Subject: RE: home made gas forge

From: [email-masked] (Kathleen Clay-Dewey)
Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 19:42:49 -0700 (MST)

>From: Steve Smith <[email-masked]>
>Dear Vance,
># My biggest hassle is the top of the forge.
># Can refractory wool be used right up against the burners?
>I think you have zeroed in on the main problems in building a
>gas forge, brick or otherwise. One guy suggested using an
>appropriately high temp wool supported with raku (clay) buttons.

What is a clay button? I don't know what I'd hold up the wool with.
A circular design would presumably hold itself up, right?

Also can refractory wool or rammable take direct flame, like
surrounding the business end of the burner?

>You need a respirator (I use a positive pressure one).

I think I know what a positive pressure respirator is, but where did
you get it and how much did it cost?

Thanks
Vance

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*  Message From : BURNS, VANCE A.       *
*  Location     : US-HOUSTON(IS3) LAN   *
*  KOMAIL ID    : FVAB94  (IS3     )    *
*  Date and Time: 04/15/96  12:09:00    *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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From: Steve Smith <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 96 11:42:34 MDT

A better insulation supplier (than the one I previously mentioned):

Renler Co.  
2800 S. Shoshone 
Englewood, CO 80110
(303)781-9061 

They sell Carborundum products. Compressed fiber board runs about $100
for a 42" by 48" sheet. Blanket is $2.67/sq. ft., 25 sq. ft. minimum
(see below). 

Renler has a sister company (same office) than makes furnaces for the
art glass folks:

Denver Glass Machinery
2800 S. Shoshone 
Englewood, CO 80110
(303)781-0980

They will sell blanket in part-boxes (at a slight markup). Their price
on castable refractory is cheaper than Renler ($34 vs. $44).

They have some neat hangers for blanket insulation. Ask for the "601
setups". They are type 601 stainless, which is pretty heat resistant.
They consist of a 1/4" by 3/32" stud which you weld to the ceiling,
and a flat rectangular washer which slips onto the post. The washer is
held in place by rotating it 90 degrees. Very convenient. Studs are
$3.15 and washers are $2.72 each.

> A circular design would presumably hold itself up, right?
You don't need hangers with a tube forge. 

> surrounding the business end of the burner?
It has worked fine in my tube forge for the past 2 years (weekend
usage). 

> you get it and how much did it cost?
I bought an "Airmate 1" from these folks:
Airstream Dust Helmets
Hwy 54 South
Box 975
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
(218)685-4457
(800)328-1792
A year ago it was $250. They also have a hard hat/face protection
version for another $90. These helms are nice in that the air flow
keeps them from fogging up.

--
Steve Smith
[email-masked]