Homebrew question..

[Johno4]

Can the product linked below (quickrete type N cement mix) be used to substitute the portland and hydrated lime in the homebrew recipe? I am having a hard time finding hydrated lime.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete...cement%7D%3Aqu

Thank You,
John

[UtahBeehiver]

You should be able to get lime at any masonry, concrete or brick suppliers, a big box store lots of time will not carry lime.

[Johno4]

As of now I cannot source Hydrated lime. If I can I will definitely purchase and use it. If I cant will the product above work? Quickrete will not give exact ingredients and simply said it will function exactly the same as portland and lime.

[UtahBeehiver]

Can't say if premix will work or not. However, a Google search for hydrated lime show a list of dozens of sources.

[Johno4]

I do appreciate your responses. I agree google shows many local sources, but when I call them, they all say they do not carry it...So I am really struggling to find it for some reason. Why have so many places stopped carrying it?

[Johno4]

Also the closest on the list you provided is roughly an hour one way from me. But again, I do appreciate you trying to help.

[rwiegand]

That's really odd. Every masonry supply place I've been to around Boston has it. (I would not expect home depot, lowes or similar to have it) If worst comes to worst, try Amazon. Free delivery with prime.

https://www.amazon.com/Mutual-Indust...ag=googhydr-20

[Johno4]

Thanks rwiegand, yes odd indeed. Just out of curiosity, is that around the price I should expect to pay if I find it locally as well? Just trying gauge cost. Again, thanks for the help.

[Johno4]

Ok, found some locally! When I get my build going I will start a build thread. Thanks again!

[rwiegand]

Glad you found some locally. I haven't bought any in a very long time, but I expect a dollar a pound is wicked expensive, as you might expect for shipping a heavy product across the country for two day delivery. The Heatstop 50 I used was $50-60 a bag-- pricey, but easy for mixing up many small batches of mortar. I used about 2-1/2 bags for my 42" oven. Compared to everything else involved in the project it was relatively cheap.

Look forward to your build!

[Chach]

That's really odd. Every masonry supply place I've been to around Boston has it. (I would not expect home depot, lowes or similar to have it) If worst comes to worst, try Amazon. Free delivery with prime.

https://www.amazon.com/Mutual-Indust...ag=googhydr-20

My Home Depot carries it. I looked up yours in NY and they don't. Guess there are areas that have more demand for it than others.

[Chach]

I just priced powdered fire clay and its $65 for 50lb bag at a supply house near me...was figuring it would be cheaper.

[Johno4]

The local lime I finally found was $11 and change. I ended up getting fire clay from the ceramics store, $17 for 50lbs. $50 for 50 lbs seems high for clay

[wotavidone]

Just make sure it's hydrated, slaked or burnt lime, not agricultural/garden lime.
I'm glad you didn't get the Qikrete. The SDS says the lime is limestone. Wrong lime for our purpose.

It amazes me how much trouble it is to find hydrated lime in some parts of the world.
I live in a little town of 14,000 people and I can think of three places off the top of my head that sell it.
Can't get fire bricks, fire clay, or ciment fondu for love or money but, hey, lime is easy. And cheap. About 50c Australian per pound.
Perhaps it's because I only live about 1 1/2 hours from the Limestone Coast.

[Johno4]

I did get hydrated lime. It is from a building supply company.