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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Feb 5, 2008 17:19:46 GMT
My forge resto is going on apace. I need some firebricks for lining the hearth with, though.
If anyone knows what one is, would the bricks from a storage heater be suitable?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2008 17:47:50 GMT
Don't bother, just get new ones from the local plumbing/heating store, or you can just use sand.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Feb 5, 2008 18:01:19 GMT
I have been to all of my local hardware and building supply stores (and have even consulted two builders I know) and none have been able to help me. Can you believe that?!
Thing is, the bricks from storage heaters are just the right thickness to line the hearth without interfering with the tue iron.
Sand is an option I guess. I'd feel safer with brick, though, since there isnt much room beneath the tuyere for a good layer of sand. If you look on my photo of the hearth at the hole where the tuyere enters you'll see how little depth I have to line.
What do you reckon?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2008 18:46:38 GMT
What dimensions are you trying to fit? You may be as well served to use a castable refractory instead of the bricks.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Feb 7, 2008 21:10:37 GMT
The hearth is 1.5m square and the area I am trying to fill is around 2.5" deep.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2008 7:37:11 GMT
Well, Larry Zoeller sells firebrick here> www.zoellerforge.com/flare.html , about a third of the way down the page. Shipping won't be pretty for enough to line the whole thing, but you could get by with bricks around the tuyere and sand farther out from the blast. You really shouldnt have a fire a meter out from the tuyere anyway, that space is really more for putting work out of the fire, or just some more surface to hold one end while the other is in the fire.
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Post by Dan Davis on Feb 8, 2008 13:02:53 GMT
How close to Manchester are you? A fair number of industrial suppliers in Manchester carry refractory brick and mortar, or they used to at any rate. The last time I was there (long time ago) one of them gave me several bricks and a pot of mortar as "samples".
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Feb 8, 2008 17:05:25 GMT
Many thanks for all the ideas, guys.
I managed to get hold of a set of 4 firebricks. They are the perfect height and size for lining the hearth. I found a hole in the air feed pipe, though, which will need brazing up before I paint the water tank.
After that, all I need is a blower and some fuel! I have my eye on a blower in the CPC catalogue, but don't really know if it would be appropriate. It's also a little on the expensive side.
As for fuel, I am stumped. All of the local coal suppliers (that I am familiar with) only supply housecoal (which is non bituminous) or 5kg bags of charcoal briquettes. The kind you put on the BBQ. I know charcoal can be used, but this is really expensive for what you get.
Other than the above, I have now got the forge's legs de-rusted and painted a fetching black, an anvil stand of the perfect height made from a 25litre oil drum, some builders sand and flat tiles, and the water tank de-rusted. I havnt finished the chimney yet, though.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Feb 8, 2008 17:09:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2008 17:34:34 GMT
Can't say I'm familiar with housecoal.. is that lignite or anthracite?
You could use charcoal, as a matter of fact it is the fuel of choice for thousands of years, but the briquettes are another story alltogether. They will burn and make some heat, but you can't use them for much else.
I didn't notice you were in the UK, but you might give Centaur Forge a call (or email) and see what it would take to deliver overseas. They sell 50lb (around 20Kg) bags for just over $20, (10 GBP or so). They also have blowers for much cheaper, say 30GBP or so.
They are in the blacksmith/farrier business, so even if they couldn't sell to you, they may have some contacts in your neck of the woods.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2008 21:51:00 GMT
JUST LOOK UP BABA! MAKE CONNECTIONS. It's all there if you just LOOK.
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