Best kilns & firing accessories according to redditors

http://www.nutec.com/ceramic-fiber-blanket

$100 on amazon for a 1"x2'x25' roll. https://www.amazon.com/Ceramic-Fiber-Blanket-Insulation-Degrees/dp/B01HLM8PII

Edit: The amazon link doesn't list manufacturer but it's Nutec HPS 8 pound.

As far as ceramic blanket it was this.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B014V9J4PM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Which isn't available any longer. I got it on sale for like $75, but there is enough there for me to make another 2-3 foundries like i currently have.

For the refractory i was looking into making my own, but got a bit lucky that I live in Houston and there is about anything you want in this town because of the port and shipping here. I found a warehouse that stocked foundry supplies, mostly for large scale operations, but I bought about 100lbs of refractory cement, and probably 10 high temp fire bricks for probably $50. All the bricks were chipped so he sold them to me for like $1 each since his other customers wouldnt take them.

The burner was modeled after the reil burner, but since i didnt have any forging ability when i was making it i found a video/website on using plumbing supplies with the bell ends and the like and it has worked well for me.

All in I think i spent probably $150-$175 on everything. however if i build another one it will be reasonable since I kept leftover ceramic blanket and I know exactly what I will need for another.

Only need 2 bricks. and the burner is very affordable, albeit a little unsuitable. its the cheapest way to accomplish what he's trying to do. its like the definition of hobbyist tools.

or a spare microwave

$20 anvil: https://www.harborfreight.com/15-lb-rugged-cast-iron-anvil-69425.html

$4 ea pliers: https://www.harborfreight.com/11-inch-long-reach-needlenose-pliers-with-straight-jaws-39538.html

$1.25 magnet: https://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-magnetic-welding-holders-93898.html

Your choice of a $9 hammer: https://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-hardwood-cross-pein-hammer-69049.html or a $6 hammer: https://www.harborfreight.com/2-lb-hardwood-engineers-hammer-69226.html

$38 torch head: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-TS99T-Trigger-Start-Swivel-Torch-Head-TS99T/203694961

$19 fire brick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VEOIVA/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_lUJwCbX49QQN5

$2.30 ea hose clamp: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-7-in-Stainless-Steel-Clamp-6799595/202309383

And maybe $5 in metal corner guard.

Less than $100 in materials. Maybe $30 in shipping? That leaves almost $150 in profit for someone. And it's all poor materials. The only thing that's useful out of all of that for a beginning smith is the hammer. Definitely steer clear.

Do you not worry about the grass underneath catching from the heat of the bowl? I wonder if putting a couple of these under it would help? Maybe you don't have to worry about grass fires in the UK? I am in Oregon and grass fires are a huge worry here.

You can build a naturally aspirated propane burner like this for pretty cheap. "Naturally aspirated" means the burner pulls in all the air it needs by itself, so you don't need a blower or anything. You won't be able to melt iron with one of these, but it's all you need for aluminum and copper alloys

Next you'll need a body for the furnace. A lot of guys use old rusted-out 20lb propane cylinders. If you do this, you need to take the valve off the top and fill the cylinder with water before you start cutting it up, otherwise you risk having the little bit of residual gas inside blow up and kill you dead. Don't fuck around with this

Now you'll need something to insulate your furnace. You'll see a lot of recipes for homebrew refractories which you should ignore. None of them work as well as kaowool. Line your furnace with 2" of this stuff, and then coat the interior with some ITC-100 or similar. Don't skip that step. You need to have the kaowool coated because it's similar to asbestos and it's extremely bad to breathe the little particles that break off during operation

1200C is just under 2200F, which you can get with a cheap pottery kiln. Here's one on Amazon for $530 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYOCRSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_I3XoDbQG7D500

The expensive ones go much hotter and have higher volume, but for this application, 2200F and a 6" cube internal space are all you will likely need.

here is what i use: https://www.amazon.com/Pyrometric-Cones-Monitoring-Ceramic-Firings-Cone/dp/B076X72VJX/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=kiln+sitter+cones&qid=1565047844&s=gateway&sr=8-1

you can buy different temperature versions

Thanks for the reply, I didn’t even think about cleaning it out even tho that’s what I just did.

I currently don’t have a topper plate so I’ll be getting on, but I think I’m also going to get something like this and fill the cavity around the pipe

They are soft refractory bricks. They go by a dozen different names, Kiln bricks, fire bricks, insulating bricks, etc... These are the ones i have but I didn't buy them on amazon. I found a local pottery supply store( If you are in the Mass area I can suggest one) that sold them for $4 a brick.

I think O1 treating process is similar. I heat the steel to 1500F, You can test by seeing if it is non-magnetic (You can see my cheap telescoping magnet on the ground in pic 1) 1084 is non-magnetic at about 1450F or so. Then lower it edge first into the vegetable oil.

This is a great video on the forgeand process but with O1.

