April 10, 20188 yr I am curious on everyone’s thoughts I have a nice old coal forge it’s in great shape. I was advised by someone more experienced then me that I should layer the bottom with a screen coated with refractory cement. I would prefer not to do it unless without it the cast iron might crack thoughts?
April 10, 20188 yr NO! Using refractory cement in a coal forge is the "a little is good a lot is better" thinking run to the silly level. Is "Clay before Using" cast in the pan anywhere? If not it needs nothing but coal and a fire, save the ash if you like by not cleaning it out completely. My cast iron Buffalo rivet forge has "Clay before using cast proud in the pan. Ramming about 1" - 2" of a damp mix of approx 2pts. sand and 1pt clay with a mallet till hard works a treat. It's only real use is to distribute heat evenly, some cast iron types aren't known for liking a high temp differential and can crack. My forge is cracked centered at the air grate, probably because it wasn't clayed and maybe got subjected to water dipper action when hot. Frosty The Lucky.
April 11, 20188 yr Author Yeah I got a demonstration coming up next month and I have never used this particular forge picked it up last summer and it needed the blower taken apart cleaned as well as a new leather belt all done now just waiting for warm weather.
April 11, 20188 yr If you are concerned about cracking, putting in clay as Frosty suggested won't hurt and you can shape a fire pot with it.
April 11, 20188 yr Rivet forge pans are duck's nest forges. An inch or so of tamped dirt with a depression down to the air grate is all the "fire pot" they're intended for. I surround it with fire brick if I need a deep or certain size or shape fire. I'm not locked into ONE fire pot, I've even built ovens over the fire for heat treat, etc. Frosty The Lucky.
April 11, 20188 yr Close enough though I don't mix it nearly that wet. If you can squeeze it into a lump in your fist, it breaks clean without staining your palm with mud, it's good to ram in. A risk you run claying a forge is trapping water between the clay and pan accelerating rusting. Frosty The Lucky.
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