How is Kaowool attached?

Matt Shade · Sep 5, 2003

The forge plans are all coming together, I've about got the tank ready to start cutting. I have plans for a burner that I think I can build without much trouble.
I was just wondering how the heck you attach the Kaowool though? No directions on that on any of the sites I've gone too, and seems like a kind of important thing to know before I go too much farther laying this stuff out.
Can you double or triple layer the stuff? Do you have to use that ITC coating on it?
Thanks

Burt Foster · Sep 5, 2003

You don't need to "attatch" it with anything. It just supports itself under it's own weight. I have it in a horizontal as well as a vertical round tube and it stays there just fine. You want to coat the inside of of it with satanite or ITC-100. The ITC is better but a lot more $.

As far as layers, you only need one and any more are just a bonus. With one layer in my welding forge, the outer shell of the forge gets to probably 400-500 degrees, so don't touch, but it keeps enough heat in to get the job done fine. One reason why one is enough is that if you are welding damascus in your forge, the hot flux will eat through the wool like a hot knife throuogh butter, and it doesn't matter whether you have one layer or three. So, since you will have to re-line your forge periodically, the wool just goes further if you only use a layer at a time.

Sweany · Sep 5, 2003

use a Kiln shelf brick in the bottom of the forge to catch the flux.

A goodly layer of 100% clay kitty litter, works too, clean it out when it's cooled.

Matt Shade · Sep 5, 2003

Thanks guys
I'm not plannning on doing any damascus or welding with it in the near future, but I am going to line the bottom with fire bricks just so there is something nice and solid to set stuff on.
I'll probably go with a double layer of the stuff too, mainly to get the inside volume of the forge down to whats recommended for the burner I'm going to build.
I'll try the satanite too, looks more cost effective since I don't need to get to welding heat yet.

Terry_Dodson · Sep 5, 2003

i am not sure if this stuff is the same as ITC100 but it sounds about like it, it is called INS TUFF to coat the blanket with and only about $7. Does anyone know anything about it?
http://www.knifeandgun.com/catalog/forge_welding_materials_186663_products.htm

They also have satanite there. I ordered me some from there and am about out so i will probably be ordering some more of it from them and also the Ins Tuff soon. I lined my blanket with the satanite but want to try the other stuff, i think it will reflect more heat back. when i ordered my stuff from Knife and Gun before i had it in 3 days from the day i ordered it.

peter nap · Sep 5, 2003

I was just wondering how the heck you attach the Kaowool though? No directions on that on any of the sites I've gone too

SILVER SOLDER

Sorry Matt, it's been a long day

Raymond Richard · Sep 5, 2003

Peter, I use Vasuveus Refractory Mortar to fasten my cerramic insulation to my shell. I water it down quite a bit and just paint it onto the shell and I'll do the same thing to the exposed insulation. I find it keeps in place better than without....

Matt Shade · Sep 5, 2003

OK Pete
I tried an I tried but every time I get the stuff hot enough to tin it just melts off the blanket

I'll have to try usin more flux....bastid

Terry
I'll keep that other stuff in mind. I know there's a welding supply somewhere downtown cause I passed it once when I was lost, almost went in but figured I forget where I was trying to find altogether

So I'll see what they carry in the way of satanite and all that good stuff.If they don;t have something that sounds good for a decent price I'll try some of that stuff.

I cut the old propane tank up today and have it about ready to line, from what I've read on the burner I'm gonna build, and the amount of insulation I'm gonna use this thing ought to reach welding heat pretty easily, if not hotter. I'll have to let my farrier borrow it. He'll throw shoes in for the back feet while he trims the front and come back to find a puddle

Terry_Dodson · Sep 5, 2003

you may also want to check out Boiler Sales and Service companies in your neighborhood. that is the only place local i can find soft fire bricks and inswool and they even have castable stuff that is supposed to be the same as the inswool

but i havent tried it yet, it is about $40 a bag. but the soft insulating fire bricks are around $2.74 each and the inswool is about $2.50 a square foot there.

peter nap · Sep 5, 2003

Sounds like you are about ready to roll Matt. Don't expect welding heat the first time you fire it up. It's a learning/tinkering process. All the burners I've made needed tuning of some sort. Further, as we've already discussed, the placement in the forge needs adjustment and last, you need to learn the likes and dislikes of the forge. They each have a personality.

Don't try to heat copper or brass in it. I'm not sure about the brass but copper will do something to the forge and you will play he!! ever welding.

Get something like mild 1/8 X1" flat to play with. It's easy to find and heats quickly. Work on your forging skills but don't let anyone know you are getting good at it. If you do you will be bombarded with requests for hanging plant brackets:barf:

Have fun

tony moyer · Sep 5, 2003

The ins-tuff is a rigidiser used to stiffen the wool so that ITC or Satanite will stick to it better ,it doesn't have any thermal qualities that I know of.

Call Frank at RHI in Portland,Or. at 1-800-887-5555 and he can explain it better than I can. They also have offices all over the country,since they have over 90% of the refractory market.

Tony

C L Wilkins · Sep 5, 2003

Originally posted by peter nap
I was just wondering how the heck you attach the Kaowool though? No directions on that on any of the sites I've gone too

SILVER SOLDER

Sorry Matt, it's been a long day

Kaoglue, duh.