Thread: New forge build!!

What are you planning to use for a liner, or did I miss that?

First sentence, post #1

Originally Posted by shooter74743

First sentence, post #1

I will be using a castable refractory, high silica content, rated at 3200*F.

Originally Posted by PierreR

I will be using a castable refractory, high silica content, rated at 3200*F.

Gotcha. How does that compare to the ceramic wool people have used in other forge builds here?

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Nice and heavy build, should last a lifetime. ...

You might heat and bend the handle for the door back over the forge body as I have a feeling it will get HOT if you are running the forge with the door open.

Again, really, really nice build. ...

I agree. It's good to see a member of Over Engineers R Us at work. I might suggest turning the the forge 90 degrees clockwise. Venturi burners are more efficient at or below a ninety degree angle of entry to the forge. Turn the burners to 3-4-5 o'clock or where the door is pointing to 3 o'clock or so. It gets the burners running at optimum and takes care of all that iron door and handle getting so hot that you won't want to use them.

I also suspect that for the BTU's involved you will eventually only be running one of those burners for the size of forge you have.

It's a stout build for sure. Congratulations.

Originally Posted by DarthLord

Gotcha. How does that compare to the ceramic wool people have used in other forge builds here?

Castible is less fragile but it heats slower and then retains heat longer. It's a much better alternative when any future welding of patterned materials is contemplated.

The ceramic blanket liners with refractory coating are probably higher rated as far as thermal insulating values are concerned, but a castable is more durable, and withstands higher heat better. If forging simple steels, I may have chosen durablanket, or kaowool. I went with a castable, mainly for its ability to resist flux. When using borax for a fluxing agent when making damasus, the liquid/molten flux eats through the blankets like nobody's business! So you end up replacing the blanket liners more frequently. Also cost. A 50 lb sack of refractory cement can be had for less than a dollar a pound.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Castible is less fragile but it heats slower and then retains heat longer. It's a much better alternative when any future welding of patterned materials is contemplated.

Haha! You type faster than me!

Originally Posted by PierreR

...A 50 lb sack of refractory cement can be had for less than a dollar a pound.

My castible forge is still running with minimal repairs vs. superficial relining over twenty years.

Here is a closeup of the venturi. You can see the "industrial strength" orifice inside. Haha!