Castable Refractory Cement by Rutland Products Review

I use this pouring cement to make replacement panels (top, back, bottom, sides) for my 1995 Heat-N-Glow Zero Glow fireplace. I make my shapes with a thick plywood base and a corner bead that I screw into the plywood. I put a plastic trash bag inside the mold so the cement doesn't directly touch the wood. The cement is poured into the mold using a paint stirrer to ensure the corners are filled and there are no air pockets. After 24 hours I remove the cornice and the cement board is ready to use.

A definite learning curve here. Not as forgiving as brick and block mortar, but with practice and experience anyone who can get good results with masonry mortar can have success with refractory cement. It is very important to read and follow the instructions, which make working with this material seem easier than it really is. For my purposes involving building refractory brick arches for the roof of a wood stove, I've found it worth working in small batches. A small batch is so easy to mix…

I am very satisfied with this product, it is a pity that some people have problems with it. This is a true dry premix for concrete, so you *must* follow certain rules. Be sure to follow these rules (google it if you're not familiar) and you should get great results. Comments and opinions are my own, so be careful. The 6:1 water ratio in their instructions is really the maximum water ratio for mold casting where you need to fill small or thin high density parts. I like less water, even for…