using Fire Clay mixture for a forge I am building. How long do I cure or fire it?

Question

once I set this fire clay/mortar mixture into my forge ; how do I cure or fire it Properly? in school ceramics I remember it took two firings with clay100%. I will be using this with red clay bricks. Need Advise! Please....

Answer 1

i worked in brick work for over 20 years and the only way is to let it dry for 24 houre then build a small fire and let it burn out ....then every day build a little larger one and let it burn out for one week....
otherwise it will crack the fireclay inside and the joints between the brick will fall out causing you to have to redo it all.......;;.

Answer 2

An important piece of information you left out, what kind on clay.
Clay will melt if heated high enough and different clays melt at different temps. Also what temp will your forge reach.
I'm not sure you are using the right material for the application. Red clay bricks are already fired. But they are made of low fire clay. They do make brick especially made for use in high temp areas. I think they would be more suited to your use.

Answer 3

I've been a clay sculptor for a few years and excuse my questioning. I also owned a kiln and all the toys.

You're building a forge. Where will you FIRE the structure of the forge not yet created?

"Curing/Drying" is largely dependant on natural forces, IE. Humidity, natural heat, etc. I've rushed sculpted pieces by low temp kiln drying and have to admit my success rate was about even 50%... NOT very profitable.

I'm also confused by you stating you HAVE a forge, and apparently want another? larger?

Where are you getting the clay? What are its properties? School ceramics, was that a general studies art class? No offense truly.

I'll offer an example of dry/fire time.

My largest piece in my very large Kiln, was 2 ft tall, by 18 inches at its base perhaps. I let it air dry,, in a room temp setting for 2 weeks, then fired it, even on automatic, for 12 hours. I got lucky. There were no unseen, internal voids, and no disruption in electricity.

You also don't state your firing process, IE... Consistency in a temp range adequate for proper results. Natural, flame firing is iffy, even for a pro.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

Fire Clay Mix

Answer 5

I have started building one myself and studied quite a while before starting.
You want to let it dry for sometime before firing it or it will blow apart in chuncks.
www.metalcasting.com has a lot of info on them.
I think one of the best sites are Lional's Lab if that is spelled right.
You don't want to fire it up too fast. You can put it in front of a heater or on a cooking oven door but you want to "drive all the moisture out of the mix before you fire it up.
When you do fire it up make it a small fire and keep it going as long as posible to dry it out slowly or from what I have learned they will blow big chunks out of the walls.
Just type in "melting metals at home" and you will find what you are looking for.
Good luck and God Bless
Dennis.

Answer 6

You dont cure it Make sure its dry and start the forge. that will fire it.