Cleaning and relining a brick forge

[Maran]

I just got my forge up and running again after a long break, and the bricks are looking pretty rough.

I’d love to keep this from turning into a major rebuild. Does anyone have any good tips for cleaning and relining them without cracking?

 

[Anvilenvy]

I start by brushing off any loose bits, then I fill in cracks with refractory cement. Just take it easy and heat everything slowly after relining to prevent shocking the bricks.

 

[crucibleking]

It’s all about taking your time. A light wire brush to clean, some gentle vacuuming, and applying a thin coat of refractory mortar in the worn areas. Just be sure to preheat slowly afterwards, thermal shock can really be a problem.

 

[thedailygrind]

I usually take off any flaking chunks, fill in the cracks with a refractory mortar mix, and let it cure completely. When it’s time to fire it back up, I make sure to ramp up the temperature gradually to avoid new cracks forming.