fireclay and Bentonite suppliers ?

[#]

   Looking to build a bigger forge and im havin a hard time finding supplies local , 


i need fireclay an bentonite ,  i know i can make my own bentonite from catlitter but rather buy a bag allready powdered

lowes an homedepot dont carry it ,,  nor furnace cement an they look at you wierd when you ask they have no idea what im talking bout ,, lol  


 anyway does anyone know where i could buy some local for a  forge  / refractory ?     

[Tim Miller]

http://www.louisvillefirebrick.com/ should have it

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "LVL1 - Louisville's Hackerspace" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to lvl1+uns...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

[Luslugger]

I have 2 companies who sell refractory in my neighborhood.  i know what things are called.  Why do want to build a heating chamber?  How will it be fired?  I need 25 pounds or more of oil clay and have not found it at a low price.  Smooth on is a company that visited us a few weeks ago they left a few supplies for urethane molds which also need clay.
bob S

[#]

well ive been been using flower pots with perlite and portland cement which keeps cracking
 but works for small amounts of tin , lead , alum that ive been casting in my backyard , 
   using a propane burner i made based off this http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/oliverburner1.html

  now ive worked my way up to needing a bigger better foundy setup ,   id like one big enough to melt about a cup's worth of metal at a time ,  somthen like this one  http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/bucketfurnace1.html  

refractory recipe  :

"By volume, it is 3:3:4 Portland cement:perlite:silica sand, mixed together thoroughly, then combined with 4 parts fireclay. The dry ingredients are then moistened to the texture of “stiff cookie dough,” packed into a form, and allowed to dry thoroughly before bake-out."


  then for greensand :

 "100 lbs sand Silica or Olivine 12 lbs powdered bentonite 7 lbs water (1 gallon)"



    i also have a charcoal forge based off a brake drum and i make my own charcoal from a tree i cut down in my yard , lol   this way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwvpjSPCBJ0

      
         i really need like 50lbs to 100lbs of each fireclay / bentonite  / sand ,etc   so i have some to build a 2nd foundry and to have extra and alot of times i try to build two of everything so i can sell one to cover cost of mine!   


   one reason im upgrading is a buddy convinced me i could sell some belt buckles and stuff ive made before but in a larger scale an for alot more money then id have thought ! 
   
   repairing scooters an stuff over time ive collected alot of aluminum just with the plan to melt back down an remake new parts ,     im closer then ever to being able to mill an machine down my casted stuff !   :)      
  
 
i need a cow for leather too,, but ill wait on that :)     hehe 
  

       

[Luslugger]

that is a good start.  I have all the machine tools required or can tool the ones at lvl1. I have a non working electric furnace that i would give away. 
About the only thing not covered is the crucible.  Do you have flux for the different metals?  I will also look for the flux.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 11:15:49 AM UTC-4, eeee wrote:

[#]

for crucible ive been using couple ceramic coffee mugs with round bottoms ,,  goodwill specials :)  

     ive played around with heating elements from stoves it worked for me in a flowerpot foundry i had made but i see my utility meter zooooooooming an no 220 hookups here :(     

  really tryin to just source insulating/refractory materials local,, then ill know where an how much money ill need to save ,beg or borrow to get it done,,     logistics for me is the hard part getting the $ an the ride at same time . 



Flux ?       not sure i know what i need it for ?   the casting ive done so far as been very primitive ,,   i use plaster for molding , cuddle fish bone , soap stone , wood , dirt ,  

  looking to use and learn more PRO modern methods , but cost is prohibiting . 

 is that flux  for more like jewelry making ?      ive got a friend with a jewerly kiln an stuff think they work in gold an silver .     

  example of stuff im tryin to do long term is  cast say intake manifold on a gy6 scooter then mill, tap an finish the part for use.         maybe it look like a missle with fins an stuff in the process and not just plain ole intake ,,     




 

--

[Brian Harper]

I get most of the clay materials for the IU Southeast Ceramics program at Kentucky Mudworks in Lexington. Louisville Firebrick will have any firebrick / insulating brick you'd need. I buy brick from them all the time - Greg Shuck (sp?) is the guy I always work with there.

How much of each do you need? The fireclay is cheap ($15-20) but a bag of Bentonite is kinda pricey.

Brian H

[Luslugger]

I will put some time and money in this project
Bob Setree

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 11:15:49 AM UTC-4, eeee wrote:

[Scott Ondracek]

Here are a couple of local blacksmith places which might be able to help out/point you in the right direction

https://www.facebook.com/FallsCityIron

http://www.craigkaviar.com/#!forge

-Scott

--