Poo boy firebrick

[bandmiller2]

The firebox on my homebuilt OWB is cement block,after 10 or so years their showing wear.Firebrick is costly for the amount I need.Tried those 12"x12" x 2 1/2" cement patio pavers their cheap and hold up just fine,and sure go up quick. Frank C.

[Al_Smith]

I don't think you'd actually need refractory brick to reline a stove .It looks like my wood stove which is a 1982 Lopi uses mill pavers .The bricks looks fine and I've never changed them .Pavers are certainly less expensive than refractory brick .

[Holmes]

 Hi  Frank   What color did you use? ;D

[bandmiller2]

Why gray of course,might mistake the red for overheated. Frank C.

[Norm]

Frank find some old time red brick and it will work just fine. We use it in a kiln that's heated much higher than your stove will ever get with no problems. They're a bit soft but so cheap you can replace them for next to nothing. We found ours on craigslist for .05c a piece.

[crtreedude]

You might look into adobe, you can make it yourself and with the right mix, much more resistant to heat than concrete.

After all, they use it for pizza ovens, etc.  8)

[Mooseherder]

Trying to find someone locally who even sells fire brick is challenge enough.
I need to research into adobe crtreedude for a Pizza oven.

[Al_Smith]

Frank find some old time red brick and it will work just fine.

Most likely you are refering to what used to refered to as Chicago commons .Probabley due to the fact that Belden brick is from Chicago ????

These things will take fire but suck up water like a sponge .If you ever want to use any of them like a common brick the easiest way to lay them is toss a bunch  in a tub of water .If not you won't be fast enough to lay 8 foot of bed joint before they suck the water right out of the morter .

[r.man]

Frank, did you document your homemade stove on this forum and if you did do you have a link? I built one years ago out of scrap but I have learned a lot about them since then. Next year I will either rebuild a factory stove or better still build from scratch. I would be interested in your thoughts on design and building since you have experience.

[bandmiller2]

R Man,sorry no documentation,I haven't even figured the posting picture thing.Years ago there was a father and son selling plans for what they called a HASA [heat and storage apparatus] I think, I modified the plans only using them for rough sizing.Basically its a pressurized water tube boiler.The firebox is about 3'x5' by 3' high made of cement block a 4x8 sheet of 1/4" steel plate is on top.Above the plate is 180' of 3/4" copper tube.Over the tubeing is wide aluninum flashing to reflect the heat back that covered with 12" of fiberglass insulation.Around the firebox is a larger cement block building well insulated.I have a 20' high stack and a good draft.The furnace has no fancy controls,when its cold better draft and it burns hotter.My water temp runs right around 140/150 degrees two zones in the house baseboard and some radiant floor.The circulators and expansion tank are in the cellar.The furnace burns clean without fancy converters or chambers due to a vicous hot fire from a masonry firebox,no grates.Not likely as economical as the fancy furnaces but does the job haven't bought oil in years.Frank C.