life_apprentice Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Hi, I have a problem. I tried regular clay, from the dirt. then raiku clay,which is probably a broad general term. then mixtures of charcoal, ash, and clay. and now a mixture of charcoal, ash, clay, and borax. I can't get the dried clay to stay on the steel, it "pops" off. I have a propane forge. should I try with charcoal. Is it the wrong mixture? should I just try to find a tempering clay. what am I doing wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I have seen some use furnace clay needs to be a very wet mixture I believe as sometimes it was but on with a feather correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Try Rutland furnace cement from the hardware store. It's awfully sticky stuff. A lot of folks, including me, have had decent luck with it. If you want to use natural clays, try adding some grog -- stuff that won't absorb water, and so won't shrink as it dries -- to the mix. Clean play sand will work. Go at least 1:1 grog to clay. If that doesn't work, go to 2:1 or even higher. Pure clay shrinks a great deal as it dries, and that'll cause all kinds of problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I believe you are working on clay hardening and not clay tempering.... There are clays that don't shrink much when they dry and clays that shrink a lot guess which ones cause civil engineering difficulties? Some folks have wrapped nichrome wire around the blade to help keep the clay on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Also, put the clay on in thin coats and allow to dry completely and thouroughly before putting in the forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Would baking in a household oven help? Also a large number of clay shrink even if bone dry since there is water attached to various molecules in the clay. just $0.02 Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
life_apprentice Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 thank you all, ill try these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 another thought, how polished is the blade when you apply the clay? I normally leave a slightly rough (say 200grit) surface so that the clay sticks a bit better. I also degrease it just to be sure. With some clays I've had beeter luck applying a slip first and once that is dry, applying the main lumps of clay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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