[TheForge] Chip forges again

[Jerry Frost]

Glass forms would have a number of advantages over the plastic ones I used. 
I can't see myself deliberately destroying good glassware though there's 
just too much of the scott in me I guess. <sigh>

I would've needed a pair of glass funnels and something for the pan. The pan 
would be easy, a salvation army plate or platter. The funnels on the other 
hand would be pretty spendy and very unlikely to find at saly anne's so it'd 
have to be from the scientific supply house. I haven't even seen a pyrex 
funnel in a long time. Yeah yeah, I know Google. I have my foibles you know. 
<sigh>

I think using rice for the organic/burnout component didn't work as well as 
I'd like, it is too resilient to ram up solidly. I have the same complaint 
about perlite as well. It'd be different if I could use a wetter mix but 
shrink checking as it dries is a factor with fireclay. I can ease the shrink 
checking by increasing the cement ratio but then it starts to heat spall.

Still, it doesn't make a lot of difference if this setup lasts very long, 
it's an experiment. If it works well enough and I like the chip forge enough 
to want to use one I'll make it from proper refractories.

Maybe if I get the rest of the barn finished today I'll be able to build a 
large enough fire to fire the new forge.

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

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/

From: "Mike Porter" <michael.a.porter at comcast.net>


> Frosty,
> One of my favorite tricks is to use glass sacrifice forms when possible. 
> You
> can see how well the ram is going, and afterwards the glass can be removed
> by heating then dousing with water.
> Mikey
>