Paul Herman on thu 25 nov 04
Howdy Wayne,
I was in on that discussion of grates, and those long bricks are
available here in North America also. I have some, 18" x 4.5" x 3". They
are 98% alumina, and make a fine grate. You can also get them in 2.5"
thickness instead of 3". Mine came as part of the Big Brickpile, and
were manufactured by Kaiser Refractories (no doubt long since gobbled up
by some other entities). I bet they'd be expensive down at the brick
store.
Castable for a grate? I never tried, but think it might work. I agree
with Hank that you should do it in pieces or sections, to facilitate
repair.
That said, you can also build a great grate using standard 9" bricks.
You just have to prop it all up well, and leave enough space below for
the coalbed, and to poke around under there. If you have to shovel coals
out, your grate is too loose! What kind of kiln do you envision? Is
there some reason you've gotta have long bricks?
I understand iron works in some instances like the "Fast Freddy" style,
but refractories have a lot more integrity for most grates. They don't
put freckles on your pots either. My advice: go brick.
From Long Valley, where the clouds are hanging around the mountains like
a Japanese painting, and I'm sitting around tending the last firing of
the year. Probably turn the gas off around 1:00 or 2:00. This pottery
making is tiresome (temporarily).
40* north, 120* west...
Great grates,
Paul Herman
Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
http://www.greatbasinpottery.com/
----------
>From: wjskw@BELLSOUTH.NET
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Castable refractory in use
>Date: Thu, Nov 25, 2004, 3:12 PM
>
> An offlist conversation with another member of clayart led me to do
> some digging "in my spare time" today.
>
> In the Clayart archives, put in "castable refractory" and there are
> 106 references that come up. Some are in reference to brick-making
> (and how ready made IFB is usually _much cheaper_ than doing it
> yourself.) Most of the other references are either asking for a
> formula (sometimes supplied) or in reference to casting arches for
> various kiln projects. Most involve ramming the castable, not
> pouring it like concrete.
>
> Put the same term into Google, and over ten pages of links come up,
> some technical. Some are for companies in the business of
> manufacturing various products for a wide range of
> uses/conditions/temperatures. I haven't had a chance to examine all
> of those yet. )Page 5 and counting...)
>
> A while ago, there was a discussion either on this list, or the
> Woodkiln@yahoo list about grates for wood fireboxes. It was
> mentioned that in Japan are available double length brick, or brick
> in shape not unlike a "dog bone" that one could use for grates
> or general firebox spans. These longer brick are not
> (yet?)available in the US apparently.
>
> Has anyone currently on this list ever actually cast their own
> "specialty brick" and had it work in a woodfire or gas fired
> situation? I would be most interested in your experience with it.
>
> I'm entertaining the idea of casting a "one piece" firebox and kiln
> floor from castable refractory. Wondering if, in quantity a
> castable refractory would not be easier and cheaper to mix and pour
> than buying (or trying to adapt) available firebrick sizes to the
> need I have in mind. I also have my eye on a storm sewer grate like
> you find in the city at the curb. Solid cast iron, about an inch
> and a half thick, maybe 18 X 24 inches. Wonder if that might not do
> nicely .
>
> Trying very very hard not to reinvent the wheel here folks. It's
> easy enough to go with what works, what's been tried, etc. Boring,
> but easier. (We all know how potters love to push that envelope
> .)
>
> Thoughts (on or off list) would be appreciated.
>
> Happy Thanksgiving!
> Wayne Seidl
> Key West FL
> where the T-Day cookouts are a washout today...
> rain coming down in buckets...big orange buckets
wjskw@BELLSOUTH.NET on thu 25 nov 04
An offlist conversation with another member of clayart led me to do
some digging "in my spare time" today.
In the Clayart archives, put in "castable refractory" and there are
106 references that come up. Some are in reference to brick-making
(and how ready made IFB is usually _much cheaper_ than doing it
yourself.) Most of the other references are either asking for a
formula (sometimes supplied) or in reference to casting arches for
various kiln projects. Most involve ramming the castable, not
pouring it like concrete.
