Tap-hole refurbishing

The present invention relates to a method for refurbishing a tap-hole. The method comprises the following steps: A making a tap-hole channel trough a tap-hole block in a lower section of an arc, blast or smelter furnace, and B restoring said tap-hole channel to form a refurbished tap-hole; characterized by the following steps: 1. detachably connecting a prefabricated, hollow, refractory tap-hole insert comprising a shell to a clay gun, wherein said tap-hole insert comprises a. a first end and a second end in axial direction, wherein said second end is blocked. b. an opening arranged on said first end, c. a hollow passage in axial direction, wherein said hollow passage is accessible through said opening, d. at least one lateral through hole, arranged in said shell, 2. inserting said tap-hole insert into said tap-hole channel, wherein said clay gun is fluidly coupled with said tap-hole insert and said tap-hole channel, 3. injecting a grouting material from said clay gun into said tap-hole insert and through said through hole into said tap-hole channel and, 4. disconnecting said tap-hole insert from said clay gun.