curing clay lining in my new forge

[Grouser]

I lined the bottom with clay. Please comment on the shape if it needs redoing, first time for me. Don't want to cure it before final shaping.
Hope should I cure it? Just stay a chock fire and get to work,,,take hot coals from another coal forge and slow cure it? thanks

 

[EdCaffreyMS]

It would be better if you made the "funnel" much larger. The more coal you can use to create a "beehive", The better.

When it comes to curing, that's the tough part..... it needs to cure NATURALLY. If you force it to cure, it's going to crack/break, and likely not last more than a couple of firings. That holds true with not only clay, but any type of castable refractory...... the more you force it to cure, the more you shorten it's lifespan.

 

[Bruce McLeish]

Just as a reference point, I just relined our woodstove. Kao wool lining, ridgidizer cure for 24 hours, refractory cement ,(1/8" thick) cure 36 hours, low starter fire for 12 hours. Regular hot fire only then.

 

[Grouser]

thank you both for your help. someone suggested I remix the clay with 50/50 clay/sand mixture. Says it will last longer. What say you?

 

[Grouser]

here is the newest version,,,,, this looks better to me.

 

[EdCaffreyMS]

That looks really good!! Now the hard part.....giving it the time necessary to cure.

 

[Grouser]

thanks for the kind words. raining here. might have to take it inside the shop to dry