Put the same term into Google, and over ten pages of links come up,
some technical. Some are for companies in the business of
manufacturing various products for a wide range of
uses/conditions/temperatures. I haven't had a chance to examine all
of those yet. )Page 5 and counting...)
A while ago, there was a discussion either on this list, or the
Woodkiln@yahoo list about grates for wood fireboxes. It was
mentioned that in Japan are available double length brick, or brick
in shape not unlike a "dog bone" that one could use for grates
or general firebox spans. These longer brick are not
(yet?)available in the US apparently.
Has anyone currently on this list ever actually cast their own
"specialty brick" and had it work in a woodfire or gas fired
situation? I would be most interested in your experience with it.
I'm entertaining the idea of casting a "one piece" firebox and kiln
floor from castable refractory. Wondering if, in quantity a
castable refractory would not be easier and cheaper to mix and pour
than buying (or trying to adapt) available firebrick sizes to the
need I have in mind. I also have my eye on a storm sewer grate like
you find in the city at the curb. Solid cast iron, about an inch
and a half thick, maybe 18 X 24 inches. Wonder if that might not do
nicely .
Trying very very hard not to reinvent the wheel here folks. It's
easy enough to go with what works, what's been tried, etc. Boring,
but easier. (We all know how potters love to push that envelope
.)
Thoughts (on or off list) would be appreciated.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wayne Seidl
Key West FL
where the T-Day cookouts are a washout today...
rain coming down in buckets...big orange buckets
Hank Murrow on thu 25 nov 04
On Nov 25, 2004, at 3:12 PM, wjskw@BELLSOUTH.NET wrote:
>
> Has anyone currently on this list ever actually cast their own
> "specialty brick" and had it work in a woodfire or gas fired
> situation? I would be most interested in your experience with it.
Yes, if you choose your castable wisely it works a treat. And as Mel
and I posted earlier, the Stainless Steel re-inforcing wires (around an
inch long) really prevent cracking. A great advantage is that you can
select the castable exactly for the intended use. Could use several
different ones in the same kiln. Pay more for the good stuff in the
firebox, and save in less vulnerable parts of the kiln.
>
> I'm entertaining the idea of casting a "one piece" firebox and kiln
> floor from castable refractory.
One piece might be asking for trouble. I would cast in sections
designed to fit together to facilitate repairs later.
> Wondering if, in quantity a
> castable refractory would not be easier and cheaper to mix and pour
> than buying (or trying to adapt) available firebrick sizes to the
> need I have in mind.
You can cast just about any shape you can imagine, including your
grates. Just study the properties of the various materials, talk to the
engineers at the refractory companies, make good decisions in
buying..........piece of cake.
Cheers, Hank in Eugene
www.murrow.biz/hank
Edwards on fri 26 nov 04
Hey Paul: Yup, you can get the double lengh bricks, at Firebrick Suppy
in Mpls. They are expensive!!! Ben Lizdas came by and picked up some
2'X3' SiC shelves to use for the floor of a Euan Craig kiln he is
building. The subject of double lingh bricks for the grate was high on
the list of hard to find, or expensive. Given the lucky find, I'm always
looking for cheap alteratives.
The idea of supporting standard straights is appealing-- the props
would cut into the volume of the ember bed so I think that would have to
be taken into account, also a good ember rake would be needed. The
latest idea is to cut up some of the 2'x3' shelves into 18"x4"x1.5" bars
and use them. Castables have the learning thing attached to it. Which,
I look at as a real plus-- somethine new to mess about with!
Hmmm . Something to think about while the wood is being cut.
What a grate place this has become.
~Craig
Almost done with the oak and soon to start on the pine-- got some mighty
fine wood this time!
Paul Herman wrote:
>Howdy Wayne,
>
>I was in on that discussion of grates, and those long bricks are
>available here in North America also. I have some, 18" x 4.5" x 3". They
>are 98% alumina, and make a fine grate. You can also get them in 2.5"
>thickness instead of 3". Mine came as part of the Big Brickpile, and
>were manufactured by Kaiser Refractories (no doubt long since gobbled up
>by some other entities). I bet they'd be expensive down at the brick
>store.
>
>
>
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