[TheForge] Gas Forge Plans - a question

Bruce Freeman FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com
Thu Jan 5 09:33:13 EST 2006 

Spalling is usually caused by volatile components in the brick.  Get these hot enough and they explode into vapor.

The classic volatile componet is water, but carbonate (i.e., portland cement) is another.  

Dry your bricks, firebricks, castable refractory, etc., etc., THOROUGHLY before firing your forge to forging heat.  One way to do this is by building a wood fire inside the forge, but if you can control your propane burner at a low heat, that works too.

The suggestion I've heard is to bring the forge to a dull red heat - SLOWLY.  I doubt that temperature is really necessary.  For drying chemicals, we typically hold them at something over 212 F (100 C) for a few hours.  Note that if your bricks are outside the forge, they will not reach the temperature of the forge interior.   Hence, you could dry your bricks in a kitchen oven - but an outdoor wood fire would be more advisable.

Bruce
NJ



>>> crimsonkil at lycos.com 1/4/2006 9:43:21 PM >>>
It actually tends to spall; little chucks come frisbeeing out of the fire.

-Chris K.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alix Peshette" <apeshet at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Gas Forge Plans - a question
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 17:41:41 -0800

> 
> I thought that regular red house brick had a propensity to explode when
> subjected to great heat!
> 
> -Alix
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Grover Richardson
> Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 7:47 AM
> To: 'Sponsored by ABANA'
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] Gas Forge Plans - a question
> 
> 
> Yes, I understand this concept.  I use regular Home Depot red house
> brick on my forge.  Easier to find, and as you said cheap.  They break
> about as often as the fire brick that I have used (mine break in the
> trailer during transportation between sites), and are easier to find<G>.
> However, there are those out there that wish to only build the best and
> most impressive (not name calling or throwing mud, just stating the
> obvious to continue this thought in a lucid manner<G>).  For them, (and
> the professionals who may wish to minimize mess and fuss, why buy 10
> brick, go to the store 3 times, and waste time putting them back in
> place) the "correct" fire brick is the only one<G>.
> 
> All the Best
> 
> > *>-----Original Message-----
> > *>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> > *>[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Freeman
> > *>Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 10:30 AM
> > *>To: theforge at mailman.qth.net 
> > *>Subject: RE: [TheForge] Gas Forge Plans - a question
> > *>
> > *>
> > *>It's true that the standard firebricks won't really stand up 
> > *>to forge temperatures for long.  But they're dirt cheap.  If 
> > *>they swell or crack, replace them.  It isn't really a big 
> > *>deal. Bruce *>NJ
> > *>
> > *>>>> grover.richardson at gtri.gatech.edu 1/3/2006 2:24:49 PM >>>
> > *>Many of the "fire brick" that I see around are only designed 
> > *>for fireplace usage.  "Fire brick" is like saying chocolate 
> > *>or wrought iron<G>.  Yes.  Be aware of what product you are 
> > *>purchasing.  Ask the sales company for information.
> > *>
> > *>Good quick info is from mcmaster.com  Do a search on "fire 
> > *>brick."  It will turn up refractory firebricks and turn up a 
> > *>page on the right hand side of the screen.  Scroll down.  
> > *>Good descriptions.  Also cement.
> > *>
> > *>>*>-----Original Message-----
> > *>>*>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> > *>>*>[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of *>Larry Zoeller
> > *>>*>Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 1:58 PM
> > *>>*>To: Sponsored by ABANA
> > *>>*>Subject: RE: [TheForge] Gas Forge Plans - a question
> > *>>*>
> > *>>*>
> > *>>*>Bruce,
> > *>>*>I will have to disagree about what you are calling a Heavy 
> > *>>*>Duty firebrick. *>>*>The place that I purchase my firebricks 
> > from have lots of *>>*>different kinds of firebricks that they 
> > sell. They are rated *>>*>by the composition of the brick ( 
> > percentage of Alumina ) *>>*>and temperature rating.  The cheap 
> > common firebricks are *>>*>rated for only 900 to 1500 degrees, 
> > depending on where you *>>*>purchase them from.  The firebricks 
> > that I recommended are *>>*>called Heavy Duty 42% Alumina 
> > composition and rated for 3000 *>>*>degrees.  I am sure that some 
> > place call there firebricks *>>*>heavy duty, but the important 
> > thing is brick composition and *>>*>temperature rating.
> > *>>*>
> > *>>*>Thanks,
> > *>>*>Larry Zoeller
> > *>>*>4312 Lahnna Dr.
> > *>>*>Louisville, KY 40216
> > *>>*>zman59 at earthlink.net *>>*>http://www.geocities.com/zoellerforge/ *>>*>
> > *>>*>
> > *>>*>> [Original Message]
> > *>>*>> From: Bruce Freeman <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
> > *>>*>> To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> > *>>*>> Date: 1/3/2006 9:18:09 AM
> > *>>*>> Subject: RE: [TheForge] Gas Forge Plans - a question
> > *>>*>>
> > *>>*>> Alix,
> > *>>*>> If I may field that question from my own experience:
> > *>>*>> "heavy duty" firebrick is the ordinary stuff you can pick 
> > *>>*>up for <$1 *>>*>> per
> > *>>*>brick at any masonry supply yard.  *>>*>> However, I suggest 
> > you look into getting the light *>weight firebrick
> > *>>*>instead.  It's a lot more expensive and a lot less durable, 
> > *>>*>but provides much better insulation.  *>>*>> Don't delay 
> > building your forge on that account, however.  *>>*>Go with the
> > *>>*>cheap and available...
> > *>>*>> Bruce
> > *>>*>> NJ
> > *>>*>>
> > *>>*>> >>> apeshet at sbcglobal.net 12/29/2005 1:15:42 PM >>>
> > *>>*>> Hi Larry,
> > *>>*>> Many thanks for the wonderfully simple gas forge plans.  I 
> > *>>*>feel like *>>*>> this is something I can tackle on my own.  
> > I've started *>>*>searching for *>>*>> the components, like the 
> > durablanket and fire brick.  A *>>*>question:  You *>>*>> 
> > specified heavy duty fire brick.  Is that it's name or just a 
> > *>>*>> description?  Do you know the temperature range for *>that 
> > level of *>>*>> brick?
> > *>>*>>
> > *>>*>> Here's a website where I am looking for fire brick info: 
> > *>>*>> http://www.armilcfs.com/pages/firebrick.htm *>>*>>
> > *>>*>> Thanks,
> > *>>*>> Alix in Sacramento
> > *>>*>>
> > *>>*>> -----Original Message-----
> > *>>*>> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net *>>*>> 
> > [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of *>>*>Larry 
> > Zoeller
> > *>>*>> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 6:36 PM
> > *>>*>> To: theforge
> > *>>*>> Subject: [TheForge] Gas Forge Plans
> > *>>*>>
> > *>>*>>
> > *>>*>>
> > *>>*>> To All,
> > *>>*>> I just posted some online plans to build an atmospheric 
> > *>>*>gas forge,that *>>*>> it is a really easy to build forge.  I 
> > would really *>>*>appreciate it if *>>*>> you could look at the 
> > plans and tell me what you think. *> I would *>>*>> welcome any 
> > feedback about them.  The URL is *>>*>> 
> > http://www.geocities.com/zoellerforge/simplegasforge.html *>>*>>
> > *>>*>> Thanks in advance,
> > *>>*>> Larry Zoeller
> > *>>*>> 4312 Lahnna Dr.
> > *>>*>> Louisville, KY 40216
> > *>>*>> zman59 at earthlink.net *>>*>> 
> > http://www.geocities.com/zoellerforge/ *>>*>>
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