Metal Casting Zone

I live in Western Illinois by Macomb and I was wondering if anyone knows where I could get some dry powdered fireclay. I have looked everywhere and can not find any one that carries it. If anybody has any ideas where to find some I would appreciate. Thanks Curtis

welcome to the forums i live in australia so i cant help you locally. fire clay here isnt sold here as "fire clay" as such. its known as builders clay or bricklayers clay. try your hardware supply shops. when i went looking i asked"do you sell fireclay??? no!!! the only clay we sell is bricklayers clay.!!!! the pak stated that it was fireclay!!

cat litter cat litter cat litter, its the only way to get it, type in cat litter comanies in the usa and go through their websites, bentonite clay is fire clay as far as im aware, im always happy to be corrected

nikb wrote:
cat litter cat litter cat litter, its the only way to get it, type in cat litter comanies in the usa and go through their websites, bentonite clay is fire clay as far as im aware, im always happy to be correctedfire clay is different from bentonite clay. fire clay is what fire bricks are made from and clay crucibles. bentonite clay is used for making foundry sand.

I got 55# of fireclay from a local pottery company.Columbus Clay
$18 a bag, there are several kinds. I got the Harbison-Walker because I know it's refractory, says so on the bag. They sell Bentonite too, not the same. I ground up cat litter for my first green-sand and it works great, but what a hassle. I'm going to pick up some bentonite next time I'm in Columbus.
Maybe you can find a pottery supply near you.

I think I have checked all the hardware stores, concrete companys, art/pottery stores in the surrounding area and no one had any fireclay or even new about where to get it. I guess the next option is to get the ole 8 pound hammer out and start busting up some firebricks. There is a local concrete company that has a surplus of fire bricks, but they still say they dont know where to get any fireclay. What would you guys consider to be the best refractory recipe, I have looked at several and am having trouble deciding on one of them. I am new to the concept of foundries and am really excited to get started with different projects. If any one has on any advice on something that could be added instead of fireclay and a good recipe for refractory that would be great and a big help. Thanks Curtis

Looks like your a couple hours from Davenport, Iowa. You might try Harbison-Walker Refractory. They usually have a lot of material. I think A.P. Green are part of them too.
Harbison-Walker, Iowa

You don't neccesarily want generic fireclay. What I have used with good results is EPK (or kaolin clay). This is a very pure clay that some potters use as a base material for their mixtures. Check with pottery suppliers and ask specifically for kaolin or EPK. This will make about the highest temp capable refractory homemade material that you can make yourself. Commercial refractory can be rated higher because they use some more exotic materials than are available or practical for the backyard builder. You will also want to see if the pottery supplier can get you some CALCINED alumina. Not alumina hydrate. Mix the EPK and alumina in about a 1.2 to 1 clay/alumina ratio by weight. This will hopefully form a compound called mullite after it is correctly fired, and should be good for way past iron temps.
Breaking up firebricks won't get you clay, it will just give you what is known as "grog", or as the oldtimers used to call it, "gannister". This can be added to a clay mix to help with cracking and shrinkage.