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insulating firebricks

updated wed 10 feb 10

 

Daniel Rotblatt on tue 9 feb 10


I'm researching building a small propane kiln - about 7-10 cu ft. Right =
=3D
now I am looking into firebricks=3D20
and know of a source for really cheap 2300 F IFB's here in Los Angeles. =
=3D
I have to buy a pallet of 480=3D20
bricks (which is more then I need), but the cost is only $1.53/brick. I =
=3D
purchased a few a year or two=3D20
ago for something else, they are definitely not as strong as other bricks=
=3D
I have (probably A.P. Green),=3D20
but they seem to hold up to the temperature...and they're cheap. The que=
=3D
stion I have is: has anybody=3D20
worked with cheap import bricks (probably from China)? Is there a seriou=
=3D
s downside (apart from the=3D20
fact that the kiln won't last quite a long)? Any other thoughts?

Here's the website with the bricks: http://www.mcgillswarehouse.com/Items=
=3D
List.aspx?
ProductID=3D3D122110023

Thanks,=3D20

Dan
www.RotblattSculpture.com

steve graber on tue 9 feb 10


=3D0A=3D0Ai don't see any downside to the low cost bricks you got.=3DA0 you=
can c=3D
over the kiln with fluffy cement, or more mortar, or clays, for weather pro=
=3D
tection since i assume you're=3DA0in the los angeles area.=3DA0 or don't co=
ver =3D
with anything.=3DA0 i assume these are K24 type bricks? =3D0A=3D0Athe Upsid=
e is y=3D
ou can build a=3DA0second or third kiln with your extra bricks!=3DA0 =3D0A=
=3D0A=3DA0S=3D
teve Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc=3D0AClaremont, California USA=3D0AThe St=
eve =3D
Tool - for awesome texture on pots! =3D0Awww.graberspottery.com steve@grabe=
rs=3D
pottery.com =3D0A=3D0A=3D0AOn Laguna Clay's website=3D0Ahttp://www.lagunacl=
ay.com/b=3D
logs/ =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A----- Original Message ----=3D0A> From: Daniel Ro=
tblatt rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>=3D0A> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0A> Sent: Mon, F=
ebru=3D
ary 8, 2010 10:05:00 PM=3D0A> Subject: Insulating Firebricks=3D0A> =3D0A> I=
'm res=3D
earching building a small propane kiln - about 7-10 cu ft.=3DA0 Right now I=
=3D
=3D0A> am looking into firebricks =3D0A> and know of a source for really ch=
eap =3D
2300 F IFB's here in Los Angeles.=3DA0 I have =3D0A> to buy a pallet of 480=
=3D0A=3D
> bricks (which is more then I need), but the cost is only $1.53/brick.=3DA=
0 =3D
I =3D0A> purchased a few a year or two =3D0A> ago for something else, they =
are =3D
definitely not as strong as other bricks I have =3D0A> (probably A.P. Green=
),=3D
=3D0A> but they seem to hold up to the temperature...and they're cheap.=3D=
A0 T=3D
he question I =3D0A> have is: has anybody =3D0A> worked with cheap import b=
rick=3D
s (probably from China)?=3DA0 Is there a serious =3D0A> downside (apart fro=
m th=3D
e =3D0A> fact that the kiln won't last quite a long)?=3DA0 Any other though=
ts?=3D
=3D0A> =3D0A> Here's the website with the bricks: =3D0A> http://www.mcgills=
wareho=3D
use.com/ItemsList.aspx?=3D0A> ProductID=3D3D122110023=3D0A> =3D0A> Thanks, =
=3D0A> =3D0A=3D
> Dan=3D0A> www.RotblattSculpture.com=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A

jonathan byler on tue 9 feb 10


dan,

we got our bricks from the local harbison/walker dealer and paid about
$1.50/brick for K23's they were also from china, but they seem to be
decent bricks. have not fired them in a kiln yet to test, but we are
not unhappy so far, they seem as durable as any other soft brick I
have used. I would use k28's (or hard bricks in a pinch) for the
firebox area of the kiln if you are going to try to bring it up to
cone 9 or 10 temps. the K23's will probably deteriorate pretty fast
if the flame is impinging on them directly as happens a lot in down
draught kilns with forced air burners coming in from the side. I
suspect if you are doing something with burners in the floor you will
have better luck with the low temp bricks around the burners.


On Feb 9, 2010, at 12:05 AM, Daniel Rotblatt wrote:

> I'm researching building a small propane kiln - about 7-10 cu ft.
> Right now I am looking into firebricks
> and know of a source for really cheap 2300 F IFB's here in Los
> Angeles. I have to buy a pallet of 480
> bricks (which is more then I need), but the cost is only $1.53/
> brick. I purchased a few a year or two
> ago for something else, they are definitely not as strong as other
> bricks I have (probably A.P. Green),
> but they seem to hold up to the temperature...and they're cheap.
> The question I have is: has anybody
> worked with cheap import bricks (probably from China)? Is there a
> serious downside (apart from the
> fact that the kiln won't last quite a long)? Any other thoughts?
>
> Here's the website with the bricks: http://www.mcgillswarehouse.com/Items=
List.aspx?
> ProductID=3D122110023
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dan
> www.RotblattSculpture.com