 
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