Abstract: A lance for spraying particulate refractory-forming combustible material, particulate refractory material and a comburent gas is characterized in that the lance 1 comprises at least one feed passage 2,3 for conveying material to be sprayed to a lance head 4 which comprises a plurality of spray nozzles 5 for spraying such material, and in that the flow path of the material being sprayed branches or turns a corner and a cup-like recess 7,9 is located at the or each such branch or corner, open to the flow path upstream thereof, for catching particulate material conveyed along said flow path so that the material caught itself forms a barrier against abrasion at the location of such recess.A method of using such a lance to spray particulate refractory-forming combustible material, particulate refractory material and a comburent gas against a surface so that on combustion a coherent refractory mass is formed on such surface is also disclosed.