Forge Insulating Material?

H

Harleyd2900

Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
114
I have two questions for yall. What is the correct name for the material used to insulate the forge?What different forms does this materail come in.
 
The generic term for high-temperature insulators of this type is "refractory". It comes in several varieties:

Castable refractory is a cement-like material you can pour into forms. It is slow to heat and holds heat a long time. it is very resitant to borax welding flux.

Hard and soft firebrick.

Insulating wools. Inswool and Kaowool are common. These are the two most common materials for building forges amongst knifemakers. After insulating the forge shell interior, they are coated with a secondary material such as Satanite or ITC100,, powders mixed to a slurry. These materials are very susceptible to damage from flux, so the base of the forge where it will drip is usually protected with a castable "bowl", hard firebrick bowl, etc.

Hope that helps some.
 
Re: 'Kaowool' et al

Not to be picky, but I believe the technical term is 'ceramic blanket' insulation or 'thermal high temperature ceramic fiber blanket insulation', and it's nasty stuff. Wear a respirator when working with it :)
 
Wouldn't you think gloves and long sleeves, too, jiminy? ;)
 
Wouldn't you think gloves and long sleeves, too, jiminy?
Click to expand...
LOL! Yes, now that you mention it, yes I would. I just assumed that was a 'given' :)

Here's a funny story. A few weeks ago a friend of mine (who has been a painting contractor for, like, 30+ years and should definitely know better), was dismantling and old built-in pool heater. He called me up and asked me if I wanted the 'firebrick' that surrounded the heater. I said 'sure' as long as it's actually firebrick and not asbestos. He brought it over with it just laying open in the back of his pickup ...3 or 4 slabs 2"x16"x16". I took one look at it ...all crumbly and fiberous, and said 'thanks but no thanks', that's not firebrick ...it's asbestos.
I had to shake my head in disbelief, because I know he didn't wear a mask, gloves, longsleeves, nothing ....or 'bag it' at any time in the process of him removing it from the pool heater, till he got around to bringing it over to my house a week or so later.
 
Jay Hayes used to sell refractory supllies, too. I don't know if he's still in business or not. Here's a webpage with contact information:

http://home.flash.net/~dwwilson/forge/hayesad.html

Places like boiler supplies, pottery supply houses like Clay Arts Centers, etc, sell refractory, also. Darren Ellis has gained a lot of popularity because of good service and fair pricing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top