Okay, so today I wanna talk about something I messed around with recently – slow set refractory mortar. Sounds boring, right? But trust me, it was kinda interesting.
So, first off, I had to get my hands on this stuff. I’d heard about it but never actually used it before. I ended up getting it from a local store that sells materials and stuff. Not too hard to find, actually.
Mixing it up
Next up, mixing. Now, this wasn’t like your regular cement. This stuff is meant to withstand some serious heat, like in a fireplace or a furnace. I grabbed a bucket and a sturdy trowel.
- I started by reading the instructions on the bag. Gotta make sure you get the ratio of water to mortar right, or else it won’t work properly.
- I poured some water into the bucket, then slowly added the mortar mix.
- I stirred it up with the trowel, making sure there were no lumps. It took a bit of elbow grease, but eventually, I got it to a nice, smooth consistency – kinda like peanut butter.
Applying the Mortar
Once it was all mixed, it was time to apply it. I was using it to fix some loose bricks in my fireplace, so I needed to be pretty precise.
- I cleaned the area where I was gonna put the mortar, making sure there was no dust or debris.
- I dampened the bricks a little bit – this helps the mortar stick better.
- I used the trowel to slap some mortar onto the bricks, then carefully placed them back where they belonged.
- I pressed down firmly to make sure there were no air pockets.
Waiting Game
Now came the “slow set” part. This stuff takes a while to dry and harden.
- I let it sit there for a good 24 hours before even thinking about touching it.
- I checked on it periodically, making sure it wasn’t drying out too quickly. It was a bit warm those days. If it dries too fast, it can crack.
The Result
After a full day or so, the mortar was rock solid. I gotta say, I was pretty impressed with how it turned out. Those bricks weren’t going anywhere.
So yeah, that’s my little adventure with slow set refractory mortar. Not exactly rocket science, but it was a good learning experience. It is not very difficult if I can handle it. And hey, now I know how to fix my fireplace if it ever acts up again!
