refractory material treatment

Metalhead0483

Metalhead0483

Joined
Jan 17, 2008
Messages
539
Hi, I'm pretty new to this forum. I hope you guys can help me out.

I've been blacksmithing off and on since 2002, and I've made a few knives, but I've always used coal or lump charcoal. I've recently been transfered to Southeast Alaska and have decided to go ahaid and make a small gas forge since it seems that coal is pretty hard to come by up here.

My question has to do with the refractory material for the forge, and its treatment. I got really lucky in that there's a potter in town who had a roll of Kaowool that he didn't need, so he sold it to me for next to nothing. He also threw in some "rigidizer." My forge is assembled (I'm actually pretty proud of how it turned out) and I went ahaid and applied the rigidizer. I also ordered a pint of ITC-100 from anvilfire. Should I wait 'till the ITC comes in before I fire the forge? Or can I fire the forge with just the Kaowool and rigidizer and then add the ITC when it does arrive?

Thanks a lot,

~Nate W.
Haines, AK
 
i use my forge with only the wool, and 2 1" fire brick in the bottom,
i have 2 layers of the wool. so i have it in the back as well. you can run it all morning and put your hand on the out side without getting burnt.
vern
 
Metalhead0483 said:
Hi, I'm pretty new to this forum. I hope you guys can help me out.

I've been blacksmithing off and on since 2002, and I've made a few knives, but I've always used coal or lump charcoal. I've recently been transfered to Southeast Alaska and have decided to go ahaid and make a small gas forge since it seems that coal is pretty hard to come by up here.

My question has to do with the refractory material for the forge, and its treatment. I got really lucky in that there's a potter in town who had a roll of Kaowool that he didn't need, so he sold it to me for next to nothing. He also threw in some "rigidizer." My forge is assembled (I'm actually pretty proud of how it turned out) and I went ahaid and applied the rigidizer. I also ordered a pint of ITC-100 from anvilfire. Should I wait 'till the ITC comes in before I fire the forge? Or can I fire the forge with just the Kaowool and rigidizer and then add the ITC when it does arrive?

Thanks a lot,

~Nate W.
Haines, AK
Click to expand...

I think you would be fine if you went ahead and fired the forge,the rigidizer needs to be dry anyway,the itc is pretty thin and will dry pretty fast.In fact I didnt use anything but the itc over the Kaowool in my forge,and it really make a differince in how fast and how hot it gets-Regards Butch
 
They say that the Inswool could be as bad as asbestos if it isn't sealed with a coating. :eek::eek: I have a tutorial on my site on forge building.;)
 
Don't run your forge without coating the lining, unless you don't like your self. We work with so many dangerous things and we all take shortcuts. In many shops, the forge could be the place you spend the most time at. Those ceramic fibers will become airborne. Satanite is cheap and easy to use, take the extra step.
 
Thanks for the input. I put the rigidizer on and ran the forge to dry it out. But just be on the safe side I don't think I'll run it again 'till the ITC gets here.

Just for grins I put in a piece of 3/4" rebar that was lying around. I brought it to cherry red and then let it cool back to black heat, put it back in and started a timer. Black heat to non-magnetic in just over 60 seconds, and it heated evenly along about 9" of the steel. I don't think that's too bad at all :D
 
I recommend coating the wool with 1/4" of satanite.Let dry for a couple of days and fire the forge for brief cycles to dry and cure the satanite. Once it is cured coat the satanite with the ITC-100. ITC-100 is a heat reflective coating. The satanite is a sealer and refractory. The wool + satanite + ITC-100 = a very efficient and safe forge.
Stacy

Never run a forge with a bare wool lining. The airborne fibers are a serious risk to your health. This is no joke. Don't do it any at all. When working with Insuwool, wear a respirator and go outside and blow the fibers off you before going inside the house.
 
Enjoy SE Alaska. I used to commercial fish there and love it. I have a 5 acre place 25 miles by water out of Ketchican I plan to retire to. If you like fishing and hunting you have hit the Jackpot. If you hate rain, so sorry. LOL
 
Thanks all, I'm glad I found this forum :D

Hehehe, we don't get NEARLY as much rain as Ketchican does. What we do get though, is a whole lotta snow. We're up to 120 inches so far this winter... I work on the Canadian border 40 miles north of Haines. Pretty country to work and play in :)
 
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