Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

[Filthymutt]

I closed my dome today! WOO HOO!

Then I found the next Beijing monkeywrench to fall into the works. Insulating blankets? Can't find them anywhere. Foam insulating sheets, yep got those. Calcium Silicate board, no problemo. But Calcium Silicate blankets or anything similar? Nope. Not at B&Q, Not at the local construction materials yards, not nowhere.

I found a factory that makes the stuff, right here in town. Will they answer my emails? Nope, not so far anyway.

Suggestions? Alternatives? I'm planning to build an enclosure, and was planning to fill it with vermiculite on top of the blanket insulation. Will it be enough to just go with this if I can't get a blanket?

Also, how long to wait for curing? How long do I wait before building those first small fires? Do I need to work out the insulation issue first?

Thanks all.

Bob
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/memb...ing-build.html

[Laurentius]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

I closed my dome today! WOO HOO!

Then I found the next Beijing monkeywrench to fall into the works. Insulating blankets? Can't find them anywhere. Foam insulating sheets, yep got those. Calcium Silicate board, no problemo. But Calcium Silicate blankets or anything similar? Nope. Not at B&Q, Not at the local construction materials yards, not nowhere.

I found a factory that makes the stuff, right here in town. Will they answer my emails? Nope, not so far anyway.

Suggestions? Alternatives? I'm planning to build an enclosure, and was planning to fill it with vermiculite on top of the blanket insulation. Will it be enough to just go with this if I can't get a blanket?

Also, how long to wait for curing? How long do I wait before building those first small fires? Do I need to work out the insulation issue first?

Thanks all.

Bob
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/memb...ing-build.html

Get in your car or taxi and go there, deal directly with them. Maybe they don't have time to deal with your email. If they make it in your town, you have found it.

[Bookemdanno]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

B&Q...in Beijing!!!

[Filthymutt]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

Get in your car or taxi and go there, deal directly with them. Maybe they don't have time to deal with your email. If they make it in your town, you have found it.

Yup, you're right that's what I'm going to need to do. Lets see how that goes

[Filthymutt]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

B&Q...in Beijing!!!

BBQ?? Not yet!

I've barely started on the Uruguayan BBQ I'm building next to my wfo. Great use for my leftover fire bricks. They're perfect for lining the inside of the BBQ pit.

Bob

[Filthymutt]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

God you can tell its too early in the morning for me... Sorry B&Q not BBQ, mmm, yes they have B&Q in China. Although some, like Home Depot closed their doors because Chinese guys are not much for DIY. More for DIFM 'do it for me' crowd. The stores are rarely busy. I go in there, to both Beijing stores often and for the life of me I cannot see how they pay their lighting bill.
HD closed all their China stores earlier this year. I expect the same from B&Q before long.

You should see the looks I get when I tell a local that I'm building my WFO myself!

[Filthymutt]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

Get in your car or taxi and go there, deal directly with them. Maybe they don't have time to deal with your email. If they make it in your town, you have found it.

Tried that today. Got their address of Alibaba. Drove an hour out to where they were supposed to be. Found, not a factory but a ghost office building in front of a corn field. 3 story high building, door and all windows open, no curtains and not a soul in sight. I'm guessing I'm not getting a Calcium Silicate blanket from there!

Now, having been to the construction materials places and having had no luck I think we may just be filling the enclosure with loose vermiculite and hope for the best.

[Laurentius]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

Hi DD,

Google, ceramic fiber boards, and 50,000 manufactories from China will pop up. I had companies that were going to send me enough samples of boards and blankets to build my over but the shipping cost and custom charges were more than getting them here. Take your time and find them you will be glad you did.

[mrchipster]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

Is there a foundry, furnace installer, furnace builder, or ceramics kiln or someone who works with high temperature goods in your area? They must have a source.. Just a thought

Btw te 10th annual international foundry expo is in Beijing in October.

http://www.biztradeshows.com/trade-e...stry-expo.html

I am sure some of the vendors can get ceramic blanket.there is even a vendor exhibitor search area on the page that lists 4 pages of ceramic insulatin vendors that are attending.

[Filthymutt]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

Success! Finally got hold of Calcium Silicate blanket and went overkill on it with 150 sq.ft. worth
What's strange is that in the plans they talk about vermiculite as a cheaper alternative which I almost went with when I couldn't find the blanket. Trouble is the vermiculite would've run me in excess of $800 to get what I needed whereas when I finally found the blanket in the wholesale builders market (HUGE!!!) I went overkill and bought 15 sq.meters (150 sq.ft.) worth for only $75.00
Anyway the oven is all wrapped, fired, dome cleared and christened as of yesterday. Hoo haa!

[Filthymutt]

Re: Trouble finding a blanket in Beijing

Is there a foundry, furnace installer, furnace builder, or ceramics kiln or someone who works with high temperature goods in your area? They must have a source.. Just a thought

Btw te 10th annual international foundry expo is in Beijing in October.

CIEXPO (16-18 October 2013),10th China (Beijing) International Foundry Industry Expo,Beijing,China

I am sure some of the vendors can get ceramic blanket.there is even a vendor exhibitor search area on the page that lists 4 pages of ceramic insulatin vendors that are attending.

I doubt I'll be able to go to that. Now that I got the oven finished, the cooking part anyway, I landed a job down south and start 1st week of October.

The wife and boy will stay in Beijing and I'll have to commute, home on weekends. At least the main part of the oven is done now and usable.