Okay, here is a blog post about my experience with a refractory blanket:
So, I got this refractory blanket thing a while back. I’d heard good things about them, and I’m always looking for ways to make my little workshop more efficient. I do a fair bit of metalworking, and I wanted to upgrade my old forge. It was just a cobbled-together thing and was always leaking heat. I figured one of these blankets could help with that.
First, I took everything apart. My old forge was made from an old propane tank, some firebricks, and a bunch of hope. I cleared out the old firebricks – they were pretty much toast anyway, crumbling and cracked. Then I gave the inside of the tank a good cleaning, getting rid of any rust and loose stuff. This whole process took a couple of hours. I just wanted to make sure I did it right.
Next, I cut the refractory blanket to size. It’s pretty easy to work with. Just like cutting a thick piece of fabric, really. You just need a sharp knife. I cut out pieces to line the inside of the propane tank. I made sure to leave a hole for the burner, of course.
Then came the messy part – applying the refractory cement. I mixed up the cement according to the instructions, it was just like mixing up a thick paste. I slathered it all over the inside of the tank and then stuck the blanket pieces to it. I made sure it was all nice and smooth, no air pockets or anything. This part was a bit of a pain, and I definitely got that cement all over myself. My wife wasn’t too happy when I came into the house covered in the stuff.
After that, I just had to let it dry. That took a while, a couple of days, if I remember right. I kept it outside and hoped for some good weather. Once it was all dry, I fired up the forge. Man, what a difference! It heated up way faster and got way hotter than before. I was like a kid with a new toy, just throwing random bits of metal in there to see how quickly they’d melt. Even the neighbors came over to see what I was doing.
What I learned
- Wear gloves! That cement is a pain to get off your skin.
- Take your time with the cutting and make sure everything fits snugly.
- Don’t rush the drying process. You’ll just end up with cracks and problems later on.
All in all, I’m really happy with how it turned out. My forge is way more efficient now, and I can get my metalworking projects done a lot faster. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, I’d definitely recommend using a refractory blanket. It’s a bit of work, but it’s definitely worth it in the end.
