Chicago area - looking for local suppliers

[snipe97]

Chach,

Thanks for the info. on the alternate supplier. Back in the fold on the project after having to work, so apologies for delayed response. I have procured all the material ...now let's see if I can use it properly . Switched my design to a corner install and am just having a whale of a time figuring out how to dimension everything properly.

[Chach]

Snipe,

I found this other place in South Holland where I just purchased castable concrete and they sell all the insulation products too. I talked to Jeff there and he said they love helping out oven builders. He then told me they used to do the casting for Chicago Brick Ovens. I think they sell mortar there as well as clay but you would have to ask. Here is their info.

(708)339-6810

Armil CFS
15660 La Salle Street
South Holland, IL 60473



Hope this helps as well

[Chach]

oops...meant the Indispensable tool. For me it is incredible

yes im using an IT and works very well. im just using mason sand i pick it up at menards.

[snipe97]

oops...meant the Indispensable tool. For me it is incredible

[snipe97]

that is super helpful information...I assumed it would be difficult for me to manage the home brew chemistry and the trigonometry required for the dome at once. But that sounds pretty manageable and a fantastic way to do things. Thanks for that insight, Chach. I will pick up a couple bags of clay and should be set with everything else from the big chains (though I have to do a little sand research to see what is proper there).

Speaking of trigonometry... Are you using the incredible tool to build the dome?

[Chach]

thanks to you both for all the help (so far i.e. I am sure I will need more!). I did go with the CalSi board and foam block and will be picking that up early this coming week. Pretty sure I am not going to do the home-brew as I have convinced myself that a. I am not a great chemist b. I am not a great mason and want to focus a little more on b. (cutting the bricks, etc.) than emulating Walter White with a home brew refractory mortar so probably pick up bags of Heat Stop. I am also a little tired of all the shuffling back and forth to Menards and HD.

Heat stop is very expensive. i just bout a 1qt plastic paint bucket and a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and i put 3 of the 1qt sand and 1 each of the other ingredients into the 5 gallon bucket closed it and shake it up and everything mixes in even and i use that to make small batches of mortar in a smaller container for like 5-6 bricks wotth and then scoop out of the 5 gallon bucket and make more. so far all i needed was 4 or 5 bags of mason sand and 1 bag each of lime, portland the fire clay im still on the first bag but i have another but im guessing ill be using some of that not much but some so id pick up 2 bags. this is way way cheaper.

[snipe97]

thanks to you both for all the help (so far i.e. I am sure I will need more!). I did go with the CalSi board and foam block and will be picking that up early this coming week. Pretty sure I am not going to do the home-brew as I have convinced myself that a. I am not a great chemist b. I am not a great mason and want to focus a little more on b. (cutting the bricks, etc.) than emulating Walter White with a home brew refractory mortar so probably pick up bags of Heat Stop. I am also a little tired of all the shuffling back and forth to Menards and HD.

[Chach]

oh and congrats UtahBeehiver your current post count is 3333 lol

[Chach]

Then I stand corrected..

That wasn't my intent to correct anyone because I too saw the same 2 products and was wondering the same things...I saw your build read your process and learned tons. I saw what you used and modeled my insulated layers after your build and thats how I made my decision of thermal gold 12 and foamglas.

Ricky

[UtahBeehiver]

Then I stand corrected..

[Chach]

You are getting CaSi board and ceramic fiber mixed up. The CaSi board is for insulating under the floor bricks and is rigid, the ceramic fiber (blanket) is for insulating the dome and is flexible. You cannot use ceramic fiber under the floor or the board on the dome.

There is a ceramic fiber board insulation that is rigid so I guess what snipe is asking what are the differences of ceramic fiber board and calcium silicate board. Im guessing its just the material used to create it and im sure structural strengths would differ but who knows without seeing both product data tech sheets for each product. examples would be Kaowool board is a ceramic fiber board and johns manville thermo gold 12 is a calsil board.

[Chach]

Menards has hydrated Lime along with some home depot stored. Mason sand and portland is available at both stores and the clay for sure at Elk Grove.

[UtahBeehiver]

You are getting CaSi board and ceramic fiber mixed up. The CaSi board is for insulating under the floor bricks and is rigid, the ceramic fiber (blanket) is for insulating the dome and is flexible. You cannot use ceramic fiber under the floor or the board on the dome.

[snipe97]

I have only begun looking for fire clay so thanks for the local recommendation on that front! I was hoping there was an easier solution than producing my own refractory mortar, and one that doesn't cost $500K to ship.

[Chach]

got a hold of DI...which led to another question . CalSi board versus ceramic fiber ... I understand the practical difference is largely in service temperature (2300 for the low density CF versus 1000 for CalSi). Forno seems to recommend (or at least builds their ovens) with the ceramic board. With your build, have you noticed any performance difference using the CalSi board? Just want to make sure I pick the right board i.e. CalSi is a good way to go. thanks!

I believe UtahBeehiver aka Russell used thermo gold 12 and has had good results. I picked up the same board from DI. I do believe many have used the same product (thermal gold 12) Have you looked for fire clay? I purcjased Hawthorn Bond from a pottery store in Elk Grove.