Nick O Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 I have a champion forge and I need to figure out what I can use as a clay because it says clay forge before using. Any information on what I can use as a clay would be a big help. Nick O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Many fust let ash and cinder accumilate, adding clay makes them heavier (les potable) and if stored out side, the castic water (ash+ water= lye) traped between the liner and the forge pan eats it up. If shelterd and you dont plan to move it for demoes, any local clay soil will work fine ask around or look in the road bank cuts of not a potery house can fix you up, ask for a heavaly "groged clay" or go to a masonry suply and get a bag of fire clay and sand, mix dry anout 1 part clay and two parts sand. Put in a plastic buket with a lid and add water. Let set a day ir three and check to see if its wet enugh (should hold but not tranfer moister or mud to your hands) if not at a bit more water and alow to "case" again, to wet take off the lid and let dry, case again for a few days to wet the crustieslook up "ducks nest" to get an isea how to form a fire pot witht he clay for effecency Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick O Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 is it ok if I took some dirt from my garden which has a high amount of clay in it and made it wet broke all the clumped dirt and mixed it and put it in my forge I just got done doing half the forge just to see how it would look now I am just letting it dry in the sun? Nick O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 I have been using one for 30 years without clay, it is fine. It also sits outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick O Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 ok but so far I hear people say it don't matter and it dose I don't really know what to think anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Is it indoors, or outdoors? Indoors, clay it if you like. Outdoors like mine, I wouldn't. As Charles mentioned , a liner can trap water between it and the pan causing rust. Mine sits outside, and gets rained on, but it dries out quick without a liner.Fuel can also make a difference, coal has sulfur which can be acidic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick O Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 I use coal and I store it in my shop but I use it outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 is it ok if I took some dirt from my garden which has a high amount of clay in it and made it wet broke all the clumped dirt and mixed it and put it in my forge I just got done doing half the forge just to see how it would look now I am just letting it dry in the sun? Nick O If your soil is like mine, you've probably got a layer of topsoil that's a mixture of clay, silt or sand, and organic material, over a subsoil that's more pure clay. Go for the pure clay subsoil if you have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick O Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 You can use a mix of vermiculite or perilite and portland cement for a lighter mix. mix about 50/50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 You can use a mix of vermiculite or perilite and portland cement for a lighter mix. mix about 50/50 Not Portland cement -- it will degrade and spall at forging temperatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Have used Portland in my travel forge for 8 years now and it has yet to spall. That is over 500 demos. Will send pics of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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