 Re: kaowool vs insulfrax vs non-ceramic blanket vs insulfrax/vermiculite
I can add to this.
On the vermiculite vs. woven ceramic insulation question, I think that at least one blanket is worth the little bit of extra cost over a straight vermiculite installation. The modern cermatic blankets do such a good job of stopping heat migration and keeping the cooking chamber hot.
The 1" blanket and 4" of vermiculite schedule is a mainstream approach, and experience (and the thermal spreadsheet) show that it is effective at holding in heat, and keeping it from reach the outer edge of your enclosure.
Still, if you are looking to do a great job of insulating your oven, or are looking for a clean and quick installation method, going to 3" of ceramic blanket is a good strategy. It goes in fast and works great. You can overlap the seams and it will be efficient. As some areas report difficulty find vermiculite -- it is also a very easy way to shop. The only downside is cost.
FB chose Insulfrax because it is water soluable -- which means that it will not stay in your chest should you breath it in. Wear a mask regardless.
We chose SuperIsol (Cal Sil) because we thought it would stand up to the heat and weight of an oven. Thermally, it stops the heat of the oven with 2", though if you are going for a great insulation job, you can double that with only a little more cost.
FB wants to be the best source of installation accessories, and we are working on making our selection better. More to come on that.
James |