Subject: [TheForge] Strengthening castable refractory

[Jerry Frost]

----- Original Message -----
From: <marc@ironringforge.com>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: Subject: [TheForge] Strengthening castable refractory


> Thanks, Tom. I'll give them a call about the needles.
>
> Another thought. Someone else mentioned using bricks. I've already got the
> castable, but now I'm thinking of putting in expansion joints. When
casting, I
> could insert some thin cardboard dividers running the entire length of the
> shell. The cardboard would just burn out during the curing.
>
> Would that even be necessary with the needles?
>
> -Marc
>


Naw. I've been using a double lined propane forge for better than 8 years
now and though the inner liner is cracked it's staying put just fine. I used
Pyramid Super Air set as it's a high phosphate refractory and not
susceptible to caustics like molten borax. I rammed up the inner liner
between two Sonotubes with 3/4" space between them.

The outer liner is 1" 8oz. Kaowool and it's all contained in a steel shell.
Next time I make a pipe forge like this I'll use 2" of Kaowool and stove
pipe for the shell. There's no reason to use something heavy for the shell
or at least nothing heavier than the minimum you can confidently work with.

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.