Refractory made easy

Just a quick demo on the easiest way to line a forge I've found so far

[@roccoszabo4536]

Thanks a bunch for this. Adds to my learning

[@luciusirving5926]

Since I live in Mexico, my best option for making a forge is a lime-fiberglass mixture featuring a bit of cat litter for extra adhesion. At least it lasted me longer than pumicecrete. Pumice despite being a decent insulator, will melt and slag.

[@catherineharris4746]

Simply outstanding!👍👍👍

[@BBForge]

looks awesome can't wait to see that beast fired up

[@drstrangefart]

B & B Forge It'll be great. It sat with the space heater aimed into it for something like 8 or 9 hours after the last coat was packed in there. I figure after a couple of days a low heat to test it should be plenty and then I'm getting a piece of steel in it.

[@benhoover4762]

Of all the ways I've seen to do this, this has to be the easiest, smartest way yet to complete said task.

[@drstrangefart]

Ben Hoover Thanks! I just kinda fell back on what I already knew from other jobs I've had to do over many years.

[@SpeargrassForge]

Hey mate. I'm using the shaker Idea. Just thought I'd let you know lol cheers mate for the great tip

[@drstrangefart]

No problem, man. That's what it's there for!

[@joshuaw.6488]

Leaf spring will not “shoufamoan?” Dude I couldn’t understand that. What did you say?

[@trevorjonasen3251]

Did you use ridgidizer first or satanite straight over the wool? Looks like "thinset" concrete patch/leveler. Thanks for the vid, look straight forward.

[@drstrangefart]

It was already rigidized from the factory so yes. It was rigidized first.

[@fire304]

I was wondering if there's a minimum thickness to the refactory.

[@nelsonsantos770]

Hellcote 3000 recommended 1/16 - 1/8 thickness

[@B-Ronstopable]

ty very relatable

[@MrSpaceRatt]

What did you line it with before the satanite?

[@drstrangefart]

It was rigidized befire it shipped to me. If you're starting with fresh kaowool, a spray-on rigidizer should take care of your prep before applying refractory.

[@TheRowdyJ]

so why wouldnt you use a rigidizer? like a spray? doesnt it do the same thing? im learning how to build one.

[@drstrangefart]

Rigidizer only stiffens the sheet of kaowool a bit. It does NOTHING to stop the ceramic fibers from being blown out of the forge into the air. The refractory is there to keep those fibers from being blown out. You do NOT want to be breathing those fibers unless you're a huge fan of mesothelioma.

[@TheRowdyJ]

@@drstrangefart interesting. seems if it was sprayed at the ends as well as the middle, it would seal everything. like spray on super glue.

[@drstrangefart]

Nope. If refeactory wasn't absolutely necessary to working safely, no one would bother. It would be WAAAAAAY easier to just slap new kaowool in and spray it every so often than dealing wirh refractory on every relining of the forge.

[@TheRowdyJ]

@@drstrangefart gotcha.

[@hightowerone]

Nice video. How much time to do first coat? Then....how long do you wait to coat again? And does the second coat go on quicker than the first? Thanks for your time

[@drstrangefart]

The first coat I left alone for a few hours with the space heater blowing into the forge. The coats after the first one go faster but you're still gonna want to let it sit for 2 or 3 days after the last coat to fully dry and cure.

[@hightowerone]

@@drstrangefart ok so do a coat and wait a few hours, do another and wait a few hours and repeat until you've happy and then let sit a few days? Just want to be clear

[@drstrangefart]

Pretty much. You want ZERO moisture in that stuff. First time you fire the forge up after a few days of curing run it on very low heat for 30-40 minutes.

[@hightowerone]

@@drstrangefart will do. Funny you speak of OCD! Meeeeee too . You bet I will!

[@drstrangefart]

If I understand right any moisture left in the refractory will cause it to crack and start falling apart.

[@adrianakuzmikova1697]

how do you glue ceramic wool to the sides of the forge?

[@drstrangefart]

The wool stays in the shape of the forge once you unroll it inside the forge. Then it stays put. The refractory is there to keep fibers from flying off the ceramic wool and going in your lungs.

[@adrianakuzmikova1697]

@@drstrangefart my forge has a size of a big box so I need a way to glue ceramic wool to the sides somehow. it will not just stay in place by itself. also I need a way to glue it on the lid part of the forge. my forge is 100x50cm and 100cm tall. the iron I wanna work with will be on the bottom, but I made it taller so the top part doesn't get too hot. how should I position air intake - blower, when I wanna use coal as a fuel?

[@drstrangefart]

Try holding everything in place with wire and spraying a HEAVY coat of rigidizer on it. That in theory should get it stiffened up enough that you can apply refractory. Your only other option is to weld some small pins to the inside of the forge to hold it up.

[@drstrangefart]

The ceiling of the forge is gonna take a little doing, but you should be able to get it.

[@adrianakuzmikova1697]

@@drstrangefart I will probably weld some nails from the inside and attach ceramic wool to them. how should I position air intake? should I make grate? I think the air flow will be the most important part to get high temperatures. I need around 1200 C to be able to work with iron.

[@ericgordon342]

But keep in mind that you will have to replace this

[@ericgordon342]

At least the refractory

[@drstrangefart]

Eric Gordon Yeah, I've figured out that refractory is a temporary thing. It seems with legitimately heavy use you can get a year, maybe two out of a solid layer of refractory. This won't see very heavy use so I'd guess two years would be a very conservative estimate.

[@jjppres]

Well I'll tell you this much. It appears to go on much easier than the mizzou did on mine. The mizzou is very thick and lumpy and hard to spread. By the way friend of Bill W. you got a brother here. One day at a time!

[@drstrangefart]

Jim Patterson One day at a time! Friend of Jimmy K for 8 years and counting. Next time you try mizzou, maybe take a crack at shaking it up. I know shat vigorous agitation made it a lot smoother a lot faster than trying to mix in the bucket did.