Abstract: A refractory member adapted for use in a casting vessel valve is disclosed including a refractory plate, a wire helically wound around the periphery of the plate, and means rigidly interconnecting the helical windings to one another. A method is also disclosed for reinforcing a valve plate, including the steps of heating a metal wire into a malleable state, securing one end of the wire with respect to the plate, helically winding the heated wire about the plate with the windings substantially abutting one another, and welding together each wire winding with the abutting windings at at least one spot. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed, including a rotatable support for supporting the plate with its periphery exposed, a drive for rotating the supported plate, a jig assembly orienting the supported plate in a position generally tangent to the reinforcing wire, and preheat burners for heating the wire to a malleable state before winding about the plate.