Kaowool dangers question

D

dmelton

Joined
Jan 2, 2001
Messages
164
I have a small gas forge, I call it a micro-forge. It's about 5-6inches in diameter made from thick iron pipe. It's lined with Kaowool about an inch thick with 1 Ron Reil style burner in the side. It's a great little forge, but I haven't sealed the Kaowool yet, I know I should but I've just not gotten around to it. I went out to my shop this weekend and it was the first time I'd been in there in a few days. Since I had last been out to the shop we've had several rainy, foggy days. When I walked into the shop I noticed some very lightly damp spots on the floor where there were some small cracks in the concrete, this is normal when it's "concrete sweating weather" like we've had. What was not normal was the white fuzz that looked like it was growing on the dampness. I found 2-3 spots like this all of them within about 8 feet of my microforge. The substance was very white and fine like a powder when I touched it, I know of only one thing in my shop, Kaowool, that is this color white. Does THAT much Kaowool billow out of the forge in normal use if it's not sealed?? I knew some fibers could come out if you jostled the kaowool but this is scary.
 
Get you some furnace cement (3000deg.)
thin it down & paint the wool with it.
Your liner well last longer & you won`t
have that fuzz foating around.
Just my $.02
 
Yep, there are always fibers flying around if you have uncoated ceramic wool in your forge. Any of it sucked into your lungs is too much! It has the same effect as grinding pearl without a mask. Either coat that stuff or get rid of it and build a castable refractory forge.
 
I have some pottery-kiln slip I can use to coat it. A friend of mine has done this on his Kaowool and he gave me plenty enough to do mine too. I just havent done it because I was lazy and really didnt think that much of the stuff flew out of the forge. After seeing the white-cotton-candy fluff on the floor this weekend I'm convinced that I need to do this ASAP.
 
If I use uncoated kwool, is it a smart idea to run a dust collector in the garage, or is that asking for a collector bag fire?
 
Eric and DM Please coat it or do what Ed and Sly said.

Bastid does not want to read about you two passing on in a knife publication before he passes on.
 
Bastid, I'll be wearing a double filter respirator too, don't worry, Chang be OK. :)
 
All rright Chang. As one sinner to another I waited for yeaars to coat mine. I forge outside and always figgured I was safe with a mask. One day I was working near the unlit forge and bumped it. I saw all kinds of floaters come out and realized that the Kaowool broke down and dusted you even when you weren't using the forge.

I do enough to my system as it is, I don't need one more problem that I can prevent.:eek:
 
OK, you guys win. I'm getting some kaowool in probably today and will get it coated ASAP. Where do I get this cement coating and what is the product # and full name of it? Just hope they dont try to sell me a 50# bag minimum or something when all I'm doing is lining a paint can with it to heat treat my 1095 hunters.
 
I`m useing 3000deg. furnace cement thined.
Got it at a fram store. Jay Hayes sells some
& so does K&G
 
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