One last tip on the forge, don't be cheap on the torch... I had bought the cheap benzo propane torch at first and it didn't get hot enough at all. After trying whatever i could, I finally just bought the benzo ts8000(about $50) and it works wonderfully.

here is a link for you

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2193IV/ref=asc_df_B01M2193IV5398479/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01M2193IV&linkCode=df0&hvadid=219682717104&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3357954712764866003&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021508&hvtargid=pla-396482345252

Something like this would be perfect for you. And then just throw together a sand casting box.

There are also ones that are even cheaper that are meant for melting lead to cast muzzle loading shot or fishing sinkers. Those might work too for bronze if you're patient.

You will need a burnout oven if you have a resin printer I suggest using funtodo castable blend. They have instructions for a fast burn out I preheat my oven to 1600 and burnout for 2 hours. If your looking to do just one or two rings at a time I suggest you get a tabletop kiln like this or look on Ebay for a dental burnout oven the burnout equipment is the most expensive tool in the ring makeing process but you can't get around it.


https://www.amazon.com/RapidFire-Pro-LP-Electric-Kiln-Furnace-2200F/dp/B01LYOCRSG/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?keywords=tabletop+kiln&pd_rd_i=B01LYOCRSG&pd_rd_r=dcf4ba4b-9812-46f4-a74f-57ca74be8cb4&pd_rd_w=QILpI&pd_rd_wg=hI0dp&pf_rd_p=d006b618-5fac-44e6-850d-a0fdd19f7847&pf_rd_r=CFMBPQZ8D86JKQ8G96TG&qid=1574356086

https://www.amazon.com/Skutt-Kiln-Peephole-Plug/dp/B0042SULSC?tag=pda0e-21

Basically, It's a stopper that you can remove to look at the pottery without opening the lid and loosing the heat.

Regarding vacuum pumps, would it be something like this? https://www.riogrande.com/Product/RioVacuumTableforMoldMakingInvestingandCasting/705012

Like it would be used before you put the metal? or after?

Still looking for a good kiln, perhaps somthing like this to allow me to burn out my PLA and I think I could use this same device to melt my metal? https://www.amazon.com/Tabletop-Hi-Temp-Electric-Standard-Controller/dp/B07GWX18K9

Any thoughts?

Deosnt have to be kaowool. https://www.amazon.com/ceramafiber-Ceramic-Fiber-Blanket-Insulation/dp/B01HLM8PII?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01HLM8PII

One option. You can buy smaller quantities from resellers. If you are just starting out go to iforgeiron.com and read up until your heart is content. I think they even sell by the foot there if you want. Just checked and they sell at 8.50 per 12x24 section. Some areas on the forum you cant get to without signing up. but worth the time. Great resource.

This is the ceramic blanket I purchased a few of. It doesn't mention naked flame though. Any idea if it is probably still okay?

For the screws, would something like this work okay in the soil? Would you recommend anything as a lining outside of the fiber blanket?

Thank you so much. Super duper helpful.

Amazon has buckets of it:
https://www.amazon.com/Insulation-Morgan-Ceramics-CM-Ceramics-Instructions/dp/B015GD0QCW/ref=sxts_k2p_hero1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2668835602&pf_rd_r=G7JY4AYZ0B9CXTVCRQ28&pd_rd_wg=XUUs9&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=WtzGd&pf_rd_i=Kaowool&pd_rd_r=AGKF6EF750PA2ASYJBN1&ie=UTF8&qid=1478267175&sr=1

Its pretty cheap to get it shipped around the USA.

I did some more research today and i was planning on using kaowool and ITC 100 or something similar, instead of the sand and plaster. I'm just having a hard time finding where to buy both. I also don't know if ITC 100 is the best option.

Edit: Im looking at this for kaowool, and this for the cement.

If it's hot enough to melt a little bit and your insulation is good enough, then you can melt a lot.

I was going to combine this with this for the bucket build, and have holes through the lid for these. Make a stopper for the sight hole and a lip on the lid to minimize oxygen introduction. Should work out pretty OK.

https://www.amazon.ca/Large-Microwave-Kiln-Glass-Fusing/dp/B012EV9LES

I'm totally a novice and a software developer by trade, so take what I'm about to say with caution. That said, here goes:

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I started with a propane forge because it was easier to make, or trying many things to build one. The best thing that I've managed to find as far as instructions or help is this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS7wumQt0s8&t=123s - I used these bricks from Amazon and so far they're doing an ok job: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VEOIVA. If I had to give one word of advice it'd be to save your money and not buy the cheap firebricks you'll find at home improvement stores. They kind of work, but ultimately you'll lose a ton of heat and I ended up spending the extra cash to just buy good firebrick because I felt unsafe(I hit my burner with a laser thermometer and it was astronomically hot b/c heat was seeping up into it).

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Last and certainly not least, I am planning on building a coal forge because I'm having a tough time getting the heat I need to forge weld. So the comment I saw that said to get both ... totally on point. I can see myself using propane when I'm looking to just do something quickly on a weeknight, and when I have a ton of hammer work or forge welding to do I'd switch to coal.

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Edit: Assuming you're just starting... I have taken one beginning blacksmith class and I'm planning on several more in the following year. Find a blacksmithing association near you and attend the meetings. It's totally worth the time to link up with the pros.

Edit 2: If you're in the US, check this out: https://abana.org/