DennisCA

I read about something like that which is why I bought a kg of zirconium and bentonite. Said shop also had bubble alumina. As for this piece of kiln shelf I bought, the shop really didn't specify what it was so I have actually no idea what I've ordered, perhaps it can be visually identified when it gets here?

So corderite would be a better material? I could just forego a floor at all and rely on the kiln wash to protect it. But I would like something as doors and such anyway. The shelf was 250x20x13 mm which I think is 6x6x1/2" and 12 euros

It's a kiln shelf for a pottery oven, I figured it was.

I bought the cheap stuff, in addition to 1kg each of bentonite, zirconium silicate and kaolin. Also a kiln shelf to serve as as a bottom for the forge and to make doors from.

I read ITC Is kaolin and zirconium, I can buy that on it's own from said shop. I think I shall buy some zirconium silicate while I am at it, and a hard kiln shelf might be good too for a bottom.

The place I am buying from has no name for it, only a description of what it's made of. It's cheap though, 4 euros per kilo. Does not exist in europe and cannot be shipped. I have got these two products to choose from. I was hoping someone maybe knew enough they could tell from composition if the cheap product was suitable or not.

I haven't done a single bit of smithing in 2022... This year did not turn out like I had planned... I am attempting to get back up on the horse again. I got a pile of soft bricks still. I have found I can buy ITC-100 here, but it's 66 euros for a liter. The other stuff is a few euros per kg and is made from a mix of aluminum hydroxide and kaolin. I think the ITC is probably a better, but that much better?

Man it's beyond frustrating how impossible it is to find black iron fittings or pipes here. At least online.

I searched the forums and the answer to that was he stopped because shipping got too expensive. I used to buy a lot from american ebay in the past, until a USPS price hike in 2013, since then I've only bought a handful of items. But the shipping costs have only gotten worse. I am looking at local ceramic stores, I found some kiln shelves there, rated to 2400F. I also found some protective coating meant for the shelves, comes in powder form and you brush it on after mixing with water. supposed to prevent glass from sticking to the kiln shelf, not sure if it's got a use on the firebricks or not.

Is it even worth making a soft brick forge without it? Are there any decent european alternatives? If I cannot, is it worth even proceeding with a soft brick forge? Maybe I shouls instead aim for a more conventional forge using ceramic wool insulation. I can get this, SuperWool Xtra, which is non-cancerous even after heated up. I can also get rigdizer for it. It's rated for 2640 F

Where can I buy some plistix, doesn't seem to be available in europe.

Well, I don't know where to get either plistix (plistex?) or a kiln shelf, so that's a setback for me. Is this plistex stuff known by some other name or is this particular brand that's needed? And what material is a kiln shelf made from, maybe knowing what they ar emade of will help me source something local. Is plistex similar to rigidizer for kaowool / superwool?

OK so the plistix stuff is required to keep the bricks from degrading as fast I assume? What of the kiln shelf, is it to protect the firebricks from the bumps and scratches? I read in the other thread that the K26 firebricks where supposed to be tolerant of flux, but I guess they don't have much in terms of mechanical and abrasion resistance.

Should there be a coating on the bricks or can you make do without? These bricks where labeled K26 for 2600F, but that's all I know.

Sorry for the old thread, but do you happen to have some more photos of this? I think I'll be able to build it from just that photo but more angles would probably be helpful. I bought some insulating firebricks last week (2300F rated) and am planning to build something like this. I believe I would have lots of use for a similar forge (right now my coal forge is buried in a meter of snow). Might also be useful for heat treating parts.