castable refractory Newbie Forum Discuss castable refractory in the Good Background Information forums; I am a concrete contractorand thought about doing a cast but I cant find calcium aluminite cement here...

[mikeye15]

I am a concrete contractorand thought about doing a cast but I cant find calcium aluminite cement here

[stevepreece]

Mikeye15,
Do a google search.
I tried "catable refractory california" which lead me to do a "Mizzou Castable Refractory" search, via a blacksmiths forum.

I suggest you do what I was advised to do and give them a call.

Alternatively contact some other forum members who have gone this route, edschmidt's oven was where I started. There were others too.

In the similar thread section, there is a similar quetsion to yours by FIO
from this try

http://www.anhrefractories.com/
http://www.pryorgiggey.com/distributors.htm

Hope this helps.
Good luck
Steve

[Johnny the oven man]

Mikeye15, try LeFarge Refractories, they make a brew called Ciment Fondu, it is a calcium aluminate cement. We sell approx.10 different grades of refractory castables and about 6 various cements.

[taharvey]

Willy,

Can you talk about your sand mold process? How did you do your sand mold, just wet sand? Did you trowel on the refractory? Any issues with the refractory cement oozing down the vertical sides while applying it? Or did you you use a outside mold somehow?

Have you cured and fired your dome yet, any cracks?

[THX1138]

Hi Willy,

Your design & approach is vertually identical to plans for my own oven

I am from Melbourne also, outer southeastern suburbs

After a couple of months research from various businesses & this terrific website ( driving my wife mad ), I intend to cast an oven shortly with refractory cement with stainless steel needles over a sand mould with a front brick arch containing the chimney vent & choke

Cast, blanket & insulation will measure @100-150ml thick when finished with an embossed design added also

Any further pics of your final product would be welcome & any advice from fellow casters out there will be very much appreciated

Cheers

[jonkendall50]

The casted dome looks great. What are the dimensions and how's the heat up?

It's a fantastic looking oven.

[david s]

Be careful when you mix up the castable refractory. The volume of water required is critical. To much water makes it considerably weaker. Also the temperature is critical. The stuff sets very quickly especially if its hot or your water is hot. I use chilled water on a hot day. Make up batches to avoid having half a wheelbarrow full going off. The stuff is not cheap. The stainless steel needles I use are actually not sharp they are a bit of a nuisance but not overly so.

[berryst]

If or when I build another oven I will go the castable rout.
I will probably use an igloo dog house for a form
I call it a dog-a-loo
I will probably remove the dog before cooking

[david s]

Hmmm, hot dogs !

[david s]

That reminds me of a time when my dog was running a high fever. When I took him to the vet he prescribed mustard. He said it was the best thing for hot dogs.