Forge lining

tito

tito

Joined
May 30, 2006
Messages
670
I've been stock removing for a long time, but have decided to start forging. I bought an inexpensive venturi forge that's lined with firebrick. Do I still need to line it with inswool/satanite or similar?

The burners (2) are located directly overhead the square chamber - I was wondering if I should form some kind of blast fence so that I don't get hot spots under each one. I'm just thinking of something that can deflect the direct heat to the side of the chamber. Ideas? Does it even matter?

thanks...
 
tito,
You'll have to give us some specs to work with. What kind of forge is it?
What are the internal chamber dimensions? It may be possible to build up a rounder chamber with castable refractory (Mizzou) and make the flame swirl around. A pipe in the center may solve the problem,too. There is usually not enough vertical height to place a flame diverter in the flame path on a venturi burner. It would have to be a reasonable distance from the burner nozzle.
Stacy
 
Okay, sorry - the chamber is a box shape, about 10.5"L x 8.5"W x 4.5"H. Like I was trying to explain earlier, the two burners come in from the ceiling of the chamber and point straight down.

If I build a deflector, will it interfere with the venturi effect? As far as I can tell, the thing works pretty well like it is, so maybe I don't even need it. I put some extra firebrick in there to take up space and make the chamber a little smaller, and i lay my blades in catty corner to keep them out of the direct line of fire from the burners. Seems to heat fairly evenly, but without seeing anyone ever do this, I'm just guessing.

Mostly I was just wondering if I needed extra refractory besides the firebrick to have the thing set up proper. I haven't gotten so far as to use flux to weld anything, but that's one of the reasons I got it - will that eat through the bricks if they aren't lined with something else? Are the bricks efficient enough alone (they just lay next to each other in the chamber - no mortar)?

Thanks in advance for your time/help.
 
I would get some of Darren Ellis' bubble alumina and coat the inside with it, since you are thinking of welding with flux.
Stacy
 
Thanks, I just bookmarked his site last night - wish I'd known about it before I bought this forge. His look really nice, and some not much more than I paid for the one I have.
 
I understand the bubble alumina is good stuff for welding. Any ideas on the minimum thickness needed for flux resistance?
 
Guy,
I don't know first hand, but Darren's site mentioned 3/8" minimum I think. It's been a while since I read it.

Steve
 
Guy Thomas said:
I understand the bubble alumina is good stuff for welding. Any ideas on the minimum thickness needed for flux resistance?
Click to expand...

It's been holding up VERY well in my forge. I have it on about 3/8-1/2" thick in the bottom 1/3 or so of the forge.

-d
 
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