[TheForge] Gas Forge Plans - a question

Steve Smith sos at alum.mit.edu
Thu Jan 5 19:31:57 EST 2006


For a new forge I put an incandescent light bulb inside overnight, with 
bricks covering the openings.

Steve

Bruce Freeman wrote:
> 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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>>>*>>*>> --
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>>
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>>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge 
>>theforge mail list group photo site is http://www.photoaccess.com 
>>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com 
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>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge 
>>theforge mail list group photo site is
>>http://www.photoaccess.com 
>>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com 
>>password:  anvil
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> It is I who formed the blacksmith, 
> who fans the flame into a fire and
> fashions a weapon fit for it's work.
> 
> 


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