Refractory cement

[gorentz]

I removed the old baffle from a Garrison II stove and have a new one that's ready to be fastened in place. It looks to me like fire cement was used to "glue" the old one in place, but I'm not sure. It certainly wasn't easy to remove. My son and I spent a few hours with hydraulic jacks, reciprocating saw, and grinder to get it out.

Is refractory cement what I should be using to hold the new one in place?

My son questions whether that material is intended for metal-to-metal binding. The old stuff kind of looks like the same material I've used for chimney flue joints, so I assumed it was just regular fire cement.

 

[branchburner]

I'm also confused about the different types of cement and their applications - is there one good all-purpose cement to use for baffles, gaskets, stovepipe - or do I need eight different tubes and tubs of various things?

 

[gorentz]

I bought a pint of Rutland's furnace cement. It claims to be good for the thinner, metal-to-metal joints. What's different about it to make it better for thin joints like that, I don't know.