Thread: Ceramic wool for propane forge....

Hello all, would this ceramic wool work for the lining of a propane forge.
http://www.morganthermalceramics.com/…/superwool-fi…/blanket


I have a chance to get 2 boxes, each 24" x 150" x 2" thick for a small amount of money.




Superwool® Blanket | Morgan Thermal Ceramics

Our Superwool® fibre blankets are an alternative to traditional solutions and are designed to offer excellent performance in high-temperature applications.
morganthermalceramics.com

Looks good to 1300 degrees but who knows after that. Your forge is going to go higher than that for sure. I would contact the manufacturer. I have never seen wool used without clay and wonder how that would stick to it. The applications they list seem out of sorts with the wool used for forges. Looks more like insulation to me. It must be pretty dense if they use it for expansion joints ( I am assuming concrete joints)

No expert here but I would bet not.

Thanks for the response
Thats 1300 C not F. That works out to 2300 F
On the prior forges I have built I coated the ceramic wool with furnace cement and that worked just fine.
What I am looking for is a definite "no go" on this stuff.

You forge shouldn't go much higher than around 1300C or 2300F+. Make sure that is the maximum suggested temp for CONTINUOUS use which I suspect it is The melting point for most of those products is 3200F, but the continuous use temps can be all over the board, anywhere from 1800F to 2500F depends on the type. Most seem to be in the 2200-2300 range.. You also need to coat it with some kind of cement or ITC 100 type product or both. You don't want exposed kaowool shedding in your shop at 2200F.

Originally Posted by JDM61

You forge shouldn't go much higher than around 1300C or 2300F+. Make sure that is the maximum suggested temp for CONTINUOUS use which I suspect it is The melting point for most of those products is 3200F, but the continuous use temps can be all over the board, anywhere from 1800F to 2500F depends on the type. Most seem to be in the 2200-2300 range.. You also need to coat it with some kind of cement or ITC 100 type product or both. You don't want exposed kaowool shedding in your shop at 2200F.

Thanks for the info. My use would not be continuous, just sporadic . Yes, I coat the ceramic wool with a refractory type cement to avoid having the ceramic fibers blowing into my lungs! This will be my 4th propane forge using ceramic wool as an insulator. This particular vendor/ model is new to me so I am just checking. It looks like I can get both boxes for $10.

Duh , sorry. Never see the Cs and in that case it may be worth the gamble @ 10 bucks. Give up lotto tickets for a week :<0) There are so many places that sell that stuff you may be the first to see it. If time is not a problem I would still go straight to the manufacturer.

Actually, I think that anything that we might do would be considered continuous use. With that said, i think that most of the coatings are rated for even higher. ITC 100 is stupid expensive, like up to $93 a pint, but it supposedly increases the efficiency of your forge by like 30% because it is HIGLY heat reflective. The guys at Chile Forge say that the ITC 100 coat over the kaowool is how they are able to get their atmospheric forges up to high forge welding heat constantly. Right now, my Chile is recoated with Satanite with a wash of ITC 100 over top of that. I have an Uncle Al blown 12 inch vertical forge that I having put together yet. I actually may try to go with the Mizzou castable refractory lining and ITC 100 coat on the sides with that one at some point and maybe a kiln tile bottom that can be cleaned up/switched out because this will be a dedicated welding forge .

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Thanks for the info. My use would not be continuous, just sporadic . Yes, I coat the ceramic wool with a refractory type cement to avoid having the ceramic fibers blowing into my lungs! This will be my 4th propane forge using ceramic wool as an insulator. This particular vendor/ model is new to me so I am just checking. It looks like I can get both boxes for $10.

As a substrate it may be right but what are you coating it with to seal it
If uncoated it may deteriorate but if lined with refractory cement or similar it should be fine

That's the right price for sure!

No MAY to it. It WILL deteriorate and throw nasty little hot particles into the air for yuu to breathe.

Originally Posted by Substance

As a substrate it may be right but what are you coating it with to seal it
If uncoated it may deteriorate but if lined with refractory cement or similar it should be fine