Comments on: What is fire clay and where to get it http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it Blog related to articles, subjects, ideas and tips for improving life or coping with boredom in general sense. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:45:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: sittie http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-8319 sittie Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:48:23 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-8319 Can everybody help me find our title project for our science investigatory-project.. this is our title,,, Mussels shells as a substitute for silica in clay tiles ... help me because it is in July. Anybody something?...... july is the final! Can everybody help me find our title project for our science investigatory-project.. this is our title,,, Mussels shells as a substitute for silica in clay tiles … help me because it is in July. Anybody something?…… july is the final!

]]> By: Cob earth clay wood fired oven built by the sea http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-8079 Cob earth clay wood fired oven built by the sea Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:25:51 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-8079 [...] spend 4-5 hours in the evening treading and mixing the sand with clay mud collected in my local nature. As with collecting and using a fire clay from the ground outdoors to build cob ovens. So far we have cooked pizza’s, bread and roast potatoes and Mediterranean vegetables. It’s [...] [...] spend 4-5 hours in the evening treading and mixing the sand with clay mud collected in my local nature. As with collecting and using a fire clay from the ground outdoors to build cob ovens. So far we have cooked pizza’s, bread and roast potatoes and Mediterranean vegetables. It’s [...]

]]> By: mike http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-7144 mike Fri, 28 May 2010 15:07:49 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-7144 Dave, for a gas forging furnace there are some good plans on backyardmetalcasting.com . I need temps up around 3200 F (melting brass) so am using a different mix of fire clay, Portland cement, Perlite, and fine silica sand as a refractant. Anybody know of a supplier of dry fire clay near San Francisco? Dave, for a gas forging furnace there are some good plans on backyardmetalcasting.com . I need temps up around 3200 F (melting brass) so am using a different mix of fire clay, Portland cement, Perlite, and fine silica sand as a refractant.
Anybody know of a supplier of dry fire clay near San Francisco?

]]> By: DAVE http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-6896 DAVE Wed, 19 May 2010 11:08:51 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-6896 Hi Rado, I'm going with a cob style oven, but i was a little confused with the comment above about lime, (old ovens last for ever because they replaced cement with lime) added to the refractory mortar. If i wanted to use lime in my clay mix for the dome inner ( 1st layer ) what would be a good mix and would it be worth it? i will use straw in the second layer and then mud plaster on the outside layer. thanks for such a great site, i have referred lots of people to view it. <strong>Added by Rado</strong>: try to do a couple of tests with these 2 first to see how the clay type you have hardens. Add the line in one example. In the other replace 1/2 of the lime portion with casting plaster (can buy in large bags like cement, painters use it.) However add only 10-15% of such into the clay. I would work with the powdered clay body, mixing dry first then adding water and mixing (rather than mixing it into the wet clay.) This is for making adobes for the hot face. If you need the plaster not setting fast, mind you it's only 5-7.5% of the plaster amount in the whole mix so it won't be fast anyway, you can add just a little cheap vinegar into the water. Vinegar slows plaster hardening time perfectly and it's always used by people making plaster molds. Then extra mass/dense layer if needed (clay, stone, sand) and after the straw etc. light in weight layer for insulation as you've already mentioned. And some weather finish. Hi Rado,

I’m going with a cob style oven, but i was a little confused with the comment above about lime, (old ovens last for ever because they replaced cement with lime) added to the refractory mortar. If i wanted to use lime in my clay mix for the dome inner ( 1st layer ) what would be a good mix and would it be worth it? i will use straw in the second layer and then mud plaster on the outside layer. thanks for such a great site, i have referred lots of people to view it.

Added by Rado: try to do a couple of tests with these 2 first to see how the clay type you have hardens. Add the line in one example. In the other replace 1/2 of the lime portion with casting plaster (can buy in large bags like cement, painters use it.) However add only 10-15% of such into the clay. I would work with the powdered clay body, mixing dry first then adding water and mixing (rather than mixing it into the wet clay.) This is for making adobes for the hot face. If you need the plaster not setting fast, mind you it’s only 5-7.5% of the plaster amount in the whole mix so it won’t be fast anyway, you can add just a little cheap vinegar into the water. Vinegar slows plaster hardening time perfectly and it’s always used by people making plaster molds. Then extra mass/dense layer if needed (clay, stone, sand) and after the straw etc. light in weight layer for insulation as you’ve already mentioned. And some weather finish.

