[TheForge] Strengthening castable refractory

[Chuck Robinson]

Hey Ed,
This will be the first time for me to use the needles.
I usually use my technique of anchoring the inswool or hard castable with
sheet metal screws screwed thru the metal forge skin.
I'm in the process of building a replacement forge to heat treat my
bladesmithing anvils and want to try a 2 layer refractory. outside layer
inswool  and inner wall Mizzou 3000.
I plan to make the inner wall about 1" to 1 1/2"s thick so I'll need th
needles to strengthen it'.
The outer wall will be held in place with the screws.
On the forges where I have rebuilt the inswool liners, even the carbon steel
screws last for a few years.
The fact that they are coated with satenite and don't extend thru the
inswool limits the amount of heat and air they are exposed to . Since the
needles are stainless and imbedded in the castable they shouldn't
deteriorate.
Chuck
Chuck

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed F" <edusenet@hutchtel.net>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2003 10:21 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Strengthening castable refractory


> Hi Chuck,
>
> Have you ever broken a used forge, by chance, and seen if the ss needles
> survive repeated heat?  Maybe if they do burn out they still help avoid
> shrinkage cracks during curing.  I seem to remember that it would have
been
> in the ballpark of $50 and I was kind of directed away from it at the
time.
>
> Ed
>
>
>