ITC-100, Who's using it, and what do you think?

Ed Caffrey

Ed Caffrey

Joined
Jul 23, 1999
Messages
1,409
Hi All!

Everyone who knows me knows that I'm fond of castable refractory forges, and that I try to stay away from Ka-wool when I can. However, due to simple economics (castable is now at $55 per 50lb bag)the new welding forge I'm building will be lined with ka-wool. I've tried most of the "coatings" (save ITC-100) and have been unhappy with them. I've been researching ITC-100 over the past week and it seems to be a viable product to "toughen up" ka-wool. What are your thoughts on this product? What type of application method did/do you use? Any input is appreciated!
 
I use it and I like it, seems to really help refleck the heat back into the forge. Only problem I've had with it is after around 150 hrs. or so at welding heat it has a tendency to start flaking off. I just applied it by wetting the wool with a spray bottle and then brushing the slurry type solution on. It does appear to resist flux fairly well, but I'm pretty careful with my forge as far as keeping the fluxed billets away from the wool as best I can. I can be at welding heat in around 15 minutes and I don't think that would happen without ITC-100.

Bill
 
It seems to work well for me also...as mentioned I too wet the wool, form it inside the forge, and with a sponge I dab the slurry on the wool. Seems to kinda cement the wool together, makes it easier to form (like around the burner inlet), and keeps the "floaties" down from the wool. Forge glows white hot in about a minuet, takes much longer to "glow" without the ITC.
 
Hi Ed,

ITC-100 works well, helps bring your forge up to temp faster, will reduce your fuel bill, and is more resistant to flux than Satanite.

A cheaper way to go is to coat your kaowool with Satanite and then apply a thin coat of ITC-100 over top of that. I sell refractory supplies to help support myself now that I've gone into knifemaking full time and keep Satanite, Kaowool, ITC-100, and ITC-213 in stock all of the time. If you need anything drop me a line and I can email you a price list. I'm in the process of updating my web pages (http://www.EllisCustomKnifeworks.com) where I will have everything listed in the near future.

:)

-Darren
 
I've had good luck with ITC-100 in my forge as well. I'm sure it doesn't see as much use as a full time blade smith would put it through, but it has held up to several damascus sessions and a fair bit of forging. I brushed a slurry of the stuff on about a year ago (during the third forge rebuild!) and it's still going strong. It has darkened up in the last while, and after reading Riels site info., apparently it does need a touch up light coat periodically to remain fully relective. My forge will do welding temp. in about 10 min. from start up, but is only 13" long x 6" inside chamber w/2 layers of wool.

Clint Chisan
 
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