]]> By: Mark Swanson http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-6841 Mark Swanson Mon, 17 May 2010 14:41:08 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-6841 Anyone have gas furnace bulding instructions? (for metals) Anyone have gas furnace bulding instructions? (for metals)

]]> By: Kieran http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-6603 Kieran Wed, 05 May 2010 08:24:03 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-6603 I am planning to make a Oven with Dry potters clay, what do you reccomend to add to Clay mix to make stronger so i can transport when moving house, is not going to be to big ie 800 long by 600 deepish?? can i mix Concrete or just reinforce with allitle Wire meshing???? Thanks.. I am planning to make a Oven with Dry potters clay, what do you reccomend to add to Clay mix to make stronger so i can transport when moving house, is not going to be to big ie 800 long by 600 deepish?? can i mix Concrete or just reinforce with allitle Wire meshing????
Thanks..

]]> By: carl http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-5331 carl Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:47:39 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-5331 I am not an expert on the topics regarding fire proof fireclay as a material or products, but after reading whole this page, my understanding on fire clay fire bricks, home made clay adobe or tiles, fireclay powdered body and clay based heat resistant refractory mortar and DIY idea has improved substantially. Wholesome job thank you. I am not an expert on the topics regarding fire proof fireclay as a material or products, but after reading whole this page, my understanding on fire clay fire bricks, home made clay adobe or tiles, fireclay powdered body and clay based heat resistant refractory mortar and DIY idea has improved substantially. Wholesome job thank you.

]]> By: takis http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-5130 takis Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:35:09 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-5130 many thx for sharing with us i have duild a clay oven which am very happy with using fire clay picked from builder's digging fountations, overall thickness on the top of the dome is 7 inches first coat was appr 4" of clay n appr 25-30% sand mixed with straws then vermiculite render n vermiculite render again, fired for an hour i will cook well, took about 2 hour to cook a big goose the outside is bearly warm can i use this oven to fire potery? n can i use the same type of fireclay? what temperature must the oven reach for this? the heat slowly drops down as once it's fired n sealed. that's it or do i need constant fire for pottery clay? many thx many thx for sharing with us i have duild a clay oven which am very happy with using fire clay picked from builder’s digging fountations, overall thickness on the top of the dome is 7 inches first coat was appr 4″ of clay n appr 25-30% sand mixed with straws then vermiculite render n vermiculite render again, fired for an hour i will cook well, took about 2 hour to cook a big goose the outside is bearly warm can i use this oven to fire potery? n can i use the same type of fireclay? what temperature must the oven reach for this? the heat slowly drops down as once it’s fired n sealed. that’s it or do i need constant fire for pottery clay? many thx

]]> By: Guadalupe Luce http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-4993 Guadalupe Luce Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:10:17 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-4993 I found your oven building website when I was looking for something not related to the fireclay natural clay at all, rather commercial products available, but this page was on the first page of Google, by looking at it your blog must be enormously popular! Continue the good work! I found your oven building website when I was looking for something not related to the fireclay natural clay at all, rather commercial products available, but this page was on the first page of Google, by looking at it your blog must be enormously popular! Continue the good work!

]]> By: Jim http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/101/what-is-fire-clay-and-where-to-get-it/comment-page-1#comment-4852 Jim Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:13:14 +0000 http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/?p=101#comment-4852 Yes fireclay is as easy to locate as indicated! It's my understanding that the majority of the mud or clay in the world melts at relatively low temperatures, the type used for low fire kilns and ovens for cooking, and then only a few can withstand temperatures above 2000° F (meaning when the clay content properties aren't changed commercially by adding or extracting a portion of the ratio from the clay body) which is of course used for productions of fire clay firebricks either dense those used for complete heat absorbing e.g. the brick tyoe we use for cooking and plus those for much higher temp ranges that are very heavy in weight or light in weight insulating fire bricks and high tech ceramics like kiln furniture - shelves - slabs - props, molding shapes, insul. blankets and so on you name it all kinds of items. Yes fireclay is as easy to locate as indicated! It’s my understanding that the majority of the mud or clay in the world melts at relatively low temperatures, the type used for low fire kilns and ovens for cooking, and then only a few can withstand temperatures above 2000° F (meaning when the clay content properties aren’t changed commercially by adding or extracting a portion of the ratio from the clay body) which is of course used for productions of fire clay firebricks either dense those used for complete heat absorbing e.g. the brick tyoe we use for cooking and plus those for much higher temp ranges that are very heavy in weight or light in weight insulating fire bricks and high tech ceramics like kiln furniture – shelves – slabs – props, molding shapes, insul. blankets and so on you name it all kinds of items.

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